Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Day Lewis partners with 'Locate a Locum' for enhanced pharmacy staffing in 267 Locations

Day Lewis Pharmacy has enlisted Locate a Locum, a Belfast-based healthcare technology innovator, to deploy and manage a digital solution aimed at enhancing locum staffing and management across its 267-pharmacy network.

"We sought a faster, user-friendly system for instant locum bookings, particularly for last-minute shifts," said Sam Patel, Executive Director at Day Lewis Pharmacy. "This tool improves communication between potential locums and our coordinators, creating more opportunities to attract talent from across the country. Our customers are our priority, and ensuring they have access to staff and advice when needed is our main focus."


Locate a Locum will implement a cloud-based digital solution across the Day Lewis Pharmacy estate, allowing locums to securely search, manage, request, and receive payment for shifts, Day Lewis said in a statement. This platform enables locum staff to manage their work diaries, location preferences, and commitments, promoting balanced work-life planning.

"The Locate a Locum platform allows for swift, complete payments to our locums and offers them instant booking, eliminating the need for shift confirmation wait times," Patel added. "In a dynamic market with rising demand for pharmacy services, this platform is a game-changer, driving growth and unlocking potential."

Day Lewis' network spans from Darlington in County Durham to St Just in Cornwall, serving over one million patients and employing more than 2,500 staff. This new technology will be implemented in all pharmacy outlets and at the head office in Croydon, providing managers with an online solution for staff rota planning, ensuring efficient resource allocation across all locations, the statement added.

"Day Lewis Pharmacy is a notable success story in the UK and Europe, prioritizing both employees and customers," said Jonathon Clarke, CEO of Locate a Locum. "We're thrilled to provide an innovative, tech-rich solution to support their growth ambitions. Our close collaboration with Sam and the team focused on meeting their needs, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and operational performance to drive digital transformation and business growth."

Clarke, a trained pharmacist, founded the digital company in 2017. Presently, it serves more than 30 pharmacy organisations across 3,000 locations in the UK and Northern Ireland, boasting a registry of over 30,000 registered locum pharmacists, making it the UK's largest locum pharmacist network.

In August, the NHSE's 2022 Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey revealed a notable shift in working patterns within community pharmacy, with an increased utilisation of locum pharmacists. The number of employed pharmacists decreased by 16 per cent, dropping from 12,774 in 2021 to 10,943 in 2022, while the count of locum pharmacists rose by 26 per cent, increasing from 4,297 in 2021 to 5,477 in 2022.

More For You

New professional liability insurance policy for RPS members launched

The insurance will be provided to members at cost, with no profit made by RPS.

gettyimages

RPS launches professional liability insurance for members

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a new professional liability insurance policy, designed to empower pharmacists to work confidently and deliver high-quality care, knowing they are protected.

Exclusively available to its members, the comprehensive and affordable insurance has been developed in collaboration with global professional services firm Aon.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scottish community pharmacist working in high street pharmacy with supportive environment

The PDA wants investment to reach those who deliver services to patients every day

Pic credit: iStock

Funding boost in Scotland “needs to work for not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too”, says PDA

An increase in funding for community pharmacies in Scotland needs to lead to a greater focus on supporting pharmacists rather than “simply sustain business models”, according to the Pharmacy Defence Association (PDA).

Earlier this week, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) accepted the Scottish government’s initial financial offer for the 2025/26 fiscal year, securing a guaranteed minimum reimbursement of £120 million for community pharmacies — up from £110 million from 2024/25.

Keep ReadingShow less
GP surgery upgrades for annual appointments

The surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”

Pic credit: iStock

GP surgery upgrades to create 8.3 million more annual appointments

Over 1,000 GP surgeries will have their premises modernised to meet the needs of a further 8.3 million appointments each year, the government has announced.

Backed by a cash injection of over £102 million, the surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wales boosts funding for pharmacy-led UTI and sore throat test services

The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service will be widely available

Pic credit: istock

Welsh pharmacies receive funding boost for clinical services

Two key clinical services will be available in 99 per cent of community pharmacies across Wales after a boost in funding.

The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service and the urinary tract infection (UTI) service have both benefitted from contractual negotiations between the Welsh Government and Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Bennett
Paul Bennett, CEO, Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Paul Bennett, CEO, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Pharmacists need to take advantage of independent prescribing pathways, says Bennett

Independent prescribing will be a “significant point” in the history of community pharmacy, according to Royal Pharmaceutical Society chief executive Paul Bennett.

Last month, the RPS announced the launch of a comprehensive new prescribing development programme to support pharmacists across all stages of their prescribing careers.

Keep ReadingShow less