EXCLUSIVE

More than three quarters of readers have considered quitting their job over the past 12 months, a C+D poll has suggested.

Out of 119 respondents to the poll, posted on the C+D website October 9-13, 77% said they had thought about leaving their current role.

Pharmacists told C+D the high figure could be down to a lack of job satisfaction across community pharmacy, ahead of the launch of the C+D Salary Survey 2016 today (October 16).

Mike Hewitson, owner of two pharmacies in Dorset, said he is “not surprised” some pharmacists feel disillusioned with their roles. “Particularly among younger pharmacists, there’s a lack of realism about what the job entails,” he explained.

Any position in the NHS is a “treadmill” that involves “a lot of grunt work”, which is a disappointment to graduates, he said. But Mr Hewitson stressed he does not regret his own career choice, because he finds it “rewarding” to build relationships with patients.

Locum pharmacist Ross Ferguson agreed some pharmacists may find the dispensing role “repetitive and boring”. “You don’t get to put into practice what you’ve learned, so it’s professional dissatisfaction,” he said.

Quitting "crossed my mind"

John Munday, a locum pharmacist in north England, told C+D that quitting had “crossed his mind several times” due to the pressures of community pharmacy. He cited a lack of respect from some patients, difficulties with the electronic prescription service (EPS) and targets as particular problems.

Ravinder Singh Cholia, manager of Day Lewis pharmacy in Harold Hill, Romford, pointed out that pharmacists also move roles to improve their work-life balance.

In his previous position, Mr Singh Cholia said he worked 50 hours a week and had to commute 30 miles each way, which left little time for his family. He is now “enjoying” his new position, for which he travels a third of the distance and works standard full-time hours, he told C+D.

The C+D reader poll was conducted ahead of the launch of the C+D Salary Survey 2016. The survey will collate information to provide a benchmark of pay and conditions in community pharmacy and will run until November 27.

Have you ever considered quitting your job?

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