The Co-operative Pharmacy is taking steps to reduce its locum rates in the north west to £22 to £24 per hour, C+D can exclusively reveal.

The multiple will now give preference to locums charging £22 to £24 per hour and said it cannot guarantee regular work for locums on higher rates, according to a letter sent by The Co-operative pharmacy to locums.

Co-operative Pharmacy said it believed its previous rates exceeded the market rate, which it pegged at £23 per hour in the region.

The letter also hinted at cuts elsewhere, saying average locum rates had dropped up to £7 per hour in certain regions in the past 18 months, but The Co-operative did not confirm whether it had taken similar action elsewhere.

The news follows rate reductions by Sainsbury's earlier this month, but other multiples have remained tight-lipped about locum rates.

Boots said the information was commercially sensitive, while Rowlands and Lloydspharmacy declined to comment. Earlier this year, C+D's Salary Survey found average locum rates had reduced to £23.30 this year.

A Co-operative Pharmacy spokesperson told C+D rates varied across the country taking into account location, availability, experience and the services they provided. Feedback suggested locums were "keen to work for The Co-operative pharmacy", the spokesperson added. 

PDA union director John Murphy said multiples were being opportunistic in making cuts to locum rates. "They're not putting an accurate value on the input of locums, they're tending to reduce rates from an opportunistic point of view," he said.

"It's a pity that organisations choose to lower their rates when they're asking locums to provide more services and generate more income," Mr Murphy added.

English Pharmacy Board chair Lindsey Gilpin also expressed disappointment at the cuts and said locums were already having difficulty getting positions. She advised locums to invest and have confidence in themselves.

"Every locum pharmacist is a one person business and they would, as a one person business, need to look at the attractiveness of their own business," she said.

"I think you've also got to have the confidence to say that it's not an acceptable rate to pay. You've got negotiating rights," Ms Gilpin added. 

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