Emily’s journey from Royal Navy medic to primary care pharmacy technician
Emily spent nine years serving as a medic in the Royal Navy, she was the person people relied on when it mattered most.
Her days could involve anything from emergency first response and ambulance duties to delivering primary care, vaccinations, rehabilitation support and health promotion to personnel at home and overseas. Alongside the clinical work, she handled medical administration, liaised with NHS hospital trusts, and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams across both military and civilian settings.
Whilst still serving, Emily trained as a . This meant she combined frontline medical care with medicines management – supporting pharmacy and medical stores, managing prescriptions and medical supplies, overseeing clinical waste and medical gas contracts, and preparing deploying personnel through preventative health education. Without realising it at the time, she was building the foundations of a future NHS career.
Leaving the forces: A new mission, new pressures
Leaving the Armed Forces brought challenges Emily hadn’t expected. She was adapting to life outside a highly structured environment while also becoming a new parent. The shift in workplace culture, the loss of the close-knit military community, and a significant drop in income all added pressure. Like many veterans, she didn’t initially recognise her own need for support – her experience didn’t match the stereotypical image of a struggling service leaver.
But one thing was clear: she wasn’t ready to let her pharmacy technician qualification go to waste.
Building a new career in the NHS
Emily started working in a community pharmacy before progressing into increasingly senior and specialist roles. She worked within military healthcare as a civilian, in the prison service, in medicines optimisation teams, and eventually in primary care. Each step helped her translate her military experience into NHS practice, strengthening her confidence and broadening her impact.
Today, Emily works as a pharmacy technician within a group of GP practices, alongside a secondment with NHS England as a practice learning facilitator. Her role is varied and vital: reviewing clinical correspondence, managing medication changes, vaccinating patients, and acting as a key link between clinicians, administrative teams and the public. Her work frees up GP and pharmacist time, improves patient safety, and enhances access to care.
Military skills that still make a difference
Emily credits her Armed Forces background with shaping the professional she is today. The resilience, discipline, integrity and teamwork that were second nature in the Navy now underpin her approach to pharmacy practice. She brings leadership, reflective practice, clear communication and a continuous improvement mindset to every team she works with. Her ability to spot clinical trends, challenge safely and learn from mistakes has led to real improvements in patient care.
The NHS supported Emily to grow via training, she has completed a BTEC Level 4 in pharmacy clinical services and the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway. She has contributed to national work, supported trainee pharmacy technicians, presented project work, and built a portfolio that showcases how far the profession has evolved.
A message for other service leavers
Emily is passionate about encouraging other veterans to consider pharmacy technician careers. She believes the role offers structure, progression, security and purpose—values that resonate strongly with those leaving the Armed Forces. While she acknowledges that the financial adjustment can be challenging at first, she emphasises the long-term rewards: meaningful patient impact, career development, and a renewed sense of belonging.
Her message is simple and powerful:
“Your military skills don’t disappear when you leave service. With the right support, they can become the foundation of a successful and rewarding NHS career.”
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