A while ago I made a prediction, or at least gave a warning about the unintended consequences of the “supply and demand” issue in community pharmacies. Circumstances have created an apparent lack of pharmacists in the right places - some are saying it is very evident in community at the moment. This obviously led to a shift in the value of locum pharmacists in the market.
The demand for pharmacists meant that hourly rates rose. Some commentators said the rise was significant or disproportionate, others said it was justified after years of “rate erosion”. But pharmacy contractors are saying the rates are unsustainable with the current Pharmacy Contacts and they are starting to make decisions to address the current impasse.
There appears to be a stance being taken with a maximum rate for locum pharmacist cover. If cover can’t be sourced at that rate, it’s suggested that pharmacies are simply closing their doors and not providing pharmaceutical services to the public.
There are two sides to every story, and the back and forth between the two can, frankly, become a waste of time and energy. Whilst the infighting continues, those with the power to change the situation remain lurking in the shadows.
So contractors seem to feel they are being held to ransom by locums asking for rates which they deem too high (but remember a locum can offer their services at whatever they feel appropriate - they are a business). From the other side, locums feel contractors shouldn’t be able to make a business decision around closing and not fulfilling their contract with the NHS.
Now, here is where my unintended consequences ideas comes in…
- Contractors need more money or less costs to operate their contacts
- Locums want a rate that accounts for inflation and the loss of additional payments such as mileage claims and traveling time
- Government doesn’t want to pay for dispensing
- Government wants pharmacists to help with health in primary care
So, possible solutions to the issues seem to be;
- Enable dispensing, under certain conditions, or under the supervision of another registered pharmacy professional, instead of a pharmacist.
- Allow more than one dispensing site to operate under the same pharmacist.
- Or simply send all the dispensing to big hubs.
All of the above seem unthinkable to me, but when you are backed up against a wall, the solutions are sometimes those unthinkable options.
So instead of the back and forth, I think we need to start having honest and constructive dialogue - before legislation is brought in to resolve the issue for us.
