Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 12 No 7 p248
July/August 2005

News summary

Preregistration trainees given AfC pay increase

The preregistration trainee national profile for Agenda for Change is to be in band 5. Current preregistration trainees whose posts match the national profile will have a salary rise from £14,189 to £15,877 backdated to October 2004. They will receive a further increase backdated to April 2005. Graduates starting in August 2005 will have a starting salary in the range £16,389 to £18,698, depending on the stage of assimilation in their trust. They will also be entitled to an increment after six months, in line with other entry level posts (salary scale shown in panel).

The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists has stated that it agreed to the profile reluctantly. It is concerned that the title of the profile — pharmacist entry level — may be confusing during the matching process. It is also concerned that the profile does not fully recognise the range of skills and responsibilities of the post, with inconsistencies when compared with the entry level pharmacy technician post. The points of contention include the factors for physical skills, responsibility for patient care, responsibility for human resources and responsibility for information resources.

David Miller, chair of the Guild’s terms and conditions committee, commented, “although there are concerns, we know they do not affect the outcome of the band”.