Pharmacy

The Pharmacy department is at the heart of Velindre Cancer Centre and plays a vital role in our treatment of patients. It was built in 1996 and comprises of three main areas, the dispensary, the aseptic unit and the drug store-room. Within the aseptic unit we have two isolator cabinets in which we prepare the anti-cancer treatment. These isolators are in use almost constantly throughout the day.  There is also some office space and a small patient counselling room. There are 7 pharmacists, 8 pharmacy technicians, 5 support staff and 1 clerical officer.                                                             

Every year over 70,000 supportive care medicines are dispensed by the Pharmacy department. At our Dispensary we dispense medicines to in-patients for their stay with us and to take home, for out-patients and day case patients who are at Velindre to receive their chemotherapy.Pharmacy staff educate patients on a one to one basis on the portable pump devices that they need to enable the patient to go home on chemotherapy and also how to safely take oral chemotherapy and supportive medication at home.

Our Pharmacy staff work closely with all nursing and medical staff to ensure that all patients at Velindre Cancer Centre receive the best of care. Some of our pharmacists even work in out-patient clinics alongside medical staff reviewing patients on chemotherapy and prescribing their next cycle of chemotherapy treatment.

The department is open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 12 noon on Saturday. Outside of these hours a pharmacist is available 24 hours a day for advice and emergency drug supply via the on call service.