My name is Hana, and I am a locum hospital pharmacist with Your World. Currently, I am locuming in an acute NHS hospital in obstetrics and gynaecology. I'm going to tell you a little bit about my experience as a locum hospital pharmacist and working with Your World Healthcare.

Why did I choose locum work over a permanent role?  

I was in a period of my life when my future looked uncertain, so I needed a role that wouldn't require commitment. Also, I wanted to try working part-time to get a better work-life balance, but I didn't want my wage to be significantly impacted.

My perceptions and concerns about hospital work before I started:

All pharmacists know about locuming as a community pharmacist, but hospital locum work is much less known about. For this reason, I felt like I didn't really know what to expect as a locum hospital pharmacist. 

My main concern when I initially considered locum work was that I wouldn't be able to get regular shifts, but my recruiter at Your World secured a regular work schedule for me. I was also concerned about finances. I thought I'd have to manage my own tax, for example. However, as an NHS locum, my tax and (optional) pension are taken out before I get paid.

How did I get a locum role with Your World?

I moved to a new city with little idea of what to do for work. I wasn't sure how long I'd be there, and I didn't want to work in any other sector because, to be honest, all I really know is hospital pharmacy!

During this time, I simply changed my LinkedIn profile to "Open to work," and I received messages from a few recruitment agencies, including Your World. I told them all where I'd like to work and for how many days, and Your World was the only locum agency that found me a locum pharmacist job that suited my needs.

My recruiter at Your World listened to what I wanted, found the right role, and negotiated with the hospital to get me a higher hourly rate than the initially agreed one.

What Are the Key Benefits of Working as an Agency Hospital Pharmacist in the UK?

The flexibility: hospital locum work has been a game-changer for me. I only give a week's notice to change my working hours or take days off. Being able to choose my hours and schedule has finally brought me an ideal work-life balance. 

The pay:

• It's better than the standard hospital pay banding but not as high as community locum rates
• My hourly pay is better than what I would earn as a permanent staff member. However, you don't get sick or annual leave, so this needs to be considered
• Rates vary based on the Trust and can be negotiable
• You can choose to opt into the NHS pension, which is known to be a good one

Another perk is the reduced responsibility. As a band seven pharmacist, which is the grade I was working at before I started locuming, I'd typically be expected to take on audit work, managerial roles, or teaching. When locuming, these are optional. I appreciate the lower pressure and the freedom to focus on what matters most to me. 

How Can Pharmacists Balance Work-Life While Pursuing Agency Roles in UK Hospitals Through Your World?

I love that locuming allows for more flexibility. As a permanent full-time hospital pharmacist, I would be expected to cover late, weekend and on-call shifts.

As a locum, I only need to give one week's notice to take time off work. This means I never have to miss social events or appointments.

I've been able to achieve a work-life balance like never before. I can work four days a week instead of five without a cut to what I earned in my permanent role. It's been great!

Are you considering a role as a locum hospital pharmacist? Here are my tips.

There are different specialties to work in as a hospital pharmacist, and a locum role is a fantastic way to experience different specialties without any commitment. If you've worked in a hospital before, you may know the area you want to work in, and you can let your recruiter know this. If you haven't worked in a hospital setting before, be open to the different options. I would recommend moving around different specialties (every four-six months) until you find an area you enjoy.

Set realistic expectations for starting your role. You probably won't get a full Trust induction, but you should get some time to settle into your new area of work. You will be given competency logs (e.g., checking assessments) to complete before you're allowed to sign anything professionally. I had a two-week induction period and spent a lot of it reading guidelines and topics around the new specialty I was working in to gain as much knowledge as I could.

Consider what you want to get out of the role. As a locum, you will not be expected to take part in audit work, teaching or service development and management, however, for your own professional development, it would be great to try and get involved in extra work or projects.

Once you’re settled in, keep an eye out for areas that need improving while you work and let your manager know. The best thing about locum work is that you’re not expected to do any of this so there’s no pressure and anything extra you do will be appreciated by your colleagues!

If you currently work permanently at a hospital Trust, check your contract. Some Trusts do not allow you to work as a locum if you already have a job with them or will have a clause that won't allow you to locum even after you leave.

To Conclude

Thus far, I have come to really appreciate the benefits of locum work. It's opened my eyes to the many opportunities out there for hospital pharmacists. I would never have worked in my current specialty if it wasn't for this locum role, and I can safely say that, thanks to a better work-life balance and a low-pressure workload, this is the least stressful job role I have had in my career thus far.