A question on future salaries in Community Pharmacy?

[peace800]

Hi

With several new schools of Pharmacy opened and therefore more and more Pharmacists expected in the next 3-5 years what effect will this have on pay in Community Pharmacy?

If one was to do a 39hr standard contract what can one expect to earn in retail and how do you see salaries going in the next few years? With the promised use of more clinical services do you think that this will reflect in the salaries?

Also would some of you say that locumming is preferable in terms of financial rewards?

thankyou

[LeftArm]

Many busier pharmacies (in the group i work for) are now using two pharmacists and with the increase in clinical services over script volume I guess this will continue.
In the end this is likely to lead to either a two tier pay level or perhaps a broader pay scale where the lower end of the scale is lower than currently but the higher end is higher.

This of course assumes that payment for services actually reflects the cost of providing qualified staff to provide them.

I'm neither a pharmacist or locum so can't really comment on your other question.

[johnep]

More likely that will revert to the period just after the first world war when pharmacists were two a penny and could earn more working in the new cinemas.
johnep

[hibernia]

More likely that will revert to the period just after the first world war when pharmacists were two a penny and could earn more working in the new cinemas.
johnep

You are such an optimist

Are there a lot of new cinemas opening?

[culchie82]

I'm with Johnep on this one, they're two a penny at home in Ireland at the minute and it's going that way in the UK. I'm not really worried to be honest I intend to be trained up in something else and back home to the tranquility of my native land where the only addicts around, are those who are addicted to tea, the Ulster Championship and a good drop of Mass.

[hibernia]

I'm with Johnep on this one, they're two a penny at home in Ireland at the minute and it's going that way in the UK. I'm not really worried to be honest I intend to be trained up in something else and back home to the tranquility of my native land where the only addicts around, are those who are addicted to tea, the Ulster Championship and a good drop of Mass.

Good idea culchie. If you are looking for alternatives you might find a few addicted to the "fish food" and "bath salts" available in their local head shop.
That's the only growth industry here now. One in Dublin burned down recently (helped by its rivials) and the owner was only worried about the safe. Fortunately it was fire-proof because it contained €500,000 in cash. Do you know any other way of getting that sort of money?

[mhb08112]

Just an observation I made - the females outnumber the males by 4 to 1 in my year group... Plenty of work for the men when the babies are being had!

[hibernia]

Just an observation I made - the females outnumber the males by 4 to 1 in my year group... Plenty of work for the men when the babies are being had!

Good point. If availability of pharmacists drops due to large numbers being unavailable for work, for whatever reason, the salaries for the remainder should rise.

Problem is that any work done mainly by women drops in status and thus payment rates.

[johnep]

Yes, this has happened in many previously male dominated professions. After all, if it had been Mr Lee that had been convicted, would probably have lost the house etc. Understand that this is why GMC disliked striking off Drs in the past.
johnep

[pharmer7]

Dunno about it being dominated by women, looking at the stats from the Society annual review, the numbers were 29,157 males, and 29,570 females.