Pre-reg at a hospital

[Asterix]

I am in year 3 and I am aware I will have to make my applications for pre-reg come end of this year. I have done 2 weeks of work experience in a hospital before. I am not too keen on retail side. Can anyone who has/has applied/ is doing a pre-reg at hospital tell me what they have found their experience to be and if it will be beneficial to the future. I am aware that pay isn't of a great standard within hospital.

[vanquish s]

Actually the pay is quite good u will start of £25k, u only work 37.5hrs a week and get 7 weeks of in total each year. On call will increase this to £28k. Then u get a diploma worth £2500 which will further your clinical knowledge profoundly. After your diploma on bad seven u will probs earn £30-40k at band 7 so start to catch up with community. After that promotion is down to your dedication and wanting to relocate. After all you can always locm when u want as well.

[Asterix]

Thanks for that info vanquish, however the jump from 25k to community pay takes a significant time right? I have also heard that pre-reg training in hospital is much more full on which I would want. If I wanted to move out into community after pre-reg would that be very hard?

[laurabuk]

I don't know about going from hospital to a full-time store pharmacist, but I've got a few friends who have joined the locum life from hospital. I guess it depends on your contracts and the market at the time (numbers of community pre-regs applying for pharmacist jobs and the number of places available) but I'm sure that having a summer placement in the company you want to work in wil help.

On the flip side though, there is currently a shortage of Band 6 pharmacists, especially up here in the North so there are jobs out there for people and I know people who have gone from hospital pre-reg to hospital Band 6 and a community pre-reg who went into hospital.

Go with what feels right for you, I'm hospital through and through and don't care about the pay difference as I know I'll be doing a job I love but only you can decide what's right for you

[Nik]

I'm hospital through and through and don't care about the pay difference as I know I'll be doing a job I love but only you can decide what's right for you

Ditto here I only had a week hospital placement this summer but for what it was worth it could have been four weeks. I would definitely recommend going for a placement this summer and impressing them enough to hopefully get you a pre-reg. Pay in hospital pre-reg is actually probably better than community. I'll be getting over 20k when i start next year and I know a few people in community getting around 17-18k. Of course money is not everything, and what you want from a career in hospital depends on what you put in at the start.

[Asterix]

which hospital do you work at laura?

The major concern I have is the fact that I observed many pharmacists having to do so much additional work as there was so much understaffing. Which hospital is best in the nw?

[laurabuk]

Hey,

See PM for details but I'm a final year so not out in the big bad world - yet!

[amariee]

hi i am just entered 3rd year pharmacy and not sure where to do my pre reg... but i have only had community experience this summer for 3 weeks . havent done hospital yet. lookin to apply this summer..i heard its very competitive are there any hospitals in london you can recommend and i'll have a higher chance of gettin a place? thank you

[Sofia]

Why don't you just simply ring a few and speak to whoever will decide on this before you formally apply?

[vanquish s]

No probs, the jump dosent take that long asterix. 2-3 yrs and you will be on 30-40k. Not bad. Plus you can locum. Then you could get a band 8a after another yr or 2 and be on £37k-£45k, then 8b £45k-55k. You can also move acorss areas or even move into industry.

Hospital and industry hold many parallels. Medical information and advising, quality assurance, clinical trials etc
Not a bad deal