The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7482 p687-690
15 December 2007

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Young pharmacists are starting to develop cross-sector portfolio careers

Locum pharmacists are riding a booming market, with more and more community pharmacies planning extended hours, writes Debbie Andalo

Careers series

SUMMARY

The locum market in hospital and community pharmacy is booming and the popularity of the 100-hour pharmacy contract for supermarkets is creating new flexible working opportunities. Morale in primary care is starting to improve following reorganisation of trusts and financial cutbacks, but there is little movement in the recruitment market in this sector at senior level, although there are employment opportunities in junior grades.

In hospital pharmacy up to 18 per cent of lower grade posts are unfilled as newly qualified juniors turn their backs on the sector, seduced by community posts offering higher salaries — sometimes as much as £12,000 more. A new breed of pharmacist is starting to emerge as the idea of creating a portfolio career — working as a “freelance” pharmacist across the sectors — becomes more popular.

There are around five vacancies for every locum on the books of Reed Health, according to John Herron, its divisional director for doctors, health and nurses. He says: “The market has changed in the past 12 to 18 months when there used to be more locums than jobs. Now there are about five jobs for every locum so they can pick and choose.” The increased opportunities in hospital and community have been helped by the changes in the rules governing overseas pharmacists who want to practise in the UK.

Pharmacists disappointed with their new grade under Agenda for Change have also voted with their feet and turned their backs on permanent posts in the NHS, according to Mr Herron. He says: “The request for locums, especially in Scotland, went through the roof as pharmacists [left] following Agenda for Change. Most of the demand was for grades at six or seven.”

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