Our Dorset Trainee Pharmacist Programme 2026/27
With nearly 100 miles of coastline including award-winning, golden sandy beaches at Bournemouth, Sandbanks, Christchurch, Swanage and Weymouth, Dorset is a great place to live and work.
Dorset is served by NHS health services that includes 72 GP practices covered by 18 Primary Care Networks, as well as other primary care services such as dentistry, pharmacies, and opticians, three acute hospitals, 12 community hospitals, 3 prisons and a range of community and mental health services. Dorset has strong established links between the different healthcare sectors where we aim to provide trainee pharmacists with a rich and varied experience in a range of clinical settings.
Our reciprocal partnerships across organisations will allow trainees to spend their year split between two main placement sites, with the opportunity to have short placements in other sectors over the course of the year. This allows the trainee to embed themselves in each main placement site while also providing the chance to develop their skills in a variety of clinical areas.
Dorset has a variety of rural and urban locations to explore, and pharmacy placements are spread across the county. Although there are well established travel links within Dorset, it’s important to note that some aspects of certain placements are not easily accessible via public transport.
What will this look like in practice?
Cross sector positions
If you have chosen a cross sector split post then you can expect to spend 6 months with the lead employer and 6 months with the partner organisation. During each of the 6 months there will be shorter placements available in other healthcare settings, for example Primary Care Networks (PCNs) / GP practices, community pharmacy, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and prisons, subject to student preference and availability.
Organisations involved in reciprocal partnerships include:
NHS Trusts
UHD is comprised of three hospitals; the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital and Christchurch Hospital, which merged on 1 October 2020, creating a new organisation.
As well as delivering excellent general hospital services, UHD is home to a range of specialist services and facilities including:
- A flagship Dorset Cancer Centre, offering medical and clinical oncology services for the whole of Dorset, serving a total population of over750,000
- A major trauma unit for east Dorset, serving a population of more than500,000 people
- A state-of-the-art Cardiology Unit (the Dorset Heart Centre)
- An award-winning orthopaedic service providing hip and knee replacements
DCH provides a full range of district general services, including an Emergency Department, and links with satellite units in five community hospitals. DCH is the main provider of acute hospital services to a population of around 300,000, living within Weymouth and Portland, the west and north of Dorset, and Purbeck. DCH also provides renal services for patients throughout Dorset and South Somerset; a total population of 850,000. The Hospital has around 380 beds, seven main theatres and two day theatres, and has been designed with a major commitment to public art.
Dorset HealthCare is responsible for all mental health services and many physical health services in Dorset, delivering both hospital and community-based care. Community services are delivered from 12 community hospitals and a range of home-based services. DHC’s University Trust status supports the trust in providing innovative care, promoting clinical excellence, and attracting and retaining high-quality staff.
Community Pharmacies
- Rowlands Pharmacy
- Wessex pharmacies
- Beaminster pharmacy
- The Abbey pharmacy Sherborne
- Poundbury Pharmacy
- Victoria Park Pharmacy
We have created a range of Community Pharmacy placements ranging from smaller independent pharmacies to large multiples. These placements span across the county and offer the opportunity to establish yourself as part of the pharmacy team in the heart of the community as well as providing experience in an NHS organisation or Primary Care Network.
PCN / GP surgeries
The Primary Care Network pharmacy teams within GP practices will supervise trainees and provide the opportunity to deliver a range of clinical services. These placements allow trainees to work alongside GP’s and other members of the practice to provide care to patients and support member of the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Support and supervision
Each trainee pharmacist will be provided with a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) to support them enhance their prescribing skills over the year and achieve their 90 hours of prescribing practice before they register as independent prescribers at the end of their trainee year. They will have access to a variety of clinical settings to develop clinical skills and autonomy over the year.
In addition to developing clinical skills, trainees will be given the opportunity to develop in other areas of practice for example, quality improvement and risk management, leadership, education and training etc. under the supervision of highly experienced, specialised pharmacists.
As well as providing the opportunity for cross sector placements with an excellent structure for learning and development, we will be creating a trainee pharmacist hub, open to all our trainees. This hub will aim to bring trainees together in an informal environment so that they can share experiences, learn from one another, and develop long lasting professional relationships to support them in their trainee year and beyond.
Other information
There are a range of public transport options available in Dorset, however some placements might not be easily accessible by public transport.
Living and working in Dorset
Dorset has nearly 100 miles of coastline with award-winning, golden sandy beaches at Bournemouth, Sandbanks, Christchurch, Swanage and Weymouth.
Meanwhile, the harbours of Poole, Portland and Christchurch offer a great variety of water sports, from kite surfing to paddle boarding.
Dorset consists of modern cities and historic market towns. Bournemouth is the most vibrant city in the county, with a nightlife that’s second to none and a popular destination for hen and stag parties. The city is equally popular with day-trippers, drawn to its family atmosphere and traditional seaside setting.
Meanwhile the historic market towns of Dorchester, Weymouth and Lyme Regis are bursting with places to eat, drink and shop, combining historic architecture with contemporary art and culture, as well as that unique blend of special Dorset charm.
Apply for the Trainee Pharmacist Programme
Applications for the Pharmacist Foundation Training are made via Oriel, the national recruitment portal. For more information see: Oriel – Home
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