An academic pharmacy unit has been established at the Hammersmith Hospitals
NHS trust in London. The APU is a joint initiative between the trust’s
pharmacy department and the London University School of Pharmacy.
Dr Bryony Dean, the unit’s director, told The Journal on October 10 that
the key objectives for the unit included the co-ordination, development and
publication of pharmacy-related research. It would also provide training and
support in research methods for the trust’s pharmacy staff and provide
placement and research opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students
from the School of Pharmacy. Dr Dean is also principal pharmacist for clinical
services at Hammersmith hospital. A key theme of the unit’s planned research
is to be medication errors. This work will build on and develop Dr Dean’s
existing experience in this area. Other areas of research are also to be developed.
New offices for the unit are being built at the Hammersmith hospital and an
official opening ceremony is planned for November.
Postgraduate students from the School of Pharmacy have already started placements
at the trust and two research students have joined the unit to begin research
projects.