There are too many Pharmacists in England

[sloane]

With 5 new Pharmacy schools in the last 5 years,influx of EU Pharmacists and 100's from India,the future of Pharmacy in England is extremely bleak.I predict the locum rate will drop to £12 per hour very soon.

[johnep]

In the spring I was predicting this autumn would be crunch time. We are parallel to the 30s when pharmacists earned less than cinema attendants. Then they opened lots of small pharmacies. That option pretty well closed now.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

My prediction is that more locums will take up management positions which serves the goal of the multiples.
They cannot survive on locums and need regular faces to develop services.
Make sure you negotiate a good package.

[gmorris291]

Is it really that bad out there to find work? I retired some ten years ago and used to struggle to get good locums in those days. What is the current rate for a locum? If it were to drop to £12.00 an hour it would make me wonder if I should re-train for a job with a lot less stress.

[shan]

Is it really that bad out there to find work? I retired some ten years ago and used to struggle to get good locums in those days. What is the current rate for a locum? If it were to drop to £12.00 an hour it would make me wonder if I should re-train for a job with a lot less stress.

I Agree.

I predict the locum rate will drop to £12 per hour very soon.

Don't exagerate things. If rates go to that level, do you think anyone will still take up pharmacy course ????? And do you think we smart pharmacists (80 % out there) would still agree to work as locums ?? and do you think anyone can expect any service from these people demanding £ 12 ????? Wake up my friend and come to reality. At this rate all I can see is rates of around 19 for a new comer and atleast 22 for an experienced locum.

Shan

[Asterix]

people always seem to be monaning about locum rates falling etc etc but the fact is they never have and i cant see that happening any time soon

[admin]

people always seem to be monaning about locum rates falling etc etc but the fact is they never have and i cant see that happening any time soon

It's not that the rate is falling, in my opinion, it's that it has stayed the same for so long. I can remember earning £25 per hour about 4-5 years ago, and then it was a very good living. Now it's obviously not worth the same in real terms.

[Tony Schofield]

There may be increasing numbers of pharmacists but a) I can't see them so it may be a more local problem (probably in London in particular) and b) there is a shortage of good pharmacists. At one point all you needed was a pulse. That is not the case now. Good pharmacists will always get well remunerated jobs if they are prepared to look for them.

[STC]

£12 per hour ? My goodness, what a terrible view on life you must have.

I haven't seen any reduction in the enquiries I get for locum work, nor a reduction in rates. I agree that rates haven't increased for a while, but £12 per hour ? Did I see you walking round the town centre the other day with a placard saying 'The World will end tomorrow !!' ?

Earning a name for yourself as a good, hard working locum pays dividends my friend. Try it.

Stephen

[Fleegle]

It is changing, and rates are decreasing. Many experienced pharmacists are accepting a safe haven with multiples, both small and large. Holiday pay, sick pay, force-majeur days, paid bank holidays, professional fees paid, mileage and hotel accomodation paid, maximum staff discount, profit-sharing scheme, bonus structure, guaranteed locum cover, properly trained staff, comfortable working environment, sensible working hours, lunch breaks..etc etc.

All the above, along with the benefits I haven't immediately thought about, are actively decreasing the rate paid to locums, in order that companies can look after their existing staff and cover their overheads.

Don't forget an employed pharmacist earning, say £40K per annum, with 5 weeks holiday and 9 bank holidays actually costs the employer £45K... plus employers National Insurance contributions.

Fleeg.