News summary

Fall in vacancy rate reported for hospital pharmacist posts

A survey of hospital posts carried out by the Department of Health in March has shown a fall in the vacancy rate for hospital pharmacists over the past year.

The survey, which is available on the internet shows a three month vacancy rate of 5.3 per cent, compared with a figure of 6.4 per cent obtained when the survey was carried out last year (PJ, 23 September 2000).

There was little variation in vacancy rates across the regions (from 4.3 per cent in the Northern and Yorkshire region to 5.3 per cent in the South East) with the exception of the Eastern region (10.5 per cent).

The vacancy rate for preregistration trainees was 5.1 per cent while for “other qualified pharmacy staff” the figure was 2 per cent.

Three-month vacancies were defined as whole time equivalent vacancies, which trusts were actively trying to fill that had lasted for three months or more as at 31 March 2001.

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