Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Clinical pharmacologists employed within the NHS usually combine their specialty with work as general physicians. About half of their time will involve the supervision of acute medical admissions, responsibility for medical inpatients and running outpatient clinics.

The aim of the specialty is to improve the care of patients by promoting safe and effective use of medicines and to evaluate and introduce new therapies. Clinical pharmacologists will often make wider contributions to the NHS clinical service. At a local level this may involve leading the drug and therapeutics committee, developing and maintaining a drug formulary, assessing new products, creating prescribing guidelines, reviewing medication incidents and promoting evidence-based therapeutics. At a national level, consultants may occupy positions within key bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the Medicines Control Agency, and the Joint Formulary Committee overseeing publication of the British National Formulary.

In the hospital setting clinical pharmacologists will work closely with the majority of other specialties, in particular respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, stroke medicine and geriatrics.

Related RCP publications

• Consultant physicians working with patients, fourth edition (2008)
• Prescribing of costly medicines (2000)

Specialty training

For information about specialty training in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, go to the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Postgraduate Training Board (JRCPTB) website.

2010 Consultant Census

The RCP has completed our census of working physicians in 2010. Attached below is a breakdown of the report with results for this specialty.

 Specialist societies

• British pharmacological society
• National Poisons Information Service (run by NHS clinical pharmacologists)