Shot of a young pharmacist assisting a customer
The Pharmacy Market Review 2022 found that resourcing in the sector has placed a huge strain on community pharmacies.
To fill the staffing gap, many operators are turning to locum workers, the price of which is on the rise.
According to data supplied by Locate a Locum, which covers 30,000 UK locum pharmacist bookings, the average hourly rate as of July 2022 for locum cover across the UK was £37.49, an increase of £4.81 on the 12-month average it recorded in 2021.
In England, rates increased to circa £36.95, whereas in Wales and Scotland the rates increased to £37.93 and £48.86, respectively.
The lowest rate was in Derry at £26.61, followed by Leicester at £28.24, and Belfast at £28.32.
The highest was in Inverness, Scotland, at £54.11 per hour.
Jonathon Clarke, CEO and Founder at Locate a Locum, said: “Not only have rates been impacted by the loss of pharmacists to Primary Care Network and GP roles, but the situation has also been exacerbated by the fact that many pharmacists have taken long-overdue holidays or sickness absences, etc.
“In addition to the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination rollout, these factors will continue to exert pressure on the sector for the foreseeable future,” he said.
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