By Sue Braithwaite, ePMA Solution Architect Consultant
A career in digital health offers pharmacy professionals the chance to combine clinical expertise with technology to improve patient safety. With over 30 years in the NHS and healthcare IT, I’ve focused on medication management, digital transformation and safer prescribing. From hospital pharmacy to freelance electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) Solution Architect Consultant, my career has been driven by clinical insight and innovation.
A turning point came when my son suffered a serious insulin administration error caused by a nurse misreading a doctor’s handwriting. That moment fuelled my resolve to help prevent avoidable harm. I’ve seen how poorly designed systems can increase risk, but also how powerful well-implemented digital solutions can be in protecting patients.
Starting out in pharmacy and medicines management
My career began at Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, where I developed the first Principal Technician Medicines Management role. Early exposure to clinical risk sparked a passion for using digital tools to enhance safety in fast-paced environments.
Transitioning into Digital Health and ePMA
In 2001, I transitioned into digital health as an ePMA Project Manager, leading the implementation of the Torex prescribing solution. This immersive role - spanning configuration, training and safety validation - set the course for the rest of my career.
Since then, I’ve worked across the NHS, private healthcare, and leading suppliers such as Torex, EMIS, iSOFT, CSC, InterSystems, and Altera, always focused on bridging the clinical–technical gap. Whether as a trainer, consultant, or clinical safety advisor, I’ve ensured digital systems are safe, intuitive, and fit for use.
Building expertise and current focus
Throughout my career, I’ve developed specialist expertise in electronic prescribing and medicines management, supporting organisations to:
- Design and refine ePMA systems
- Map complex clinical workflows into digital processes
- Provide strategic advice to digital teams
- Support system validation, training, and go-lives
- Ensure clinical safety compliance and usability
Today, I apply these skills as a freelance ePMA consultant, delivering clinical IT programmes across the UK and internationally.
National and international projects
In addition to contributing to UK national programmes, I have appraised international prescribing systems and supported projects overseas. Most recently, I reviewed a genomics-based prescribing solution for an Italian company, exploring how pharmacogenomic data can be embedded into ePMA workflows to personalise treatment and improve outcomes. This work further expanded my understanding of future-facing clinical systems and their potential to transform care.
I’ve also drawn on my experience to present globally to thousands of clinicians on the safe implementation of ePMA. Another highlight was partnering with a production company to showcase NHS digital systems, including innovations like pharmacy robots and sharing these advances with international audiences.
Looking ahead to the future of digital prescribing
Working in digital health has shown me that technology alone doesn’t improve healthcare, people do. It’s collaboration between clinicians, digital teams, and patients that drives meaningful change. I’m proud to have contributed to that journey and remain committed to mentoring others, sharing best practices, and shaping safer, smarter digital systems Looking ahead, I’m focusing on advancing genomics-based prescribing, exploring how pharmacogenetics can be embedded into clinical systems to personalise treatment and improve patient outcomes.
For anyone interested in digital health careers, pharmacy offers a strong foundation. By applying clinical knowledge to digital transformation, you can play a vital role in shaping safer, smarter healthcare systems.
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