More than £50,000 in unpaid locum fees recovered in 2019, says PDA

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The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has helped locum pharmacists recover more than £50,000 in unpaid fees so far in 2019.

In a statement published on 11 December 2019, the PDA said that locum members had been able to reclaim £50,031.22 in previously unpaid fees in 2019 to date, and noted that “the year still has several weeks remaining”.

The statement added that the highest value case to date in 2019 has been for more than £10,000.

Paul Day, director of the PDA, would not comment on individual cases, but told The Pharmaceutical Journal that the companies involved include “high street brands that every member of the public would recognise, smaller multiples and independent contractors”.

When asked why fees were not being paid, Day responded that it was “a combination of issues”.

“Sometimes people will say it is a technical issue with invoices, for example. But we don’t judge people’s reasons: pharmacists are entitled to their pay,” he said. “This is money which is owed — it is not compensation.”

Day added that the level of unpaid locum fees recovered in 2019 is the highest on the PDA’s record. But he noted that “we have had similar years in the past”.

Directly employed pharmacists also experience payment issues on occasion — for example being underpaid or not receiving overtime pay, Day said.

“This is money which is a fundamental cost: it shouldn’t be about people choosing not to pay. These are contractual obligations.”

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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, More than £50,000 in unpaid locum fees recovered in 2019, says PDA;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2019.20207493

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