Inclusion on shortage occupation list demonstrates how there is something broken in regards to pharmacist pay rates
The basic laws of economics say if demand is greater than supply, rates should increase, yet while many PDA members experience locum rates or salaries that have suffered real-term cuts over the last decade, pharmacy employers have convinced the government to add pharmacists to the official shortage occupation list that allows more workers in the listed categories to be recruited into the UK from overseas.
The addition of pharmacists to the shortage occupation list highlights that there is a problem in attracting people to the profession, or with recruitment and retention in certain parts of the sector. There is no single cause or solution, however, this multifaceted issue requires a detailed workforce strategy for pharmacists, backed by appropriate pay structures and workplace conditions at all employers. |