It was always my dad’s wish for me to study medicine. However, I opted for pharmacy which incidentally was his initial career choice before he decided to join the Navy! I chose to become a pharmacist because I liked the science of pharmacy and the chemistry involved in general. I also liked the idea of producing medicines that saved lives.
I studied pharmacy at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Studying pharmacy in a College of Medicine based within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital gave me the best practical experience one could have. Studying in a bustling megacity like Lagos was great fun too! I did my Overseas Pharmacists Examination at the University of Sunderland, which had a slightly cooler temperature!
The reasons why I became a locum pharmacist were twofold: flexibility and variety. I liked the idea of working with different pharmacies and in different areas. I also liked the idea of being able to choose my hours and days of work, plus holidays and time off.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
I believe the pandemic has reinforced just how undervalued pharmacists are – in particular, locum pharmacists – by the wider health sector. When everywhere closed their doors to face-to-face appointments, community pharmacy was still open as walk-ins, and locums were on hand to provide cover.
As a locum pharmacist and frontline healthcare professional, I am supporting patients in this second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic by offering them many services like home deliveries of prescription medication to patients who are shielding and telephone advice including referrals from 111.
The key opportunities facing pharmacy and pharmacists post-pandemic will be building on our strengths as proven by the pandemic. Providing paid for services like blood pressure and blood glucose testing which were services in great demand by patients and GP surgeries referred patients to pharmacies. Challenges facing locums post-pandemic would be the possibility of lower work availability due to reduced opening hours which started during the pandemic and which some pharmacies might maintain.
From the beginning, locum pharmacists have been a crucial and flexible resource in the rollout of the vaccination programme across the UK. Whilst in Scotland there appears to have been some early issues, the PDA has stepped in to support the locums who have had their shifts cancelled at short notice. It was also pleasing to see the PDA fight for locums to have their own vaccinations by lobbying NHSE and creating the portal in the first instance for locums to register for their vaccines.
The PDA’s work to support pharmacists
It is great that the PDA launched four Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Networks (#PDAability, #PDAbame, #PDAlgbt and #PDAnawp) because it is important to reduce discrimination of any kind in pharmacy. As a locum, I have experienced discrimination on occasions as have other pharmacists, so what is important is that all stakeholders in pharmacy work together to end discrimination of any kind.
Pressing forward, equality in pharmacy would involve all stakeholders taking a lead from the PDA’s equality networks to ensure all boards, councils etc. in pharmacy including the most senior positions reflect the diversity of the pharmacists they serve.
The PDA is currently doing a lot to support locums including reclaiming tens of thousands of pounds of unpaid locum fees on behalf of PDA locum members (learn more). The PDA also helps locums in any disputes with employers.
The PDA supported locum pharmacists publicly in the media recently when locums were falsely accused of seeking to take advantage of the pandemic by inflating locum rates. I would like to see the PDA further increase their support for locums via its Education Hub to provide courses and training in areas like leadership, negotiation skills and Independent Prescribing Course support.
Becoming a PDA Regional Committee Member
I applied and attended a PDA South East Regional Committee meeting as a member observer and got to know how the Regional Committees work to look after the members they represent. The role is very important because PDA members want fellow pharmacists to put forward ideas and issues they face so that we can work to improve their working lives.
Part of the issues facing locums especially in the community is work availability and poor locum rates. As a PDA Regional Committee Member, I have joined social media groups with thousands of pharmacists on them, many of them locums, to get feedback from them and ask what the PDA can do for them. It has also been a useful way to recruit more new members to the PDA. I have been able to signpost PDA members to forums to find locum work and information on how to negotiate decent locum rates.
My proudest achievement as a Regional Committee Member is the tens of new PDA members, I have helped join. The more members we receive, the more people that have an independent voice at work. There is strength in numbers and by working together we can really make a difference to the profession. In addition, I have encouraged many new members to join the PDA BAME Network and the PDA NAWP Network. These equality groups are really growing and working to affect change in the sector. My group of 140+ pre-reg re-sitters (#PreRegResitters) has a lot of new and pre-existing PDA members on board.
Advice and support for students and pre-regs
I would advise students currently studying pharmacy to ensure they excel in the clinical aspects of the course as that is the future of pharmacy. I would also advise those who do not have the Independent Prescribing (IP) Course incorporated to aim to complete the IP course as soon as they can.
It is important for pharmacy students and pre-regs to join the PDA for four good reasons:
- PDA membership is totally FREE for students and pre-regs
- Membership provides a comprehensive indemnity cover which some students and pre-regs would be surprised they need, there are lots of examples from PDA members which indicate this is important
- The option of free union membership entitles them to support as a union member too. The PDA is the only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK and is recognised in Boots, LloydsPharmacy, GP Federations in NI and some hospitals
- Student and pre-reg PDA Members also get free membership of any of the PDA’s four Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Networks
- Lastly, the PDA is also there to support your career with Education Programmes for students, pre-regs and prov-reg members and reps.
Future aspirations
My future aspirations are to find further ways of helping our current and future PDA members improve their working lives. I am working towards starting a Pharmacist Independent Prescribing Course to upskill myself in an ever-changing locum environment.
My aspirations for the future of pharmacy is a world where pharmacists regardless of the sector they work in are adequately remunerated for the services they provide, are respected by other healthcare sectors and patients and the public, and there is true equality, diversity, and inclusion across all pharmacy sectors.
Bayo Adegbite, Locum Pharmacist and PDA Regional Committee Member
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