so I gather

[online_now]

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[DavidS]

You employ ALL locum pharmacists at your pharmacy?

Perhaps you can only get the bad ones to work there, for some reason.

While it is true locums cannot contractually get involved in management issues, and normally I won't put orders away because half the items would never be found again, and I sit down whenever I can around the middle of the day if the shop is open over lunch, I get a lot of repeat business. So I guess I must be doing what is required of me. I can't remember when I last read a newspaper, though.

Actually, playing snap with scripts is more interesting than most newspapers, nowadays.

[online_now]

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[Zoggite]

Theres quite a few shops where they have no manager

Have you ever wondered whether there might be a reason for this? Sounds to me like you've been working in one of those places I wouldn't touch with a bargepole...

and we have to make do with locums.

"Make do with locums":I suspect the locums you get, can sense that you hold them in such high esteem...

[online_now]

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[Defblade]

Zog I have no clue what the reason is. All I know is that a lot do not care, they just want to earn their £25 per hour or whatever they get paid and do as little as possible. A lot come in with the 'I have a degree attitude therefore certain jobs are beneath me' If the dispensary is short staffed you have to muck in simple as that earn your money! My problem is that Im too nice thats why one gets walked over! Anyway soon as I find something better Im off like a shot...

Only other thing to do is try and attract one of the good ones as a permanent manager (keeps happening to me - 3 times so far, and a good few more offers I've turned down ).

I'm afraid that there's all sorts of people in every job; as both a locum and a manager in my time I definately get the impression that some locums are only locums as they get to drop everything they don't want to bother with. But then there's some good ones too - but we get booked up anything up to a year (or more even) in advance (and you'd have always needed at least 3 months notice to stand a chance of getting into my diary). It maybe that whoever books your locums doesn't work far enough ahead to get the good ones?



I've met plenty of staff who won't do things that are "the pharmacist's job" or take any effort or pride in their work ("the pharmacist gets paid to make sure it's right") so it's not a one-way thing, I can assure you!

Please remember that, on the whole, the people (whatever their job - I'm including you and me, for a start) who take the time and make the effort to come onto a forum like this and post are the good ones

[Messier]

well not all locums are like that. this one even unpacks orders in quite periods. i won't say you are unlucky because i often follow such locums in bookings and spend my first couple of hours catching up from the day before so there must be quite a few out there. we are all paid the same and i know it's little consolation but i am not a fan of lazy locums either.
i have often wondered why they are like that and regretabily have come to the conclusion that it is because they can be. that and they have not been taught a nice work ethic, being helpful to patients and staff basic people management. a shame really. you have my sympathy.
Oh by the way they are expected to do more than check so stand your ground and ask them to check what is expected in the RP regulations- the "all aspects of the delivery of a safe service" bit. good luck and employ them on recommendation.
on a personal note i just hate the way these people spoil it for all locums-some are different.

[johnep]

Unpack goods?. Arrived one Saturday to find 18 tote boxes awaiting my single handed pleasure. Pts kept coming in and saying had been promised for today, trying to find one item in 18 tote boxes was a nightmare, and, of course, Mrs Murgatroyd must have her meds NOW and you have got to do an MUR this morning. The Saturday girl had been trained to say 'Would you like to wait?'
I very nearly quit.
johnep

[jay332]

As a long term locum pharmacist very rarely do i have time to read a book or newspaper when on the job, and i don't think i've ever claimed to be 'there just to check'! and if having a quiet spell i do try to help put the order away. Must be HR issue's if a lot of your shop's have no managers (large multiple perhaps ?) Do you not use pro-forma locum feedback forms with the booking co-ordinators / agency so you don't get the dodgy locums back? On a final note i wanted to say if your good you do get booked up well in advance and offered PAYE positions quite frequently as im now booking 3 months in advance.

[Pharmanaut]

As a long term locum pharmacist very rarely do i have time to read a book or newspaper when on the job, and i don't think i've ever claimed to be 'there just to check'! and if having a quiet spell i do try to help put the order away. Must be HR issue's if a lot of your shop's have no managers (large multiple perhaps ?) Do you not use pro-forma locum feedback forms with the booking co-ordinators / agency so you don't get the dodgy locums back? On a final note i wanted to say if your good you do get booked up well in advance and offered PAYE positions quite frequently as im now booking 3 months in advance.

You get glared at in some places if you stop to pick up the Tariff or the BNF to check something.
Never mind a newspaper.

And the looks you get when you use the online BNF instead of the book.
(Online is much easier to read with my eyes!)