In this issue:

Inclusion on shortage occupation list demonstrates how there is something broken in regards to pharmacist pay rates
Individual Coaching Support available via #LookingAfterYouToo
Download your #GetVaccinated campaign resources
PDA can support members when their employer changes under a “TUPE Transfer”
Anger and disappointment as government suggest it may be 1% pay rise for NHS employees
NAWP produces factsheet to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Latest News
Great savings with PDA Plus

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.

Individual Coaching Support available via #LookingAfterYouToo

In recognition that colleagues involved in the delivery of frontline NHS services, both clinical and non-clinical, are facing unprecedented challenges through Covid-19, NHS England and Improvement (NHS E & I) is offering those who work in primary care, including community pharmacy, individual coaching support.

They are keen to ensure all staff delivering primary care services feel supported to maintain their psychological wellbeing during this time.

The PDA #GetVaccinated campaign is calling on all pharmacists to have the COVID-19 vaccine and to help encourage their patients, family and friends, especially those in the BAME community, to do the same.

As part of the #GetVaccinated campaign, we have published a number of downloadable resources that can be used to help support the campaign.

We have been posting videos to our social media sites from pharmacists across the UK that have had the vaccine and would like to encourage others to stay safe by getting vaccinated too. The campaign hashtags are #PDAbame and #GetVaccinated.

More information about the campaign can be found here.

PDA can support members when their employer changes under a “TUPE Transfer”

Though a number of community pharmacies are closing, others are still being bought and sold which often means pharmacists may find they have a new employer. The PDA can provide support and guidance for members at what can be a worrying time.

Anger and disappointment as government suggest it may be 1% pay rise for NHS employees

Earlier this month, the PDA Union reacted to press reports that the 2021 NHS Pay increase is to be limited to 1% and calls on the Independent Pay Review Body (IPRB) that advises Government on NHS Pay to show its independence and reflect the need to ensure NHS workers are treated with the same dignity and respect on pay that they have shown to their patients throughout the pandemic.

NAWP produces factsheet to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month takes place in the UK every March and is an opportunity to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.Ovarian cancer is one of the biggest gynaecological killers of women in the UK, with UK survival rates among the worst in Europe.

Each day in the UK, around 20 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed. The lifetime risk for women is about 1 in 52.

To coincide with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) has produced a factsheet.

Below is a summary of some of the other key news stories that have been published on the PDA website recently:

19/03/21 – NAWP ‘Women Leading in Pharmacy’ event hailed a great success

18/03/21 – Supporting members to have conversations about Covid-19 vaccinations

17/03/21 – PDA welcomes funding announcements in Wales

17/03/21 – Health Campaigns Together conference

16/03/21 – PDA welcomes latest Government proposals to remove outstanding discrimination in NHS Pension Scheme

15/03/21 – Joint national plan for inclusive pharmacy practice in England

13/03/21 – NAWP welcomes ‘Ask for ANI’ scheme at LloydsPharmacy

13/03/21 – Help Pharmacist Support to help the profession – including exam candidates

12/03/21 – GPhC extend Provisional Registrant arrangements until 2022 and delay this year’s Summer exam dates

11/03/21 – Understanding when to withdraw and when to nullify for the March 2021 Assessment

11/03/21 – Locums in Scotland advised of rights in instances of breach of contract

10/03/21 – Locums in Scotland furious as NHS cancel their vaccination shifts

10/02/21 – PDA welcomes outcome of Government pensions consultation

09/03/21 – PDA joins the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) PPE Engagement Panel

05/03/21 – PDA announces Regional Committee Election Results

04/03/21 – The perfect storm – A PDA Regional Official’s perspective of violence in pharmacies

01/03/21 – Urgent action needed by GPhC to retain credibility of online registration assessment

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