NHS pharmacy workforce rises by 2 per cent between 2006 and 2007
The number of qualified pharmacy staff working in the NHS rose by nearly
2 per cent from September 2006 to September 2007, new figures show.
The latest workforce survey, published by the Department of Health, shows
that the number of qualified pharmacy staff rose from 13,536 to 13,800
over this period (a rise of 1.95 per cent), equating to an increase in
full-time equivalent staff from 11,902 to 12,139 (1.99 per cent). This
is an increase on the year 2005–06 when pharmacy staff numbers
were almost static, but follows an increasing trend, with numbers of
pharmacy staff up by 30 per cent since 2001.
Pharmacy support staff have seen a massive expansion in number, with
a 129 per cent increase between 1999 and 2007. However, there was a fall
of 1.6 per cent during 2006–07 (from 3,322 to 3,268).
The latest figures show that of all qualified pharmacy staff working
in the NHS, there are 10,776 full-time equivalents working in trusts,
1,355 working for primary care trusts, and just two working in strategic
health authorities (seven people were classed as “other”).
David Miller, vice-president of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists,
commented: “This lack of regional pharmaceutical presence is regrettable
since local action on pharmacy issues will be more difficult and thus
may require more central professional intervention. Without this intervention
there may be missed opportunities for identification of workforce needs
and associated planning based on denominators such as beds, population
and patient activity.”
He continued: “For example, the Department of Health in England
has given a clear commitment to increase the number of hospital preregistration
graduates over the next few years to address the vacancy issue and, while
we consider this is best addressed by a national recruitment and retention
premium, this survey could at least allow those resources to be targeted
more effectively.”
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