Has stability returned to the primary care sector? Survey aims to find out

摘要

For the first time a national survey of pharmacy staff vacancy rates in primary care is being carried out this year. Questionnaires are being sent to all primary care trusts, or their equivalents, across the UK. This will give an indication of where the jobs are being left unfilled. The survey is being carried out by the National Pharmacy Education and Development Committee, which promotes the profession's education and training. The UK-wide initiative follows a similar survey of the 31 London PCTs last October, which revealed vacancy rates of 13.2 per cent and 11.5 per cent among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, respectively. The survey is being co-ordinated by Peter Sharott, director of East and South East England specialist pharmacy services. It will based on PCT vacancy rates for May 31 this year. He says: "It will give us a fix on the number of people, the vacancy rates and patterns. It will act as a starter and give us a base line to work form."