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About Nigel Simmons
Expertise
I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised. Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner. I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question. Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?

Experience
Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients
Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Pharmacology > Pharmacy > Pharmacist Prescribing

Topic: Pharmacy

Expert: Nigel Simmons
Date: 3/5/2008
Subject: Pharmacist Prescribing

Question
Nigel,
I noticed that you are a pharmacist in the UK and have been a chief pharmacist in a hospital which is very impressive. I am a second year Pharmacy student at Keele University and am very concerned about the pharmacy profession and especially prescribing.
I am concerned at the reluctancy that many pharmacists have about becoming a prescriber, or is it that they do not have enough opportunity within their job? I am very clear about what I would like to achieve, I would like to become an independent prescriber specializing in cardiovascular disorders, but after talking to many pharmacists, they are extremely pessimistic that I will actually have my own clinic. Why is this? Surley prescribing should have been seen as a boost for the profession, I mean nurses beet us to it, with hardly any pharmacology training!
I am frustrated at the lack of enthusiasm by the profession, and I ask you as an experienced pharmacist, will this change or am I entering the wrong profession all together?

Thank you for you time

Rajiv Pandya

Answer
Hi Rajiv

Can I suggest you email me directly at nigel.simmons@ the nhs email domain? I have some experience in development of non-medical prescribing and have a number of contacts who I could put you in touch with for some motivation. For obvious reasons it's not advisible to publish their details on a forum such as this.

No need to repeat the question, the email address will be suficient and I'll try to get back to you within 24 hrs.

Regards.

Nigel

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