JONATHAN TOLHURST

Telephone (UK): (01297) 678 475
Mobile: 07 544 703 009
Telephone (International): 44 1297 678 475
Timezone: GMT

Email:
Website: www.jonathantolhurst.com

 

 

 

  

Employment Status

I am currently employed as a Senior Pharmacy Technician for Pharmacy IT Support at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon where I will be working on various projects including the JAC pharmacy computer system, e-prescribing, robotics, intranet and an oncology patient management system.

Education: University Degree

BSc (Honours) Physiology & Pharmacology

2001-2004 Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham England

Modules Studied:

First Year Electives: Introduction to Physiology, Molecular & Cellular Basis of Pharmacology, Key Skills, Chemistry, Data Analysis for Biologists, Histology

Second Year Electives: Control & Integration of Physiological Systems, Pathophysiology & Pharmacological Control of Disease, Human Reproduction, Clinical Physiology, Cancer & Infections, Drugs of Addiction & Abuse

Final Year Electives: Current Topics in Physiology, Molecular & Genomic Pharmacology, Natural Toxins, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Endocrinology, Drugs in Sport

• Thesis/Dissertation: The effects and consequences of interactions between circadian rhythms and shift work. (PDF)
• Graduated in July 2004 with upper second class honours (2:1)

Education: Secondary and Vocational

BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science

1999-2001 Westminster Kingsway College, London, England

Modules Studied: Human Physiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacy Law, Actions & Uses of Drugs, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Using Computers, Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacy Practice.

• Graduated/Qualified in June 2001

 

A Levels in Biology, Physics and Chemistry

1994-1996 Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, England

• Completed studies in June 1996

 

GCSEs in: Double Science, Maths, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Technology, French

1989-1994 Bottisham Village College, Cambridge, England

• Completed studies in June 1994

EMPLOYMENT: 2008 -

2008 - Senior Pharmacy Technician IT Support

Great Western Hospital, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

• Took up position in October 2008

Training & Developmental Events Attended:

• October 2008: 1 Day Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust Corporate Induction (Swindon)
• November 2008: 1 Day ARIA Users Meeting (London)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: 2000 - 2008

2006 - 2008 Quality Use of Medicines Program Officer, Health Informatics Program Officer and Webmaster

Mackay Division of General Practice, Mackay, Queensland, Australia

• Completed five National Prescribing Service educational visiting programs each reaching over 50% of the regions general practitioners (Topics completed: COPD - Interventions for better Outcomes; Analgesic Choices in Persistent Pain; Selective Use of Antibiotics; Osteoporosis - Preventing falls and Reducing Fracture Risk; Early Use of Insulin and Oral Anti-diabetic Drugs in Type 2 Diabetes)
• Successfully facilitated numerous small group workshops for general practitioners and other health care professionals
• Successfully co-planned and organised large educational events for general practitioners and other health professionals
• Wrote and presented a number of innovative consumer promotional sessions.
• Produced accreditation compliant operating procedures for my program areas (quality use of medicines and website)
• Completely redesigned, built and maintained the company website
• Added a fully searchable health services directory to the company website
• Provided additional IT support and training to other members of staff

Training & Developmental Events Attended:

• May 2008: 2-Day National Medicines Symposium (Canberra)
• May 2008: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Facilitators Forum (Canberra)
• April 2008: 2 Hour Lecture on Pain Management (Mackay)
• March 2008: 1-Day Pharmacy Guild of Australia Home Medicines Review Facilitator Training (Brisbane)
• March 2008: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Therapeutic Briefing on Type 2 diabetes (Brisbane)
• February 2008: 1-Day Internal Audit Training (Brisbane)
• January 2008: Half-Day Introduction to Primary Health Care Research (Mackay)
• January 2008: 2-Day Practice Health Atlas (Adelaide)
• October 2007: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Therapeutic Briefing on Osteoporosis (Brisbane)
• August 2007: 2-Day National Prescribing Service Facilitator's Conference 'Identity and Independence' (Sydney)
  • 1.5-Hour Workshop 'Accessing sources of evidence based information'
  • 1.5-Hour lecture by Dr Peter Mansfield, Founder of Healthy Scepticism on 'The power of influence: is awareness enough?'
  • 1.5-Hour Workshop 'Maintaining my independence from pharmaceutical industry influence'
• June 2007: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Therapeutic Briefing on Selective Use of Antibiotics (Brisbane)
• June 2007: 1-Day Pharmacy Guild of Australia Home Medicines Review Facilitator Training (Brisbane)
• May 2007: 1-Day National Prescribing Service workshop on building on skills in educational visiting (Sydney)
• March 2007: 2-Day National Prescribing Service residential workshop on facilitating small group meetings (Sydney)
• February 2007: 2-Hour briefing on Methamphetamine (Mackay)
• February 2007: 2-Hour Lecture by Australian of the year Professor Ian Frazer on the development of the new Cervical Cancer Vaccine (Mackay)
• January 2007: 2-Day Crystal Reports (Brisbane)
• January 2007: 1-Day Division Information System Training (Brisbane)
• December 2006: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Therapeutic Briefing on Analgesic Choices in Persistent Pain (Brisbane)
• October 2006: 3-Day National Prescribing Service Residential Workshop in Educational Visiting (Sydney)
• September 2006: 2-Day Home Medicines Review Facilitator Conference (Sydney)
• August 2006: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Therapeutic Briefing on COPD: Interventions for better outcomes (Sydney)
• August 2006: 1-Day National Prescribing Service Induction (Sydney)

Reason for leaving: Returned to the UK

  

2005-2006 Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician

North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple, Devon, England

• Worked as a medicines management pharmacy technician in a busy rural district hospital
• Dispensary based serving both the hospital plus numerous outlying cottage hospitals and departments.
• Suggested numerous improvements within the department to increase efficiency

Reason for leaving: Relocated to Australia to get married

 

2001-2004 Hospital Pharmacy Technician

Queens Medical Centre NHS Trust, Nottingham, England

• Evenings, weekends, and vacation position whilst attending university in the city
• Outpatient Dispensary based
• Developed patient counselling skills
• Undertook dispensing and record keeping of controlled drugs and trial drugs

Reason for leaving: Finished university and went travelling

 

2003-2004 'Aim Higher' Associate

New College Nottingham, Nottingham, England

• Spent approximately six months attending a local college talking to the school children to encourage them to think about attending university or gaining further qualifications
• Provided some learning support in science lessons and practical sessions
• Ran some educational lectures on drug misuse

This position was a UK government scheme run through the Nottingham Trent University

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: 1992- 1999

1999-2001 Hospital Pharmacy Technician

Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, England

• Commuted to London one day per week for two years to study.
• Completed a number of rotations within the inpatient, outpatient and satellite pharmacies
• Developed the ability to dispense pharmaceutical preparations with accuracy
• Three months spent at the psychiatric pharmacy at the Fulbourn psychiatric hospital
• Worked for extended periods within the aseptic cytotoxic and Manufacturing pharmacy departments
• Gained first hand experience of Good Manufacturing Practice and laboratory monitoring requirements

Reason for leaving: Left to attend university.

 

1998-1999 Pharmacy Department Technical Officer

Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, England

• Involved in supplying hospital wards and departments with stock medication.
• Position involved stock order, delivery, checking and rectifying.

Reason for leaving: Offered and accepted a student pharmacy technician position within the same department.

 

1997-1998 Distribution Assistant

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England

• Worked within a large state-of-the-art computerised distribution warehouse
• Involved in stock control, picking, packing and dispatch of orders

Reason for leaving: Accepted new position at the local hospital.

1992-1996 PAID EMPLOYMENT

Various positions including:

• Bar Work
• Gardening
• Childminding
• Cleaning
• Car Detailing
• Leaflet/Paper Delivery

UNPAID AND CHARITABLE WORK

2008 WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

Website development (work in progress) for numerous local community based organisations including:

• Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Mackay
• Mackay Youth Information Referral Service (YIRS)
• Mackay Community Garden

2006-2007 MARINE COURSE PRESENTATION CONVERSION

• Scanning and conversion of OHP slide presentations to PowerPoint presentations.
• Substantial amount of image manipulation

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Oral Communication Skills

I have excellent communication skills, and always build a good rapport with both colleagues and customers. In my present position I have to communicate technical messages to general practitioners and other health care professionals in a concise and timely manner. In previous posts I have had to communicate with a wide variety of people ranging from senior health care professionals through to customers/patients with a poor understanding of English. I have also developed the ability to successfully deal with distressed clients and patients. This has meant that I have developed the ability to communicate at a range of different levels depending on situation.

Focus of Training Attended	Course or Workshop Title	Date, Location
Social Marketing	Best Practice in Educational Visiting Building on skills in one-on-one educational visiting	October 2006, Sydney May 2007, Sydney
Group Facilitation	Small Group Facilitation	March 2007, Sydney

Written Communication Skills

During my time at university I developed sound written communication skills whilst preparing concise scientific reports. I have neat legible handwriting, can type at a reasonable speed and also have four years experience in using voice recognition software.

Team Work

I perform well under pressure as I work quickly and logically. I am comfortable working on my own, or as an integral member of a team – in my present position I do both. I am able to adapt to new situations quickly and am always willing to learn new skills. I also enjoy passing on my knowledge, ideas and experience. For example, in my current position I have been providing computer training to new members of staff.

Time Management

Whilst studying at university I worked evenings, weekends and vacations in a busy hospital outpatient dispensary where I have demonstrated reliability and the ability to work with limited support – this also meant I had to utilise effective time management skills.

Analytical and Problem Solving

During my degree I developed methods for critical analysis and problem solving. I am a great believer in utilising evidence based practices and scientific enquiry to find practical solutions to problems and to improve efficiency. I always try to look at problems and solutions objectively and have a demonstrated ability to ‘think outside the box’.

Focus of Training Attended	Course or Workshop Title	Date, Location
Internal Auditing	ISO 9001:2000 Internal Auditor Training Course	February 2008, Brisbane

 

Confidentiality

I take workplace confidentiality very seriously and have a good understanding of the legal and ethical issues surrounding the handling of confidential records and data.

Health and Safety

I take health and safety very seriously and recognise my duty of care to myself and to others. My final year university thesis looked at the relationship between shift work and risk in the workplace, and the ways in which shift patterns could be designed to minimise risk.

Focus of Training Attended	Course or Workshop Title	Date, Location
First Aid	St John Ambulance Senior First Aid	July 2006, Mackay
Construction Industry	Blue Card	July 2006, Mackay

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

I have highly developed IT skills with extensive experience using a range of systems and software. I am fully aware of the issues surrounding the use of confidential and sensitive data.

Area of Computing	Skills and Length of Experience	Skill Level
Operating Systems	Vista - 6 months XP Professional - 5 Years Windows 2000 - 3 Years Mac OS X - 2 Years	Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Intermediate
Software: Microsoft Office Versions: 2003, 2007	Word - 10 Years Excel - 10 Years Outlook - 5 Years Powerpoint - 10 Years Access - 2 Years Publisher - 5 Years	Advanced Advanced Advanced Intermediate/Advanced Basic Intermediate/Advanced
Software: Graphics	Photoshop - 2 Years GIMP - 1 Year	Intermediate Intermediate/Advanced
Software: Video Manipulation	Moviemaker - 3 Years Studio 10 - 3 Years Premier - 3 Years	Advanced Advanced Intermediate/Advanced
Software: Statistical Packages	Mathlab - 3 Years	Advanced
Software: Database Reporting	Crystal Reports - 1 Year	Basic
Software: Internet	Internet Explorer - 10 Years Firefox - 2 Years	Advanced Advanced
Software: Information Management	Division Information System - 1 Year	Advanced

Focus of Training Attended	Course or Workshop Title	Date, Location
Database Reporting	Crystal Reports (Basic)	January 2007, Brisbane
Information Management	Division Information System	January 2007, Brisbane
Data Extraction & Map Info	Practice Health Atlas	January 2008, Adelaide

Digital Media

I regularly use digital media (photography and cinematography) together with various editing suites (photoshop or Gimp for pictures). I compose music using keyboards and computer based software (Reason). I have experience in the use of the following digital formats: minidisc, CD, DVD, SD, xD, memory stick, Zip drives, USB drives.

Information Management & Security

I am familiar with LIMS (laboratory information management systems) and  also understand the importance of confidentiality regarding data (be it patient or other records). I treat computer security very seriously and take all measures to avoid security issues on my computers (install the latest updates and also use antivirus and firewall software).

WEBSITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS

WEBSITES

I have built and maintained a number of websites (including this one). I built and maintained the Mackay Division of General Practice website in 2007.

Area of Web Development	Skills and Length of Experience	Skill Level
Languages	HTML - 2 Years DHTML - 1 Year XHTML - 1 Year CSS - 2 Years JavaScript - 1 Year PHP - 1 Year	Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Intermediate Basic Basic
Web Design Tools	Expression Web - 2 Years Flash - 2 Years	Advanced Advanced
Content management Systems	Joomla CMS - 2 Years WordPress - 2 Years Contribute - 2 Years cPanel - 2 Years	Advanced Advanced Advanced Advanced
Script Integration	PHP MyDirectory - 1 Year Lime Survey - 1 Year PHP Bulletin Board (Forum) - 1 Year	Fully Functional Fully Functional Fully Functional

 

I have an excellent understanding of the concept of accessibility and always strive to keep myself up to date with the latest developments in web browsers and servers, whilst also maintaining backwards compatibility. I am acutely aware of the security issues surrounding the internet and understand the laws and issues surrounding privacy and data protection.

I am have the ability to produce fully functional templates for Joomla and Word Press from scratch or modify existing ones. I have a good grasp of digital design concepts and understand the importance of marrying form with function.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

The table below contains a selection of my active interests where I have developed various practical skills or knowledge that may be of direct or indirect use within the workplace. I support the view that life skills can often add great value to an individual’s contribution to the workplace. Other unlisted interests include circus skills and Native American culture.

Area of Interest	Practical Skills or Knowledge and Length of Experience	Skill Level
Multimedia	Digital SLR Photography - 4 Yrs Manual SLR Photography - > 10 Yrs Videography - > 10 Yrs Image Manipulation - 3 Yrs Audio Recording - > 10 Yrs Music Composition - > 10 Yrs	Advanced Advanced Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Intermediate
Nature & Environment	Knowledge /Identification of flora and fauna 2 Yrs Marine Mammal Identification (Audio/Visual) 1 Yr	Intermediate Basic
Kayaking and Boating	Practical Skills > 10 Years Trip Planning (including risk assessment) 5 Yrs Inshore Nautical Navigation 3 Yrs Sailing 2 Yrs Emergency Procedures 5 Yrs	Advanced Advanced Advanced Intermediate Advanced
Geocaching, Cartography & Astronomy	Global Positioning Systems – 4 Yrs Map Reading (with compass) > 10 Yrs Astronomy – 2 Yrs	Advanced Advanced Basic
DIY/Home Maintenance	Safe use and maintenance of hand tools >10 Yrs Safe use and maintenance of power tools >10 yrs Safe use maintenance of Sewing Machine – 5 Yrs Maintenance of motor vehicle > 10 Yrs Safe use of domestic cleaning products > 10 Yrs	Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Advanced
Gardening	Identification of garden flora – 2 Yrs (Australia) Safe use/maintenance of hand tools > 10 Yrs Safe use/maintenance of power tools >10 Yrs Safe use of Pesticides and Insecticides – 5 Yrs Water conservation and management – 2 Yrs	Basic Advanced Intermediate Advanced Intermediate
Travel	Trip research, planning and booking > 10 Yrs Visa Applications 5 Yrs Trip Budgeting > 10 Yrs Cultural and political understanding > 10 Yrs	Advanced Advanced Advanced Intermediate
Sport	Indoor Sport (Social), swimming, fishing, cycling, soccer	Variable

Other Personal Achievements

In 2004 I undertook a 1000km solo kayak trip down the east coast of Australia between Cairns and Cape Palmerston. I have also completed numerous solo treks including a ten day 240km trek in far north Queensland.

DRIVING AND HEALTH

I have a full clean UK (manual) driving licence (since April 1996). I am fully fit and have no known health issues or allergies.

REFERENCES

Academic, employment and character references from both Australia and the UK are available on request.