From Mr D. M. Blake, MRPharmS
SIR,-Through your columns I would like to address all locum pharmacists. From an agency, I have worked for several days recently for Moss Pharmacy. I was informed by the agency that I would be paid a certain rate per mile for travel expenses.
When I received my first payment I was absolutely amazed and horrified to find that I had not been paid for the first 10 miles, ie, 20 miles on a return journey.
I consider this to be iniquitous and mean and petty in the extreme. After all, we are doing them a service by travelling more than 10 miles to one of their pharmacies, so why should we not be paid for the whole journey instead of being penalised?
David Blake
Elstree, Hertfordshire
Mr SIMON HULME (operations director, Moss Pharmacy) replies: Mr Blake states that he worked through an agency. All agencies are made aware of the arrangements regarding travel expenses and it is their responsibility to advise locums of these arrangements.
The policy operated by Moss Pharmacy is as he states, ie, 25p per mile less 20 miles per trip (10 miles each way). We believe that this is actually a better rate than a number of other similar employers of locum pharmacists, who pay the same rates, 25p, less 40 miles per trip (20 miles each way). We believe that it is standard practice in most industries that an employee expects to pay some, if not all, of their travel costs to work.
We are obviously disappointed to hear that Mr Blake was surprised by the rate but would reiterate that we believe our policy to be fair and it is always made very clear to the agencies supplying us with locums.