Tax and expenses for locum hospital pharmacists

[cheapshots]

Hi guys,

I'm a currently tackling the challenges of being a locum hospital pharmacist! I've been forced to set up a Ltd. company by the agencies, which I have done.

I have been working at the same NHS trust for roughly 7 months.

Are there any other hospital locums out there?! If so, what do you do regarding expenses (travel, lunch, etc..) because I've heard that the IR may consider you in full time employment and so not able to claim back expenses.

Cheapshots

[johnep]

Who pays your NI?. If you pay, then self employed. If hospital or agency pay, then employed.
johnep

[cheapshots]

I pay my NI. However I don't think it's as clear cut as that. Legislation called IR35 maybe applicable. What that'll mean is that even though I'm a locum - no annual leave, no sick pay, hourly wage, 1 week rolling contract etc.... I may be regarded as a full time employee because I have been working for the same NHS Trust for a few months :-(

[johnep]

The fact that you pay your own NI is a very strong factor, it is illegal for an employer not to pay NI. Also whio determines which days you work?, if you then you are self employed. Clincher would be if you worked elsewhere as a locum. I always ensured worked for at least two employers during the year. Myself, I would charge mileage, lunch in the canteen, parking etc.
johnep

[cheapshots]

Thanks for the replies johnep.

IR35 which is the piece of legislation that can allow the IR to regard me as an employee is 'per contract' so even if I worked for 3 NHS Trusts a year (each for 4 months) then I may still fall into that legislation. Which to me sounds absurd, for obvious reasons. I wondered whether anyone could shed some light?

Out of curiosity, have you done any locum work within the NHS johnep?

[johnep]

Not really, three weeks in 1957 convinced me that hospitals were not for me Cannot remember whether tax was deducted or not, believe you may be able to claim back later, I did when doing supply teaching for a month or so.
sorry.
johnep

[pharmer7]

Not really, three weeks in 1957 convinced me that hospitals were not for me Cannot remember whether tax was deducted or not, believe you may be able to claim back later, I did when doing supply teaching for a month or so.
sorry.
johnep

Just curious as to what you didn't enjoy about hospital locuming. Thought it was dispensary work like community, without the 400-500 script days mania that I usually have to endure!

[johnep]

Pharmacy staff at King George V hospital in Ilford consisted of one tech and the pharmacist. I was interviewed by the hospital secretary.
1) I asked where I should have lunch, dreaming of the consultants dining room. 'Oh you can go with the porters' was the reply.
2) We had Thorium X every Wednesday in case needed by the skin clinic. This came as bottle in a lead box. It was not used and I asked re disposal as Harwell would not accept returns. 'down the sink' where I stood most of the day.
3) One of the surgeons infused amethocaine around a surgical wound to deaden pain. This is unstable in solution, but I was supposed to make up. I asked re pyrogen free water and met by a blank stare. I asked re infusion bottles and was told none available and to use some babies feeding bottles instead. They did have a small autoclave.
4) pay was £15 / week, when in community I was getting £20 + £3 expenses.
5) We received a delivery of Acth injections from Armour (an American meat packing company based in Chicago, which produced animal based pharmaceuticals such as insulin, thyroid, pancreas, heparin etc). This was stored in a large cupboard crammed with stock. 'Oh one of the consultants was conducting a trial, but not had any suitable patients for a while). Later I discovered he was also looking at Butazolidin which was also under trial. (First of the non steroidals)

I did this for three weeks at the Easter vac while still at college taking B.Phm.

At that time there were several pages of hospital jobs in the PJ. One pharmacy proprietor sold his business in Basildon and became the Chief pharmacist at Basildon hospital. a Mr Moon I seem to remember.

johnep

[Xzozer]

At that time there were several pages of hospital jobs in the PJ.
johnep

No change there then and still no change in the pay difference either.