Pharmacist Job Vacancies Quadruple in England

According to new data, the quantity of jobs available due to staff leaving in community pharmacies has increased from 2% to 8% in the last 4 years. This demonstrates the crucial requirement for an increase in investment to improve recruitment and retention rates.

Community pharmacies have been fundamental in the success of the vaccination program and rollout across the UK; providing upwards of 5 million doses. Local pharmacies are held in high regard by the public due to their reputation for giving much needed advice and support over the course of the pandemic.

Booster vaccines are delivered predominantly through pharmacies. However, the distribution might be jeopardised because of rising employee turnover and vacancy rates.

Director of Corporate Affairs at the National Pharmacy Association, Gareth Jones, explained that “While the relatively low response rate to the 2021 survey means we should be cautious about reading too much into the data, they are consistent with what we hear all the time from pharmacies struggling to recruit pharmacists and maintain services.

“It’s a complicated picture, with the pressures of the pandemic overlaying the dire funding situation and a continued drain of pharmacy staff into GP surgeries. We continue to work with NHS England, HEE and other pharmacy bodies to seek solutions that will help in the short, medium and long term.”

“One practical step would be a requirement that local impact assessments are carried out prior to any recruitment into PCNs/CCG sites under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). PCNs and CCGs [Clinical Commissioning Groups] should, in association with local representative bodies, consider the impact of the creation of new roles on all health care providers in the area and on their ability to deliver their objectives on behalf of the NHS.”

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