Having worked as a pharmacy manager for both a large and small multiple I became a locum 12 years ago in order to gain more control over my working conditions and hours. The biggest challenge initially was tracking down all the various locum coordinators and negotiating a good rate. I was willing to travel long distances and frequently did. As the years went by, I gained a good reputation and was gradually able to reduce my travelling distances and work in pharmacies where I got on well with the team and the manager. This flexibility gave me the chance to train as a group exercise instructor and I did this new job one to two days a week.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was not able to work in the fitness industry and went back to pharmacy full time. Although work was plentiful, and rates were good I found this a very stressful time as the level of abuse we were receiving from the public along with the increased workload was awful. There was no support from any quarter and I was relieved when lockdown was lifted and I could return part time to the fitness industry.
My reasons for potentially leaving pharmacy
After a steady couple of years dividing my time between the two roles I am now seriously wondering whether there is a future for me in pharmacy at all. The reasons for this are twofold, firstly, I cannot access Independent Prescribing (IP) training and even if I could, I can’t afford the time off work needed for study and clinic time, nor could I afford the fees. There is no indication that I could ultimately earn more by making this substantial investment of my time and money. As far as I am aware this is a common situation for locums and I have not been able to access any support to further my education. It seems the plan is to offload as much as possible from GPs onto pharmacists and without extra training I will not be able to fulfil this role.
Secondly, there are currently very few locum shifts which I am willing to work. Two years ago, I was routinely offered £40p/h to locum. This has dropped substantially with some multiples offering as little as £19p/h. This is despite the many extra duties we now undertake and a rise in the cost of living. Like many professional locums I am not willing to accept such shifts and the competition for the shifts which do offer a fair wage is fierce with desperate locums undercutting each other. For comparison, there is seemingly high demand for my other role for which I get paid between £22 and £ 32p/h. Furthermore, I am generally treated very well by customers, feel valued by managers, and have almost no responsibilities.
Many companies have used IT to streamline their booking systems. In effect this means that you cannot build relationships with co-ordinators or negotiate a rate. It also means staff don’t get any say over which locums they work with.
I have always enjoyed the freedom locuming brings. I love choosing when and where to work and have met many fabulous staff. On a branch level I generally find I am welcomed and supported by teams and look forward to my shifts with them. Only on rare occasions have I met with any unpleasantness or disrespect. Unfortunately the same is not the case as you go up the management chain, with non-pharmacist shop managers and area managers trying to call the shots over clinical and patient safety decisions and undermining you in front of staff and customers.
On the whole I would not advise anyone to get into community pharmacy as the rewards and conditions are dreadful in relation to the stress and responsibility (especially when compared to other healthcare roles). I know very few community pharmacists, employed or locum, who are not suffering from health problems as a direct result of the job and very few who are able to work full time due to these issues. If someone was thinking of becoming a locum, I would suggest they get their IP first and remember that there is no job security so you may well need a second job or income stream. I would also recommend that they join the PDA as locuming can be a very lonely job and the PDA offers support and training. If something does go wrong in a branch where you work it is easy for everyone to blame the locum and you can find yourself in a frightening situation. It is also becoming more common for employers to delay payments to locums or not pay at all. In both these cases it is extremely reassuring to have the PDA behind you.
I have given 25 years of my life to pharmacy and now cannot earn a reasonable wage without a second job. I have about another 15 years ahead of me during which I could work full time but almost certainly will not for the reasons outlined above. I am very sad that someone with my experience and education who is willing to work in a sector which desperately needs all the help it can get is in this situation.
By PDA member and locum pharmacist, Emma Richmond
PDA seeks locum pharmacists’ views on rates of pay
The PDA has recently launched a survey which asks locums about rates of pay and availability of work. The survey results will be used to help inform the PDA’s advocacy, policy positions and the direction of work to help improve conditions for locum pharmacists.
The PDA is encouraging all locums to have their say by completing this confidential survey by Monday 21 April 2025.
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