Community pharmacist wanting to do a clinical diploma for future hopes!!

[drumlingirl]

Hi
Just new onto this site, I was just wondering if anyone could help me with a few questions and queries.
Im currently in community pharmacy, been qualified 2 years but getting very bored and frustrated very quickly with this area of pharmacy. I really want to get into either a hospital or clinical role (e.g. Meds management) but dont want to take the pay cut (I still have student and travelling debts to pay off). So I thought that if I could maybe stay in community, do my clinical diploma and then try to get into one of these roles in a higher pay bracket in a couple of years.
Has anyone else done this or does anyone have any tips or advice on trying this route out?? Are there any particular courses that are good? I've been looking at the Robert Gordon distance learning one.

Any comments and advice would be greatly apprecaited. I just feel a bit lost at the minute.

Thanks in advance

[culchie82]

I don't think it is possible at all to do this, in order to progress in hospital you must start as a band 6 and work your way up (studying the clinical diploma along the way). Unfortunately this would mean a pay cut for you, and probably a big one at that.

[crit care]

yeah agree with cluchie.....you would have had to do residency in order to progress to the meds management type jobs....although saying that i do know of 1 person who was doing a distant learning diploma and came in at band 7...i guess there is always an exception to the rule....but it usually isn't the norm, so don't expect to walk into a hospital job at band 7 or above

[vanquish s]

I know of one individual who done a masters and went in as a band 8, however she also had a clinical pharmacy diploma.

[drumlingirl]

I don't think it is possible at all to do this, in order to progress in hospital you must start as a band 6 and work your way up (studying the clinical diploma along the way). Unfortunately this would mean a pay cut for you, and probably a big one at that.

Do you mean that you dont think you can do a clinical diploma in community or that you cant use this diploma to go into hospital?? Because I'm pretty sure you can do your clinical diploma in community.

[culchie82]

Okay you maybe able to do your clinical diploma while in community, but do you think it's likely you are just going to walk into a band 7 position without having worked as a band 6 first? All an employer would see is plenty of theory with no practise to back it up.

[crit care]

Okay you maybe able to do your clinical diploma while in community, but do you think it's likely you are just going to walk into a band 7 position without having worked as a band 6 first? All an employer would see is plenty of theory with no practise to back it up.

if only it were that easy...maybe i would still have black hair and wouldn't need to be popping pills every morning......

[gigeordie]

Hi there,

It is well worth doing the Clinical Diploma even if you stay in community Pharmacy. There are medicines management opportunities with GP practices which could eventually provide you with some experience that may help towards applying for a hospital post. I have a friend who is employed as branch manager with Boots (been there 10+years) and she has negotiated a shorter week (3.5 days) with her area manager leaving her free to work on a self emlpoyed basis with local surgeries in her own time.

I myself have no clinical diploma and accepted a band 8 hospital post after 4 years in community followed by 4 in the unlicensed medicines industry. However, I acknowledge that I am very, very lucky and my previous experience stood me in good stead for my role within NHS Manufacturing.

I definately think you would need to gain relevant medicines management experience in order to jump straight in at a band 7, and as much as possible. A clinical diploma on its own will not be enough. Also competition for band 7 posts is fierce

[crit care]

well thats impressive getting a band 8 post with no diploma...i've known people to get knocked back from band 7 posts with no diploma!! whats your secret??

[culchie82]

It's very hard to believe someone nowadays would be appointed to a Band 8 position with no Clinical Diploma. In fact, I'd say it's near impossible.