This is a request for all locum pharmacists and locum pharmacy technicians working in and around London.
The NHS in London is looking at locum supply across all sectors at present with an aim to reducing costs. PL-UK are tendering to supply to London for the first time and I believe we are in with a good chance as our overheads are lower that London based company and our specialisation in pharmacy means that we are able to support pharmacy directors more effectively than the bigger, more generalist healthcare suppliers.
Let me start by staying that it is our intention to take most of the cost saving pain ourselves. We have submitted figures nationally that reduce our fees by 35%. To enable us to do this we obviousy need to increase the number of locum we supply and that is where we need your help.
I need to gather information on locum pharmacists and locum pharmacy technicians who do or can work in London. If you could email me before the end of the week with the requested information below I’d be very grateful:
Name
Pharmacist or pharmacy tecnician
Previous experience
Do you hold a “fit to practice” declaration from occupational health?
Do you hold an enhanced CRB clearance?
Have you completed al mandatory training required by the NHS?
If all this information is held in a CV, fantastic! Simply email shaun@pluk.co.uk. If the answer is no to any of the questions above don’t worry simply email me and we can arrange for the training/clearances to be obtained.
As we did in 2008 and 2009 PL-UK are inviting locum pharmacists to complete a locum pay rate survey. The survey is open to all active locum pharmacists and is super-quick to complete with only three questions and results to-date visable on completion of the survey.
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
It’s fair to say that the whole PL-UK team were severely hacked off on Monday. A locum we have supported through lots of issues went behind our backs to secure a placement with a client we have previously placed her with. The client concerned had no idea they had been hoodwinked by another agency and ended up paying pay over the odds for a locum they had working for them two weeks previously. Good on her, I hear you say. Not so, I reply. The locum concerned was already getting a fantastic rate from us and this deviousness will come back to bite them in the bum eventually as we were one of only two agencies willing to find her work. Make that one!
However, Tuesday was another day. We placed two locums in long term placements on rates they were delighted with (and so they should be!) They were professional and organised and deserve the rates they will be paid.
The moral of this story is: I understand that everyone wants to be paid the best rate they can for the work they perform but it’s always best to think long term in the locum game.
At PL-UK we get asked this a lot. It all depends on the area you live in, the sector you work in and your additional expertise.
For a standard locum booking you should be looking for at leat £25 per hour for emergency bookings rising to £30 plus 2 hours in very hard to fill areas. For bookings you make well ahead closer to £22 per hour may be the norm, especially in the South, £25 in the North.. If you book direct with the supermarkets and larger chains expect a slightly higher rate initially but this will drop as they get you on their booking direct hook – they don’t make £millions of pounds of profit by paying the best rates long term!
For really good rates specialist knowledge is the key. For locum prescribing advisors we are currently securing rates of £40 per hour plus one hour’s travel time, In the hospital sector specialist knowledge at AFC banding 8a will secure similar rates. And the thing is, these people are excellent value for money. One of our locum prescribing advisor’s has saved two practices over £80,000 per annum each in three months working just two days per week!!
Agency Workers Regulations – how does it effect me?
The simple answer is it doesn’t. …. in most cases. For more expert guidance than I can supply as a pharmacist rather than a legal bod please click on the link below. http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/documents/01109%20PCG%20A4%2020PP%20BROCHURE%20SINGLE%20PAGES.pdf
One in a lifetime opportunity – pharmacist required in Tonga
We have been approached by a not for profit pharmacy in the Kingdom of Tonga asking us to recruit a pharmacist to work at one of the health centres in the Kingdom. This opportunity will definately not come up again for if you fancy a complete change of scene and an opportunity to live on [...]
Just a quick post to remind all pharmacist that they need to renew their GPhC registration by the 31st October. So you still have a month to pay but if you are anything like me, if you don’t do it now, there’s a chance you’ll forget!
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