Simon Wan
Upmister,Essex
Summary
Strategic Pharmacy leader with expert knowledge of the NHS and proven track record of leading large, multidisciplinary teams across diverse NHS sectors. Skilled in financial oversight and business case development. Recognised for building high-performing teams, enhancing staff engagement and cultivating a positive, inclusive departmental culture. A confident and adaptable communicator, with the ability to influence executive teams, clinical leaders, external stakeholders and the wider pharmacy workforce. Strong advocate for system-wide collaborative working to deliver integrated and patient focused care.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work history
Chief Pharmacist & Director of Pharmacy
Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust
Dartford, Kent
08.2021 - Current
Lead team of +100 staff to deliver safe, clinically effective pharmaceutical services
Member of Trust Leadership Team delivering Trust's strategic objectives
Member of Kent & Medway Chief pharmacist Medicines Optimisation team leading Medicines Value portfolio for the integrated Care System
Key successes
- Build & develop pharmacy senior leadership team to support the pharmacy team deliver on the NHS long term plan.
- Navigate department through significant staffing shortages whilst maintaining high quality services.
- Successfully securing over £1.5m through capital business cases to delivery pharmacy automation
- Leading department to deliver and overachieve on annual Cost Improvement Programme (CIP). Delivering +£1m in 2024/25
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Gillingham, Kent
06.2018 - 08.2021
Supported Chief pharmacist to delivery high quality pharmacy services to Trust
Act as business manager for department
Key successes
- Lead on staffing consultation, implemented 7 day working. Commended by union members of Trust's Joint Consultative Committee
- Increase pharmacy workforce by 15% through successful business cases
- Lead on pharmacy CIP and overachieve on annual Trust targets
- Deliver annual NHSE Medicines Optimisation CQUIN
Chief pharmacist
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
10.2014 - 06.2018
Developed comprehensive pharmaceutical services encompassing rehabilitation wards, community nursing, paediatric, diabetes, palliative and prison services
Key successes:
- Acted as subject matter expert for Lord Carter report: NHS operational productivity: unwarranted variations Mental health services Community health services, Published May 2026
- Created innovative administrative methods using unregistered staff to enhance efficiency of workforce
- Established education and training programme for governance of non-medical prescribing workforce.
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Whittington Hospital
Archway, Islington
09.1998 - 10.2014
Lead delivery of inpatient clinical services and worked as Cancer Specialist Pharmacist, manage +50 clinical staff
Key Successes:
- Member of Pan London pharmacist group which delivered clinical trial harmonisation project
- Delivered business cases improving access to numerous new cancer drugs
Education
Certificate of Higher Education - NHS Leadership Academy - Mary Seacole
The Open University
Milton Keynes2016
Diploma of Higher Education - Clinical Pharmacy
Queen's University Belfast
Belfast2001
Certificate of Higher Education - Pharmacy Practice
University College London - School of Pharmacy
London2000
MRPharmS - Pharmacy
Whittington Hospital - GPhC
London1999
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy - BPharm
King's College London
London1998
A Levels - A, C, C Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics
A-Levels Westminster Kingsway College
London1994
GCSE - A,B,C Mathematics, English Literature/language
Langdon Park Secondary School
London1992
Skills
- Strategic leadership with expert knowledge of NHS Proven ability to lead pharmacy services in various sectors
- Proficiency in budget management and business case development
- Clear and persuasive communication at all levels from Trust executives, clinical leaders, external partners and pharmacy workforce,
- Skilled in team building, staff engagement and developing positive departmental culture
- Provide strong leadership in embedding Quality Management Systems and leading initiatives on medication safety, incident investigation and continuous quality improvement
- Extensive knowledge of regulatory and governance with NHS, specifically within pharmaceutical services
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Pharmacist & Director of Pharmacy
Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust
08.2021 - Current
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
06.2018 - 08.2021
Chief pharmacist
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
10.2014 - 06.2018
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Whittington Hospital
09.1998 - 10.2014
Certificate of Higher Education - NHS Leadership Academy - Mary Seacole
The Open University
Diploma of Higher Education - Clinical Pharmacy
Queen's University Belfast
Certificate of Higher Education - Pharmacy Practice
University College London - School of Pharmacy
MRPharmS - Pharmacy
Whittington Hospital - GPhC
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy - BPharm
King's College London
A Levels - A, C, C Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics
A-Levels Westminster Kingsway College
GCSE - A,B,C Mathematics, English Literature/language
Langdon Park Secondary School
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