Now that you don't get locum work as you used to, WHAT DO YOU DO?

[Dasha]

Are you having difficulties finding Locum works? What have you tried to solve your issues? Is there any way out? What course will led me to better career?
I am about to start to apply for a permanent jobs but there seems to be less jobs out there. I loved my locum time as I was free to travel anytime but now I don't even earn enough to travel Something is wrong! even volunteer jobs are hard to get esp. for a community Pharmacist wanting to gain some Hospital experience instead of sitting at home – waiting for someone’s call – and tired of calling pharmacy for jobs. So degrading! (what a waste profession)!


The brighter side: we can rest our sore knees and backs after all these years of standing and reflect on life such as if pharmacy is our future, travel break, distance online learning, long term plan …
Can someone advice me on the types of course normally pharmacist do to get them to a different jobs?
Good luck to us all!

[Dasha]

I recently wrote to RPS for an answer and here is the reply:

Thank you for your email.

We appreciate and empathise with the situation you are in however it is very difficult to determine the reason for this. The current financial climate is almost certainly a contributing cause, however there may be number of other influencing factors e.g. local issues, and without further research it is not possible to make conclusive comments.

The RPS have been informed by a few members that locum positions are quite competitive. A recent article in the PJ suggests that the NHS isn’t recruiting in the numbers that they use to, and the number of vacant NHS pharmacy posts in England and Wales has fallen, although in Scotland the number of posts increased last year (http://www.pjonline.com/clinical-pha...ncy_rates_fall). Another article published in the Chemist and Druggist comments on the difficulty in finding locum work (Locums report increased difficulties finding work - Chemist + Druggist).

The RPS are involved in work to strengthen the pharmacy workforce, focusing on skills, knowledge and behaviours needed by the pharmacy profession now and in the future. We are also influencing and feeding back into the Modernising Pharmacy Careers programme (designed to ensure the pharmacy workforce has the knowledge, skills and capacity to deliver the services of the future for patients and the public.)

Some tips for finding work:

· Keep in regular contact with your locum agency about upcoming shifts – perhaps call them if they have not contacted you for some time

· Contact companies and pharmacies directly

· Visit local pharmacies in person and introduce yourself – perhaps leave a CV or business card

· Attend local meetings and events for pharmacists to network

· Talk to other colleagues and ask how they have overcome issues



If there is anything else we can assist with please let us know

[Tony Schofield]

It's not rocket science is it? There are jobs unfilled but perhaps not locally to where you live so re-locate? Simples?

[Dasha]

actually planning to re-locate and rent my place. That desprate . Has anyone done medicine management course and found a better job with that? The demand for Pharmacist in US is also gone down.

[Ushio78]

actually planning to re-locate and rent my place. That desprate . Has anyone done medicine management course and found a better job with that? The demand for Pharmacist in US is also gone down.

I am sorry to hear that, I understand your predicament with finding a job, but are you really considering relocating abroad? If I've got it right you have already worked as a pharmacist in UK for some time, have you tried to apply for some of the vacancies you can find online?
When I tried to apply for myself, I have been told that the problem was my lack of experience in UK (they need pharmacists that have worked for at least 6 months in UK), if you are considering a relocation, may I ask you why not a relocation in another area of UK?

Matt

[dippsy]

I recently wrote to RPS for an answer and here is the reply:

Thank you for your email.

We appreciate and empathise with the situation you are in however it is very difficult to determine the reason for this. The current financial climate is almost certainly a contributing cause, however there may be number of other influencing factors e.g. local issues, and without further research it is not possible to make conclusive comments.

The RPS have been informed by a few members that locum positions are quite competitive. A recent article in the PJ suggests that the NHS isn’t recruiting in the numbers that they use to, and the number of vacant NHS pharmacy posts in England and Wales has fallen, although in Scotland the number of posts increased last year (http://www.pjonline.com/clinical-pha...ncy_rates_fall). Another article published in the Chemist and Druggist comments on the difficulty in finding locum work (Locums report increased difficulties finding work - Chemist + Druggist).

The RPS are involved in work to strengthen the pharmacy workforce, focusing on skills, knowledge and behaviours needed by the pharmacy profession now and in the future. We are also influencing and feeding back into the Modernising Pharmacy Careers programme (designed to ensure the pharmacy workforce has the knowledge, skills and capacity to deliver the services of the future for patients and the public.)

Some tips for finding work:

· Keep in regular contact with your locum agency about upcoming shifts – perhaps call them if they have not contacted you for some time

· Contact companies and pharmacies directly

· Visit local pharmacies in person and introduce yourself – perhaps leave a CV or business card

· Attend local meetings and events for pharmacists to network

· Talk to other colleagues and ask how they have overcome issues



If there is anything else we can assist with please let us know

Sorry guys. You probably don't want to hear this but it is a terminal problem. Several reasons really:

1) general economic times ... Likely to go on for a while ... And even then I doubt that it will ever go back to what it used to be like
2) NHS issues .... Again, no money for contractors = no money for locums. That simple really
3) changes in law ... ACTs, upskilling of counter assistants etc ... Means that locums will be less in demand as others fill in the roles
4) PCT redundancies = more pharmacists looking for work. Default position for these will be to locum
5) more schools of pharmacy = more cheap labour = more cheap locums to fill in market positions
6) as uncertainty increases more pharmacists take on employed positions = less work for locums

The society are putting their head in the sand. The real issue is that locums do not have the skills generally to work outside of the retail environment. Look at other opportunities. Medicines management at the moment is ripe for picking ...

[Dasha]

Preferably in London or within 40 miles distance unless I can't get work then I don't have a choice but to relocate North or somewhere. I have been lucky with locum jobs in the last 2 years but while the jobs were being filled by pharmacists, I missed out the opportunity to get job within M25. US is by choice! Matt, I will try independent pharmacy and join every locum agency. Good Luck!

I am sorry to hear that, I understand your predicament with finding a job, but are you really considering relocating abroad? If I've got it right you have already worked as a pharmacist in UK for some time, have you tried to apply for some of the vacancies you can find online?
When I tried to apply for myself, I have been told that the problem was my lack of experience in UK (they need pharmacists that have worked for at least 6 months in UK), if you are considering a relocation, may I ask you why not a relocation in another area of UK?

Matt

[Dasha]

That's what I want to know! How's everyone doing to solve the issues surrounding us!
Look at other opportunities. Medicines management at the moment is ripe for picking ...[/QUOTE]