pharmacy manager or pharmacist?

[ash19feen]

Hey every1
could you tell me what are the extra duties of a pharmacy manager cas compared to just a regular pharmacist?
Would you advise a newly qualified pharmacist to take on a pharmacy manager position at this stage?
thanks

[Zoggite]

NOOOO!!!!!!
You'll have quite enough on your plate at first just getting to know the ins and outs of primary care structures, how surgeries work, how patients function (!), and so on... without having to start worrying about staff recruitment/appraisal/retention issues, sorting out their holiday entitlements, pay queries,staff health & safety regulations, and generally overseeing/being responsible for the running of a shop, basically. You're overqualified for that, IMHO!

[Zoggite]

Would you advise a newly qualified pharmacist to take on a pharmacy manager position at this stage?
thanks

NO! see my previous post...

[admin]

No!!!!!!!!!

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Especially not for Boots - their paperwork trail is ridiculous!

[Jeff]

Hey every1
could you tell me what are the extra duties of a pharmacy manager cas compared to just a regular pharmacist?
Would you advise a newly qualified pharmacist to take on a pharmacy manager position at this stage?
thanks

If it's a company you did your pre-reg with then yes if you think you're up to it.
If it's a multiple - see what they offer in managment training before you take on the role.
If it's an independant - and you ambition is to own your own pharmacy - then yes.
Lots to be said for some initial time spent as a locum though - seeing other peoples systems and proceedures allows you to later on use other peoples best practices.

Jeff

[Pharmanaut]

Pharmacy Manager/Pharmacist

If it's a company you did your pre-reg with then yes if you think you're up to it.
If it's a multiple - see what they offer in managment training before you take on the role.
If it's an independant - and you ambition is to own your own pharmacy - then yes.
Lots to be said for some initial time spent as a locum though - seeing other peoples systems and proceedures allows you to later on use other peoples best practices.

Jeff

Appoint a 'second in command' to sort things like holidays etc out. Fix it with the company to appoint a 'senior assistant'. It's well worth it.
Most of the best run pharmacies seem to me to be where the assistants are in their 30's or 40's, ie their children are a bit more independant, or have grown up. They have a different work ethic to late teens/early 20's.

Some amazing things happen, such as staff member 'B' turns up who is not on duty that day, it turns out that staff member A has started with a migraine and has called 'B' to fill in for the morning.

The holiday rota gets filled in with the staff 'horse trading' amongst themselves.

People like these are not uncommon in the smaller chains where people matter. Find one of these and you will see how well a pharmacy can be run.

[Linnear]

In my day (hitches thumbs into braces) the companies would put you into a relief nmanager post so you could get the most experience in as little time as possible.

I found that quite good as you can cherry pick all of the best ideas from all of the different shops.

Of course that was before bloody SOPs! I suppose now every shop has to do the same thing or the superintendent pharmacist will have a coronary!

[Zoggite]

Can anyone list the advantages (other than remuneration)in having the title "manager" as well as being the pharmacist?

[admin]

Can anyone list the advantages (other than remuneration)in having the title "manager" as well as being the pharmacist?

Yeah you get to deal with all the lovely customer complaints!

[Jeff]

Can anyone list the advantages (other than remuneration)in having the title "manager" as well as being the pharmacist?

Depends who you work for.
The ability to hire the staff you want. (that's quality of not number of)
The abilty to argue the branch budget
The ability to set a direction for the branch
A feeling of ownership - it's your branch - which can be a motivator.

Jeff

[Linnear]

Can anyone list the advantages (other than remuneration)in having the title "manager" as well as being the pharmacist?

Can't think of many off hand.

The ability to hire the staff you want. (that's quality of not number of)
The abilty to argue the branch budget
The ability to set a direction for the branch
A feeling of ownership - it's your branch - which can be a motivator.

Jeff, you make some good points but I feel that the above would only be for small multiples. From what I've seen of the big boys you get no say in anything.

I left my last manager's post because we had a serious shoplifting problem. The shop was bell shaped, wider at the front and we used to lose all the stock in the corners.

I moved the gondolas so that I could see into the corners from the dispensary and the shop lifting was stopped.

The next visit from the Area Manager (before anyone had been able to assess the effect on takings) he said I had to move them back because the gondola ends weren't facing people as they came thfough the doors!

I said fine and asked how much notice I had to serve.

[Jeff]

Linnear,
I suspect that a lot depends on the area manager, rather than the company.

My area manager happened to be very supportive.
Allowed me to increase staffing levels - hire my own staff - argued to get my branch what we believed it needed (Must of been the only newly acquired Lloyds branch nagging for a consulting room) - further increase staffing levels.

Jeff

[Hot topic]

In Boots if you have the word manager in your title you get an extra weeks holiday. That is six instead of five.

[Zoggite]

My area manager happened to be very supportive.
Allowed me to increase staffing levels - hire my own staff - argued to get my branch what we believed it needed (Must of been the only newly acquired Lloyds branch nagging for a consulting room) - further increase staffing levels.

Jeff

Realistically though, wouldn't you have achieved the same if you'd been the pharmacist "only", without the title of "manager"?

[Racer]

The best way...

Most of the best run pharmacies seem to me to be where the assistants are in their 30's or 40's, ie their children are a bit more independant, or have grown up. They have a different work ethic to late teens/early 20's.

Some amazing things happen, such as staff member 'B' turns up who is not on duty that day, it turns out that staff member A has started with a migraine and has called 'B' to fill in for the morning.

The holiday rota gets filled in with the staff 'horse trading' amongst themselves.

People like these are not uncommon in the smaller chains where people matter. Find one of these and you will see how well a pharmacy can be run.

That's exactly how we do it. A single independent and it runs like clockwork.
Our other pharmacy which we sold to a multiple a few years ago hasn't had a regular manager for three years but has a long term locum with my former staff taking the managerial responsibility.