Skip to content
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

PDA secures ‘shocking’ sum of unpaid locum fees this year

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) confirmed the ‘highest’ six figures amount recovered in ten months for the first time

The pharmacists' union has secured thousands of outstanding locum fees owed to its members by pharmacy contractors this year.


The following announcement was made on 9 November after the union recovered a “shocking” amount of £104,182 for the first time in 10 months.

Paul Day, the director of PDA, said: “Recovering unpaid fees is a longstanding area of support to pharmacists from the PDA.

“However even after accounting for inflation and higher locum rates the level of debt owed by contractors to pharmacists this year is shocking.

Day added: “Getting paid for the work you’ve undertaken is a basic right for any worker and these are the legitimate earnings due to these pharmacists.

“Just as the PDA stands up for employed pharmacists if they are unlawfully underpaid, we also represent locum members who find themselves in a situation where they have worked but the pharmacy owner doesn’t pay them,” he said.

“Pharmacy owners and the managers they employ need to ensure they pay all pharmacists, whether employees or locums, the full amount agreed for their work.”

This case spans various pharmacies from the largest multiples to single pharmacy operators.

PDA said that they have “developed a clear process in the steps required to secure members the money that they are due for their work.”

It offered guidance to secure payments, including the largest case this year, surpassing £8,000.

The highest sum reclaimed for a PDA member was over £18,000 in 2020, showcasing their commitment to securing rightful earnings.

The union said it “advises and supports” locums on how to obtain the fees they are owed.

In August, the PDA confirmed that the members have reported “wage theft” by their employees including unpaid overtime, wage deductions and withheld payment.

The employees were not paid their full holiday entitlement, or hours worked or underpaid the contractual rate.

PDA’s union general secretary, Mark Pitt said it was “unacceptable” that pharmacists have to fight to recover “legitimate” money owed by employers and pharmacy contractors.

More For You

Majority of Brits neglect consistent skincare routine,  survey finds

On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Skincare: One in five Brits go to bed without washing their face daily, survey finds

Nearly two-thirds of Brits (60 per cent) neglect a consistent skincare routine,with almost one in five going to bed without washing their face daily, according to a new survey by consumer health company Kenvue.

The UK-wide survey of 2,000 people revealed that one-third of respondents (34 per cent) spend five minutes or less on their daily skincare routine. On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Keep ReadingShow less
Risk of pharmacy closures remains despite record funding uplift

Community pharmacy sector remains in a fragile position as the funding gap is still significant, says CCA.

gettyimages

Pharmacy closures still a risk as funding deal fails to cover costs – warns CCA

The community pharmacy sector has secured the largest funding uplift across the NHS, yet concerns remain that it may not be enough to prevent further closures and service reductions.

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has approved a £3.073 billion funding package for 2025/26, supplemented by an additional £215 million to support Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent Prescribing: Government aims to complete pathfinder programme evaluation by autumn 2025

Pharmacist prescribers at 210 ‘pathfinder’ sites were allowed to trial prescribing models within integrated primary care services.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Independent prescribing: Pathfinder programme evaluation to be completed by autumn, says Kinnock

Health minister Stephen Kinnock has revealed that the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme could be completed by Autumn 2025.

Kinnock was responding to a question from James Naish, Labour MP for Rushcliffe, who asked what steps the minister was taking to ensure continued support for the Pathfinder Programme and independent prescribing to maximise direct prescribing capacity in England.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free morning-after pill at pharmacies to end postcode lottery for patients

Pharmacy technicians will be allowed to supply of drospirenone for contraception under PGD,

gettyimages

Pharmacy contract: Free morning-after pill to be available at pharmacies soon

The UK government has announced that, for the first time ever, the ‘morning-after pill’ or emergency contraceptive pill will be available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a record £3.073 billion funding package for community pharmacies in 2025/26, alongside an additional £215 million to sustain Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal College status: The PDA calls for ‘meaningful and collaborative dialogue’

The profession’s success will depend on collaboration across all sectors, says PDA.

gettyimages

Royal College vote: Less than 7% of GB pharmacists in favour, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for moving too quickly to a ballot on its proposed transition to a Royal College, arguing that it resulted in low participation from pharmacists in Great Britain.

Announcing the results of the special resolution vote, the RPS said that the outcome was a “clear mandate” in favour of the transformative change.

Keep ReadingShow less