Is there ANY work in N.Ireland?

[Proteuspal]

Hi,
as a current pre reg i am looking at my options for next year, one being a Phd. I am interested in going to one of the Ulster unis. However, to boost some income i would need to get some work as a locum. I know there is a vast oversupply of Pharmacists in N.Ireland. Would there be ANY chance of getting some work on the side? I did hear a figure of 1600 pharmacists for 500jobs which does speak for itself...
This is just one of the options i am considering, and the possibility of some local locum work will inevitably influence my decision.
Thanks in advance!
Proteuspal

[lamzee]

Nil chance of work, unless you have contacts that you can pull.

[hibernia]

Afraid Lamzee is right. Loads of experienced locums and ex-proprietors there aren't able to get work. One told me he had 2 days in the whole of September and both those were south of the border. He is registered and works on both sides and says North is even worse than South at the moment and that is BAD.

[Proteuspal]

ok. this information will really play a role in where i go for a Phd. I really would need to keep my hand in to be honest. Boosting my income would also do no harm either.

Ok, so things are bad now both sides of the border. For people in the know-is the outlook any better medium term? It probably is best in the South where there is not such a vast oversupply of Pharmacists?

[lamzee]

? It probably is best in the South where there is not such a vast oversupply of Pharmacists?

No--emergency tax in the south. 50% deducted at source. Very little work

[johnep]

To have any chance of work you will have to give up on Ireland and do your PhD in either East Anglia or South West of England.
johnep

[Proteuspal]

Hi Johnep
are Pharmacists in such sort supply in E.Anglia and SW England that you could be pretty certain of some work?
Thank you

[johnep]

According to a manpower survey in the PJ in 2005. One reason I retired to E Anglia.
johnep

[hibernia]

Ok, so things are bad now both sides of the border. For people in the know-is the outlook any better medium term? It probably is best in the South where there is not such a vast oversupply of Pharmacists?

For many years there was a severe shortage of pharmacists in the South, pushing up wages.
There was only one School of Pharmacy, producing only 50 graduates a year. Instead of increasing capacity there or even opening a second school we came up with the Irish solution to open TWO new Schools of Pharmacy. Output trebled at the very point when payments to pharmacists got slashed and many graduates have difficulty even getting a pre-reg place never mind a job.

For a long time I worked excessive hours with few days off and fewer proper holidays because it was impossible to get a decent locum. The only ones available were those who couldn't get other work and there was a good reason why nobody was employing them!
Now there are loads of good locums desperately looking for work but I can't AFFORD to take a day off.

We seem to be blindly following what happened in the UK over the last 5-10 years and it seems the outcome will the same - a complete takeover by the multiples.
The mood here is really despondant. Please tell me I'm too pessimistic but I see no future for independant pharmacy.

[culchie82]

I can tell you with out fear of contradiction that there is absolutely no work in Northern Ireland at the minute, be it full time or locum work. Queens is churning out over 120 every year and and most of these people can't get work- the situation is only going to get worse, as I understand there is a new School of Pharmacy opening up on the North coast. It's that bad that the UCA has sent emails to Locums, advertising Dispensary assistant jobs! I even know some Locums who are working in warehouses!