Pharmacists are an important part of the health family of the UK. They are experts in the knowledge of medicines, and how they work to treat illnesses.
There are two main ways in which pharmacists work within the National Health Service (NHS):
- Hospital-based pharmacists who prepare medicines for patients while they are in the hospital, and also dispense (or give out) discharge medicines to let people go home safely.
- Dispensing pharmacists that work on the high street or in medical centres. They are also known as community pharmacists.
In both of these locations, pharmacists will be heads of teams which also include pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians. They are medicine experts who are also team leaders.
The role of pharmacists has been developing for centuries. Medicines regulation and the use of medicines have expanded massively in recent decades, but so has the role of pharmacists. As their NHS contracts have been expanded they are now taking on more of a diagnostic role and can treat common illnesses. Specially qualified pharmacists can also become prescribers in their own right, rather than just dispensing medicines. Dispensing pharmacists also help people to stay well by supporting healthy lifestyles.
A shortage of pharmacists in recent years, along with the expansion of the service, means the position is increasingly well-paid and well-regarded.
What Does a Pharmacist Do
Pharmacists are experts in medicines and treating illnesses effectively and safely. The most common things which a pharmacist does (regardless of their work setting) are:
- Dispensing medicines.
- Prescribing medicines (if qualified to do so).
- Providing patients with advice about prescriptions, drug dosages, risks and how to use and store medication.
- Managing and keeping stock secure.
- Supervising and training staff like junior pharmacists.
Community pharmacists also do the following:
- Offer health advice.
- Deal with basic illnesses.
- Participate in vaccination and screening programmes.
Hospital-based pharmacists also buy, test and distribute medicines in a hospital. They may also be involved in research into new medicines or run clinical trials.
Who Employs Pharmacists
Most pharmacists will at least do some of their work within the National Health Service (NHS). There are two main ways in which pharmacists work within the NHS:
- Hospital-based pharmacists who prepare medicines for patients while they are in the hospital, and also dispense (or give out) discharge medicines in order to let people go home safely. These types of pharmacists will be classified as public-sector workers.
- Dispensing pharmacists that work on the high street or in medical centres. They are also known as community pharmacists and they are private businesses. They are paid as part of pharmaceutical contracts with the NHS. This means they are paid for by health authorities and they have to work to certain levels with the public. The majority of jobs a community pharmacist does through an NHS pharmaceutical contract will be delivered free to the public.
The profit of a pharmacy is shared between the senior people who own the pharmacy. The majority of community pharmacies are part of large chains. However, some community pharmacies are small chains or one-off businesses. In these two examples, community pharmacists will also own their own businesses.
Job Salary for a Pharmacist
The official UK Government statistics on the job salary for a pharmacist places the starting wage at £33,706, which rises to £65,262 for experienced and senior pharmacists.
Another source estimates the average pharmacist’s salary in the UK to be £52,940.45. This is based on a recorded minimum of £36,904 and a maximum salary of £70,500.
Some other figures are useful to allow you to compare salaries. In the UK, the national average wage is estimated to be around £30,000 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The current National Living Wage (which must be paid to people aged 23 and over) means the minimum untaxed income for a 40-hour week is over £21,000 per year.
As with other jobs, there are significant regional differences in the salary of a pharmacist in different parts of the UK. Pharmacists in London and the South East of England are, like other professions, paid more than in other parts of the UK.
How Often is a Pharmacist Normally Paid
Most pharmacists can normally expect to be paid a salary every month. If a community pharmacist is an owner or shareholder in a community pharmacy they can also expect to be paid dividends based on the profit of the practice.
Who Negotiates a Job Salary for a Pharmacist
Hospital pharmacists receive a salary depending on seniority and the fixed rates negotiated with the NHS. Community pharmacists will be paid salaries offered at levels by the community pharmacy businesses that employ them.
What Sort of Contracts Do Pharmacists Have
Pharmacists in both hospital and community settings tend to have a permanent contract which is clear about hours and rates of pay. These contracts will also specify overtime rates.
Earning Potential
Your potential career progression in pharmacy is linked to experience within the pharmacy teams. In recent years there has been a shortage of pharmacists in both community and hospital settings,
Some very experienced and wealthy community pharmacists can expect to be able to buy or buy into single community pharmacies or small chains. That way they can own all or part of the business. These tend to be the most wealthy pharmacists.
How to Become a Pharmacist
Pharmacists have to be properly qualified and need to have undertaken a university course. University courses will generally require the following qualifications:
- At least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree.
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry for a full degree in pharmacy.
Qualifications/Courses – Pharmacist
To become a pharmacist, you’ll need to follow one of two career paths.
One is to complete a Master’s of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree, in a course which has been approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council. The full course takes 4 years and will usually involve work placements as well as educational training. Once this is done, community pharmacists will then need to complete the pharmacist foundation training scheme which takes 1 year.
If you do not have the qualifications to get onto a master’s of pharmacy degree, another option is to do a pharmacy foundation degree. This takes 2 years to complete. On this career path, you would normally take a job as a pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician and apply to join the master’s degree in its second year.
Registering as a Pharmacist
All pharmacists need to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council in the UK to work either for the NHS or in a community pharmacy. The General Pharmaceutical Council regulates the professional conduct of pharmacists. The GPC also approves the quality of courses at all universities for pharmacists. You will need to take a course approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GDC) so that you can then register with the GPC. You can register with the GPC even if you are between jobs as a pharmacist.
General Skills Required
- A pharmacist must have the willingness to continue to learn about pharmacology, medicines and disease throughout their working lives.
- Excellent communication skills are needed because you will be working with a wide variety of different people from different walks of life and, usually, a wide variety of ages,
- Thoroughness and attention to detail.
- Excellent maths knowledge.
- Good managerial and administrative skills are essential in managing part of a community pharmacy.
- Patient focus and customer service skills.
- Intention to be a good team player with the pharmaceutical team, and the ability to work constructively with others carrying out aligned tasks in healthcare.
- Some computer literacy in order to record information relating to patients.
- Confidentiality relating to patient records.
- Good time-keeping helps you get through busy working days.
- A clean Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for people who wish to work as pharmacists because of the exposure to children and vulnerable adults.
Mechanical Skills Required
Pharmacists will need to be able to operate different mixing and dispensing equipment.
Challenges of Being a Pharmacist
- Someone who is thorough and has a strong eye for detail. Mistakes in community or hospital pharmacies can be life-threatening.
- Often repetitive work.
- Need to maintain knowledge of new and emerging medicines.
- You will usually need to wear protective clothing and a uniform in certain settings.
- Medical care is challenging for all professionals involved. Maintaining a professional outlook which treats the public with respect, no matter how difficult a person is being, is essential.
Type of Person Suited for this Work
- A person with a commitment to the values of the NHS.
- Someone with a patient outlook and the ability to deal with stress.
- A team player who can work to direction and also direct others if working as head of a pharmacy team.
General Expected Working Hours
A community pharmacist can be expected to work around forty hours a week. Community pharmacies are open between roughly 8 am and 6 pm from Monday to Saturday. Some pharmacies will also open on Sundays and Bank Holidays due to a rota across a geographic area. This means some anti-social hours are unavoidable.
A hospital pharmacist can also be expected to work around forty hours a week.
Location of Work
The majority of pharmacists are community pharmacists. These are usually located in high street locations or sometimes in health centres.
A significant minority of pharmacists can also be found in hospitals. A smaller number join the army or Royal Air Force as armed forces pharmacists. Some pharmacists also work at a university or at a research facility.
Future Prospects
Larger community pharmacies will have more than one Pharmacist, so there is potential for promotion within the team. Those working for large community pharmacy chains can be expected to progress to team manager, regional or national manager or become a pharmacy consultant.
Some very experienced and wealthy community pharmacists can expect to be able to buy or buy into single community pharmacies or small chains. That way they can own all or part of the business. These tend to be the most wealthy pharmacists.
There is always the opportunity for pharmacists to move between community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy and vice versa. Some pharmacists move into teaching, scientific journalism or publishing, while others do a postgraduate qualification in a subject like toxicology or pharmacology and move into research.
Other pharmacists move to work as a pharmacist in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy or Army.
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