Why do pharmacists get paid so much?

Sunday 21 July Community pharmacists may soon have powers to issue follow-up prescriptions after an initial diagnosis by a doctor. Community pharmacists act as a link between doctor and patient in supplying prescribed medicines.

They make up prescriptions and ensure the patient knows why they are taking the medicine, how they should take it, and what effects to expect. There are 33, drugs on the UK market and pharmacists are expected to keep abreast of new developments in medicines.

Beyond this, community pharmacists provide an increasing number of formerly prescription-only medicines over the counter. Community pharmacists must be tactful, as patients are often embarrassed to talk about their ailments.

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Confidentiality when dispensing medicines and giving advice to customers is important, coupled with a meticulous nature to ensure the right medicines are dispensed. Pharmacists need at least three A-levels, one in chemistry and the others in either physics, maths or biology. Training takes five years - a four-year master of pharmacy degree, followed by a year's pre-registration training in either a community or hospital pharmacy.

Pharmacies are paid around 90p by the NHS for each item dispensed, so the income of independent pharmacists varies, and depends partly on how many prescriptions are processed, although the average is around 2, a month.

They also sell medicines over the counter and make money from retail sales vitamins, shampoo, make-up and the like and services such as health checks and nutrition advice.

The profession is all about helping people, and it is satisfying to ensure patients are happy with their medicine and understand how and why they should take it.

The Superdrug chain actively promotes continual professional development, with staff attending courses throughout the year for training in new areas. The larger chain pharmacies all offer standard staff pension schemes to their community pharmacists. Boots' pharmacists are also offered discounted private healthcare, as well as staff discounts at outlets belonging to the group.

Pharmacists | Money | The Guardian

Pharmacists have to be accurate in dispensing medicine and advice to patients and alert about what they are doing. Often spending much of the day on their feet, they cannot switch off when they are working and must give the job their full attention at all times. Some pharmacists find it frustrating that so few people realise how qualified pharmacists are to give advice on medicines and minor ailments.

Services provided by pharmacists, such as blood pressure monitoring and medication review clinics, are available in some pharmacies across the country, and these services are likely to become more commonplace.

With plans announced earlier this year to allow pharmacists to prescribe repeat medicines, their responsibilities are set to grow. Andrew Burr is a pharmacist, as his father was before him. He is a partner at Primary Care Pharmacy in Staffordshire.

It is satisfying to see customers come back month after month. We are the most accessible healthcare individuals to the patient, and the last person that sees them in an advisory role before they take the drugs prescribed. International edition switch to the UK edition switch to the US edition switch to the Australia edition.

The Guardian - Back to home. Income Pharmacies are paid around 90p by the NHS for each item dispensed, so the income of independent pharmacists varies, and depends partly on how many prescriptions are processed, although the average is around 2, a month.

Perks The profession is all about helping people, and it is satisfying to ensure patients are happy with their medicine and understand how and why they should take it. Disadvantages Pharmacists have to be accurate in dispensing medicine and advice to patients and alert about what they are doing.

The future Services provided by pharmacists, such as blood pressure monitoring and medication review clinics, are available in some pharmacies across the country, and these services are likely to become more commonplace. Andrew Burr Andrew Burr is a pharmacist, as his father was before him. Topics Money Wage slaves: The Guardian back to top.