locum looking for work

[admin]

Oh, next week just happens to be hopefully a one off, usually I try to work no more than 2-3 days. When started locums after retirement from industry, I worked mainly for an independent with four shops, his manager left and I found myself working full time for several weeks. Had already contracted to do some Saturdays and Sundays so at one time worked nine days on the trot
ie two weekends and the week between.
Local 100 hour supermarket pharmacies would love me to do 7am until 11pm shifts, but not for me!
johnep

I've been offered hours like those you mention, but how can anybody really do 7am to 11pm and keep their mind fresh? Surely nobody can, so how is that safe practice?

What did you do in industry John? Which company?

[johnep]

Left community pharmacy in 1961 because I was fed up with the hours.
Became a rep for Roche and had a great time, very few reps in those days and Drs welcomed us.

Then joined Bush Boake Allen as a marketing manager trying to drag a company founded in the 1700s into the modern age. Business was galenicals and had five enjoyable years during which had first experience of business travel with a trip to the Far East. However, obvious that galenicals were fading fast and rejoined Roche as Export manager for their chemical division selling bulk vitamins. Visited Africa where we were trying to get Vit A into the population by various means, adding to vegetable oil, sugar etc. One idea was to add Vit A to tea dust sold locally as compressed bricks. This gave me a magical trip across the rift valley from Nairobi to Kericho.

Lots of visits to Ireland where local dairies were beginning to produce babyfoods and were looking for vitamins to add. I also toured the Caribbean and Malta.

I got very used to turning left when getting on planes.

The limited list brought Roche crashing down and I was made redundant at 52.

Unable to get another managerial job I spent a year in community until a chance encounter led me back to repping again with Leo.

Managed to stay on for eighteen months following 65 and had most enjoyable time working three days a week covering London hospitals selling Low Molecular weight Heparin. Finally retired in 2001 and have been locumming ever since.

January 16th 2007 is my Golden anniversary, having had to pay nearly £300 just to stay registered until then, I will continue for next year, perhaps concentrating on MURs. Then who knows?

As someone said to me at the start of my career 'being an employee pharmacist will never make you rich, but you should be comfortable' and I am.
johhnep

[Asterix]

Left community pharmacy in 1961 because I was fed up with the hours.
Became a rep for Roche and had a great time, very few reps in those days and Drs welcomed us.

Then joined Bush Boake Allen as a marketing manager trying to drag a company founded in the 1700s into the modern age. Business was galenicals and had five enjoyable years during which had first experience of business travel with a trip to the Far East. However, obvious that galenicals were fading fast and rejoined Roche as Export manager for their chemical division selling bulk vitamins. Visited Africa where we were trying to get Vit A into the population by various means, adding to vegetable oil, sugar etc. One idea was to add Vit A to tea dust sold locally as compressed bricks. This gave me a magical trip across the rift valley from Nairobi to Kericho.

Lots of visits to Ireland where local dairies were beginning to produce babyfoods and were looking for vitamins to add. I also toured the Caribbean and Malta.

I got very used to turning left when getting on planes.

The limited list brought Roche crashing down and I was made redundant at 52.

Unable to get another managerial job I spent a year in community until a chance encounter led me back to repping again with Leo.

Managed to stay on for eighteen months following 65 and had most enjoyable time working three days a week covering London hospitals selling Low Molecular weight Heparin. Finally retired in 2001 and have been locumming ever since.

January 16th 2007 is my Golden anniversary, having had to pay nearly £300 just to stay registered until then, I will continue for next year, perhaps concentrating on MURs. Then who knows?

As someone said to me at the start of my career 'being an employee pharmacist will never make you rich, but you should be comfortable' and I am.
johhnep

how much u earning

[faye]

I am a newly qualified pharmacist and having done my prereg in london and working under locums who seemed to find plenty of work in london i was under the illusion that I wouldnt have trouble finding locum work but I was wrong as a result I have decided to relocate and get a permanent job.

The truth is to find work you need to relocate or try ringing all the pharmacies in your area

chockchock - so you struggled to find work in london but the locums you worked with had lots of work..do you think this is because you are newly qualified? or your locum agency was rubbish? what areas of london are you talking about? cheers x

[ferretmanabu]

how much u earning

You're obsessed with the money. Why don't you look for a job in the city?

[johnep]

Asked how much I was earning, well in 1986 when made redundant was on 22K and when returned to community came down to 15k and no perks!.
johnep.

[Dasha]

Does anyone know why locuming work slowed down dramatically comparing to last year?

[vanquish s]

it hasnt at least not where i live. The recession could well be one reason. Everyone is cutting costs including the NHS

[Dasha]

London... but I'm not getting enough job. L/link used to have lots of job now it's only weekends, far out area or short hours. I'm still puzzeled why? Does anyone know why? How do you secure locum work these days. Thanks

[vanquish s]

Could also be everyone wants to locum, people on the scene before you, surplus pharmacists all competing for locum work