Salary inequalities persist

Pharmacists working in NHS organisations typically earn lower salaries than their counterparts working at the same level in private firms. As a result, NHS-led hospitals and pharmacies struggle to retain trainees following completion of their pre-registration year. As funding pools diminish further, salaries in the NHS remain frozen and a career in the public sector becomes less attractive. Combined with the notion of high debt from rising tuition fees and the perceived reduction in development opportunities, students are deterred from pursuing long-term roles with NHS providers.

Proposed workforce impact

• Reduced number of pharmacists seeking an NHS-based position.
• Greater need to incentivise hospital-based roles.

Sources or references

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012 /09/120918185627.htm
• http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/583837_8

Additional research questions

• What percentage of the workforce have made a career decision based on the private/public divide?
• What is the payment threshold at which salary figures become a deterrent to students pursuing a career as a pharmacist?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.