News stories

On World Pharmacists Day (25 September), we are proud to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution of our pharmacy teams across University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

Every day, pharmacists across UHB play a vital role in delivering safe, effective and compassionate care. From reviewing over 2.5 million prescriptions for over 1.7 million drugs for patients on our wards and in our clinics, to leading research, education and innovation, our pharmacists help ensure patients receive the very best care.

Alongside their day-to-day contribution to patient care, pharmacists have also been at the forefront of transformational work, including the award-winning Alfa controlled drug management programme, helping to shape the future of medicines management across our hospitals and the wider NHS. Their expertise and dedication make a difference to thousands of patients across our Trust every day.

This year, we're marking World Pharmacists Day by shining a spotlight on the people behind our pharmacy services and the impact they have across our hospitals and communities to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines.

A few minutes with…

Gurjit Sohal, Pharmacy Clinical Service Lead – Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals

I trained at the School of Pharmacy in London and did my pre-registration year at Nottingham University Hospitals, then moved into rotational roles at Royal Derby Hospitals and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), covering everything from oncology to acute medicine. 

From there I moved into formulary and medicines management, taking on Lead Pharmacist roles at increasing levels of responsibility, through to my current post as Pharmacy Clinical Service Lead for Queen Elizabeth and Solihull Hospitals.

Alongside that I've kept investing in my own development with qualifications in Non-Medical Prescribing, Adult Advanced Healthcare Assessment, and more recently an MBA in Healthcare from Aston Business School and a Level 7 CMI qualification.

It's been a steady build from clinical practice into strategic leadership but always rooted in medicines management.

In my role, no two days look quite the same, which is part of the appeal. A lot of my time goes into strategic and financial medicines oversight; managing medication budgets, scoping the cost implications of new NICE technology appraisals, and attending Medicines Management Advisory Group meeting and Chairing the Medicines Finance Oversight Group. I'll also be working with clinicians and stakeholders on formulary decisions, supporting cost improvement plans, and leading the inpatient pharmacy team to make sure patient care standards and turnaround times stay high. It's a mix of high-level planning and staying close enough to the ward level detail that decisions stay grounded in real patient need.

The most satisfying part is seeing a policy or pathway I've helped develop actually change practice and knowing that a decision made in a meeting translates into safer, more cost-effective care for patients. I also get a lot out of mentoring junior pharmacists and watching them grow in confidence.

The challenges are the ones most NHS leaders will recognise – balancing tight financial constraints against clinical need, managing the pace of change as new medicines and NICE guidance come through, and bringing a wide range of stakeholders, clinicians, commissioners and finance onto the same page.

Working through the COVID-19 pandemic was a stand-out moment for me. Having co-authored a paper on the challenges and opportunities for medicines management in an NHS field hospital during that period and being part of standing up that kind of service under real pressure was something I'll never forget. I'd also say I am proud of my work on antimicrobial stewardship, including leading the European Antimicrobial Awareness Day campaign and contributing to research on AMS analytics using electronic health records – projects where you can see a direct line between the work and better, safer prescribing.

Outside of the day job, I'm a big F1 fan and love LFC!