PL-UK The Pharmacy Recruitment Specialists » Recruitment News

PCT Prescribing advisors needed!

Shaun — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:43:42 +0000

Monday’s announcement about the closure of PCT’s and SHA’s have send shockwaves through the 150 PCT’s.

Although this is, on the surface, bad news for the prescribing advisors employed by the PCT’s, I think it is also a fantastic opportunity for these highly skilled pharmacists and I would like to speak to as many of them as possible.

So if you are effected by the changes, or know someone who is, please call me on 0800 881 8844 to discuss the opportunities available.

Newly registered pharmacists

Shaun — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:29:02 +0000

New Registrations – the end of the month will see an influx of pharmacists onto the RPSGB register and PL-UK are here to help all the one’s who are looking to locum post-registration. PL-UK know how to look after newly qualifieds as Shaun has been one himself (although a while ago now!) and the last seven years has enabled us to build up expertise in supporting pharmacists who are new to the register. We won’t throw you in the deep end, we’ll make sure you work in branches with good support, who pay on time and who we would be happy to work with ourselves.

To talk to a member of the PL-UK prior to getting your RPSGB registration number please call 0800 8818844 from a land line or 0333 123 3344 from a mobile and ask to speak to Linda or Lynne

Comments of the letters in the PJ

Shaun — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:55:19 +0000

I’ve been on holiday for the last week so have had more time to read the PJ than normal and hasn’t it been an interesting week in terms of comments about locums!

The furore started after the publication in the PJ (15 May 2010) of a leading article (P466) and Broad Spectrum comment (P474) about the reliance in community pharmacy of a large proportion of locums. They even called the state of affairs “Something rotten”

Comments on both pieces on PJOnline

You won’t be surprised that I think the conclusions reached by the researchers is a load of old tosh but I do welcome the PJ’s publication as it has opened a really important can-of-worms about the pharmacy workforce.

Why do pharmacists work as locums? In 2000, during the fallow year, the reason was probably mostly financial – the lack of pharmacists registering with the Society meant that the locums available could charge whatever they wanted as they knew that pharmacy operators were desperate. There’s nothing wrong with that, business is all about supply and demand and if there is a large demand and little supply, costs rise.

In 2010 things are very different. It’s probably true that in some parts of the country premium rates are still being paid because of a lack of locums but in many areas, the cost of locums in undoubtedly cheaper than employing a pharmacist, central London being a prime example.

So why then in these areas do pharmacists still want to work as locums? Various letters in the PJ explain why their pharmacist authors don’t like working as employee pharmacists e.g. excessive workload, pressure to undertake MUR’s , low staffing levels, stress etc and, as an ex-employee pharmacists, I can understand all that, but, player devils advocate, a more interesting question is why do pharmacists want to work as employees?

If you think about all the top professions e.g. GP’s, dentists, and solicitors, a high proportion of each work as self employed professionals. They stand on their own-two -feet and stand or fall by the service they provide …. oh, and charge a lot more than self employed pharmacists!

I’ve stated in previous posts that I feel that locum pharmacists (or Independent Pharmacist Practitioners as I like to call them) are the most professional pharmacists, like GP’s, standing or falling by the service they provide and I still feel that this is the case. The locum pharmacists we have working through PL-UK are a highly motivated, professional, conscientious bunch and I am proud that they work with us on a daily basis

The rubbish about locums providing a less effective service doesn’t stand up to scrutiny either, just think about it; All the evidence would indicate that working in a pharmacy, as a pharmacist is more difficult now that ten years ago. Massively increased workload, less staff, MUR’s, lower profits from dispensing that have put more pressure on pharmacy operators large and small and subsequently, their employee pharmacists. Is it more stressful to work in this environment every day or on an ad-hoc basis as a locum? Locum pharmacists go to a booking and provide the best service they can. They know that it will probably be a busy day and can only do their best. Even after the horror days that all locums have, they can leave the pharmacy at the end of the trading day safe in the knowledge they they don’t have to work their again. Just think of that pharmacies poor employee pharmacists who has to work in that environment every other day!

So is their “Something Rotten” about community pharmacies reliance on locum pharmacists? Not at all – it’s completely understandable. At University we are told that we are entering an honourable profession and that we must make difficult decisions on a daily basis. Surely, working as a locum pharmacists is the only way (Other than independently owned pharmacist owner/managers) where you can do that in 2010.

Results of C+D and PDA Union survey 2010

Shaun — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:03:59 +0000

So how does your salary, bonus and condition compare to your peers? The C+D and PDA have carried out a survey this year of over 2000 pharmacists.

Some of the interesting results include:

A remarkably similar locum rate amongst the multiples. Interesting!.
A 11% difference in salary for full-time employed men and women.
Big differences between multiples with reward to bonuses paid.
88% of respondents stating that there had been an increase in paperwork in the last year.

For more information click on the links below which will take you to the C+D website (Please note, the results are found in two sections therefore you will need to click on both links below)

Salary survey 2010 part 1

Salary survey 2010 part 2

I’d be really interested in your comments about the survey

Shaun

Two great jobs in Independent pharmacies

Shaun — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:53:50 +0000

We have two great jobs for pharmacists looking to work in the indepdendent pharmacy sector. Either would be ideal for pharmacists who have been working for one of the multiples and feel that they need more space to spread their wings and develop their careers as both positions are with small groups – 2 and four pharmacies.

Job 1 – Pharmacy Manager position in Leeds

For more information click on the link below

http://www.pharmacyjobsuk.co.uk/2010/05/19/pharmacy-manager-at-pl-uk/

Job 2 – Pharmacy Manager job in Swindon

For more information click on the link below

http://www.pharmacyjobsuk.co.uk/2010/05/19/pharmacy-manager-at-pl-uk/

For more information on either position please call Shaun at PL-UK on 01677 424204 (Direct Line)

Proud to be a Pharmacy Locum Agency

Shaun — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:25 +0000

Some pharmacy locum agencies have a really bad name. Locums don’t turn up, are double booked or think themselves above performing the day to day tasks required to make a community pharmacy run smoothly.

PL-UK is different. I set up the company in 2003 because I had dealt with these “Mickey Mouse” agencies for a number of years during my time with Boots. I knew that there was an opportunity to provide a professional, reliable pharmacy locum agency service to contractors and I guess, we haven’t done too bad up till know.

It wasn’t until I talked to a pharmacist during one of my regular days at HMP Durham and she said that we have grown really quicky in only six years that I began to think about it. We have done well, especially at a time when it’s a more difficult trading environment. Let’s face it, any muppett could have set up an pharmacy locum agency during the fallow year on 2000 and done OK. Trading at a time when all community pharmacies are looking to reduce costs is more challenging but at the same time, more rewarding.

We build up relationships with our client pharmacies and they know that the locum pharmacists (and locum pharmacy technicians) will do good job when they arrive. The pharmacies and locums know that all bookings will be confirmed in writing and that we won’t mess them around.

I think we made a friend for life during the recent ash cloud debacle – one of our client pharmacists was stuck in the Carribean (yes, we had limited sympathy too!) but was supposed to be back in their pharmacy on the Monday. In the end, they were over a week late, but PL-UK covereed their pharmacy to keep them trading – Q the Superman theme tune!!!

On a more serious note, PL-UK are proud to provide a pharmacy locum agency service alongside our permanent recruitment service and proud to serve community pharmacies throughout the UK

PL-UK – proud to be a pharmacy locum agency