Locum Salary

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by johnep

My son has had his car converted to LPG. reckons paid back cost in three months.
johnep

Thought about that, but there are no local LPG points near where I live.
There's a field of rapeseed though. Anyone got a press?

[wwjd_andy]

Wise words Johnep (post #9). Having just joined the forum, I would really appreciate the advice of my more experienced colleagues on current locum supply and demand, and what career options people are considering in the light of the above.

[aussiepharmer]

Hi, I am currently a pharmacy student in Australia. I am a bit interested in working in Britain after I obtain my license here. The pay in Australia is quite poor, averaging about 60 to 70k in Aussie dollars. It seems like the locum salary here is even lower, and inflation is also a huge problem here. There are about 16 pharmacy schools in Australia, with a population of only 21 million here. It also seems like there's a pessimism regarding the pharmacist career, and I heard that about three fourth of my pharmacy uni get out of the pharmacy field

How's the life and pharmacy career prospects in Britain? Would you recommend me moving there? I've never been to Europe but the UK seems like a cool place to live, but am I in any way misjudging?

[Tony Schofield]

I think pharmacy is a fantastic profession with a fantastic future for pharmacists who grasp the opportunities. I back that up with the fact that I have had a career in pharmacy that has given me a fantastic standard of living (I started with absolutely nothing but my education) and I am aware of the opportunities afforded enterprising pharmacists by the recent White paper on pharmacy.

Most of the people who snivel about pharmacy are those that ignore opportunity and expect the world to owe them a living. It doesn't.

I really wish I was newly qualified now as pharmacy is a career with a bright future. The "responsible pharmacist" is an opportunity not a threat.

Come to the UK by all means and good luck to you. But it does depend on you not the profession itself what you will get out of the deal.

With regard to locum rates, they may well be under pressure currently due to slightly increased supply however I didn't hear locums complaining during the "fallow year" when rates went up by about 30% in our patch.

Company cars are all very well but isn't it better to choose and run your own at the current rates of company car tax?

[aussiepharmer]

What's the minimum full time work hours required in UK?
Can you work as locum for like, 20 hours during the weekdays and the other 20 hrs during the weekends? (Do you still earn overtime pay during the weekends?)
How does this system work?

[johnep]

For many years I did one hour Sunday rota for two out of three Sundays and every other Saturday morning. No minimum or maximum hours for self employed locums. Do one hour or a hundred, it is up to you.
johnep

[Tony Schofield]

But don't expect double time for overtime!

[lamzee]

Originally Posted by aussiepharmer

What's the minimum full time work hours required in UK?
Can you work as locum for like, 20 hours during the weekdays and the other 20 hrs during the weekends? (Do you still earn overtime pay during the weekends?)
How does this system work?

I may be wrong, but can "Aussies" do locums? Don't you need a sponsor (employer) for your work visa?

[aussiepharmer]

Thanks, but do you still get double pay rate if you work during weekends?









To lamzee:
I think Australians are allowed to work as locums as long as they become lincesed in Britain.

[johnep]

Last quoted rates from a multiple are:

Mon -Fr 8-7pm £23/hr

Sat £25/hr

Sun/Bank Hols £27/hr

Sunday Rota £42/hr for first hour

Easter Sun/New Years Day/Christmas Day £60/hr for first hour.

Rates may have been changed recently while I have been abroad.

Johnep