Over the past three decades medicines have changed considerably in their range, complexity, cost and availability. Hospital pharmacy has changed in response to these factors. During the 1960s, many medicines used within hospitals were manufactured in hospital pharmacy departments. However the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, together with increased regulation over the manufacture of medicines, meant that the skills of many hospital pharmacy staff could be better utilized elsewhere. It was during this time that ward pharmacy developed. Evidence was emerging that the increased complexity of how medicines were used on wards was leading to an unacceptable level of problems associated with medicines use. This review mainly focused on ward pharmacists was able to provide advice on wards to help minimize these problems and research methodology for pharmacy practice.