The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7305 p791
26 June 2004

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Agenda for Change will alter promotion route

Agenda for Change (AfC) is likely to lead to a change in how long staff will work at a grade before moving up to the next grade, according to Tony West, president of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists. Speaking at the “Getting ready for AfC” meeting in Birmingham this week, he pointed out that all pharmacists will be part of a new career structure when the AfC system is implemented.

National roll out for AfC is likely to take place in December with an agreement back dated to October, according to Ron Pate, pharmaceutical adviser for secondary care at West Midlands Strategic Health Authority. Members of the guild are likely to be balloted in September or October on the new system.

Mr Pate said that although AfC affects their pay it is really about modernising service delivery in the NHS. From the management perspective, chief pharmacists will have to deal with the lower contracted hours that their pharmacists will be working.

The chief pharmacists new grade has been agreed nationally. They will generally be placed in bands 8c and 8d, with basic salaries of between £46,671 and £69,260.