'Proud to be an NHS Shetland pharmacy technician'

Like many young people, Cara-Brooke Fraser wasn’t certain what career she would pursue when she left school. But she did know that she wanted to stay in her native Shetland, and that she wanted to help people.

She is now several years into a pharmacy career, and feels it is the perfect choice offering excellent personal development opportunities, while making a genuine difference at the heart of a close-knit community.

Cara has lived in Lerwick all her life, surrounded by family and friends and was always clear that she wanted to stay in or near Shetland’s capital. She attended the Anderson High School in the town until fifth year and admits it was a “learning curve” trying to work out which career would suit her.

Initially Cara studied care at Shetland College but although she describes it as an excellent course it “just wasn’t for me”.

Even then she had an interest in pharmacy and was keen to learn more about medicines and vaccines. So, she was delighted when in 2018, two years after leaving school, an opportunity arose to join the Pharmacy department at the Gilbert Bain Hospital as a support worker.

Since landing the job she has not looked back, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the career.

Cara says: “As a support worker I started off by doing all the top-ups on the wards. It was our responsibility to ensure there’s enough medication up on the wards for the patients.”

Gradually, Cara’s responsibilities grew, and she began dispensing prescriptions, including working with highly expensive, and controlled drugs.

“It was a learning curve. When I started, I only knew what paracetamol was and then I was exposed to this huge pharmacy.”

That was an eye-opener for Cara, but her fascinating learning journey was only just beginning.

After a year as a support worker, she took the opportunity to become a student technician at the hospital. Between 2019 and 2021 that involved working and studying to become a pharmacy technician. That included a mandatory dispensing course and gaining a qualification to become a dispensing assistant.

Studying during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic threw up some challenges with Cara’s courses completed online rather than face to face. But she says the support from colleagues in Shetland was excellent.

“There’s such a great team here, there is support when needed and you’re never left alone.”

The pandemic also threw up an unprecedented learning opportunity. While training as a technician, students are seconded to different sections of the department, including vaccinations. Cara’s secondment coincided with the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, meaning she found herself at the forefront of the campaign to protect the community against the virus.

“It was a stressful few months, but I’m really grateful for it because I do really love it here and I really enjoy dealing with the vaccines.”

She adds: “It’s a very rewarding job, it really is, in all different aspects. It was incredibly rewarding at the start of the Covid vaccine programme. I really did feel like I was making a difference.

“The vaccines were like gold dust. It was a talking point for everybody and to be part of that was quite special and quite rewarding. Throughout that I have been communicating with so many people I wouldn’t have done before. There were so many people at vaccine clinics that I spoke to daily it feels like I’m part of a team outwith Pharmacy.”

It’s no coincidence that Cara is now qualified as a Senior Pharmacy Technician specialising in vaccines. To reach that level, she had to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the same organisation which regulates pharmacists in the UK.

The senior technician role is varied and there are many aspects to the job. Cara’s role involves talking to patients to ensure they understand their medication and are prepared before being discharged from the hospital; preparing prescriptions; checking medication in from the wholesalers and restocking the pharmacy shelves, working with the oncology department and Macmillan Nurses; liaising with community pharmacies and care homes. In fact, two days are rarely the same.

“It’s a really brilliant job, whenever there is a vacancy, I’m always trying to get people to join because it’s really good here.

“We have technicians out in the rural health centres, care homes and visiting people who are housebound. If working in the hospital wasn’t exactly what you wanted there are opportunities to progress.

“I get real job satisfaction and I feel proud to be a pharmacy technician. I started out as a quite shy ‘little mouse’ and I have gained so much confidence by being here. I had a really good time learning and continue to enjoy learning about pharmacy.

“I have been progressing and have had the utmost support. I imagine myself being here for many years. This is my future.”