Abstract
Aim: To update the survey of the Australian hospital pharmacy workforce undertaken in 2001.Method: A questionnaire was sent to 303 Australian hospitals with an identified hospital pharmacy service. Data returned from 128 public hospital pharmacy services were analysed and compared to the earlier study.Results: Key findings were: 1. 107 (10%) of the 1054 establishment pharmacist full‐time equivalent positions were vacant (an improvement from 14%); 2. the vacancy rate for pharmacists had decreased in South Australia (23 to 2%) and increased in Queensland (11 to 17%); 3. 1 in 3 hospital pharmacists worked part‐time; 4. 1 in 3 hospital pharmacists had postgraduate qualifications; 5. the number of pre‐registrant positions had increased with the greatest growth in New South Wales; 6. less than 40% of pharmacy technicians had any formal qualification; and 7. more than half of the hospital pharmacy services were planning to introduce new services in the next 2 years; mostly related to improving clinical services and medication safety. This would require an additional 100 pharmacist positions.Conclusion: The percentage of vacant positions had fallen slightly since the earlier survey. While there had been some improvement in the vacant establishment pharmacist full‐time equivalent positions, over 100 pharmacist positions remain unfilled. Ongoing retention and recruitment strategies to meet anticipated demand and further reduce the number of vacancies in hospital pharmacy will be required.
Published Version
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