Strategies to Attract Locum Pharmaciststo Hospital Practice

Abstract

Uncompetitive wages, inflexible work conditions, and scarce graduate positions in hospital each year have contributed to a shortage of locum hospital pharmacists in New South Wales (NSW). Therefore, the NSW Branch of SHPA introduced a self‐funding, fee‐paying placement service coordinated by a locum pharmacist. Twenty‐two known locums were surveyed to identify their needs, motivation, and the barriers to working in hospital.Most locums were newly registered pharmacists or were returning to hospital pharmacy after an extended absence. Hospital pharmacy was attractive because of a clinical and supportive environment, plus contact with patients and physicians. The barriers were locums' perceived gap in clinical knowledge, the absence of entry level clinical courses, inflexible work hours, illogical procedures, and a bureaucratic mentality.Consequently, an Introduction to Hospital Pharmacy course is being offered by SHPA (NSW), with an emphasis on mentoring locums back into the workforce through entry‐level clinical teaching and an explanation of policies and procedures. Since this initiative, two pharmacists who had been out of work for many years are now keenly sought as locums,some locums have worked in other hospitals and are enjoying the variety, UK pharmacists have telephoned in advance for placement, and the locums have appreciated information about a job from an independent source.