More than two-thirds of locums have experienced a drop in available shifts, survey finds

More than two-thirds (69%) of locum pharmacists are reporting seeing ‘fewer’ or ‘far fewer’ shifts available compared with 2024, according to a survey conducted by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA).

Results of the survey, published on 20 May 2025, found that more than one-third (36%) of respondents said they had seen ‘fewer’ shifts available than a year ago, and one-third of respondents (33%) reported ‘far fewer’ shifts.

The PDA surveyed more than 1,300 locum pharmacists from across the UK in April 2025.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of locums responding to the survey also reported that they would want to work between three and five days per week; however in practice, more than half of respondents (59%) were working between one and three days per week.

Since 2021, respondents reported an average pay rate reduction of 10%, which the PDA said was “particularly problematic when considering the significant increases in the cost of living in the same period”.

In addition, 5% of respondents said they were always paid expenses, which is nearly a third of the figure (14%) reported in 2021 .

“The current situation for many is of significantly reduced rates of pay, coupled with a reduction in the amount of work that is available to locum pharmacists across the UK,” the PDA said in a statement published alongside the survey.

“These results show that locum pharmacists face a hostile working environment, where their earnings, and additional reimbursed expenses, are diminishing, while the workplace is demanding even more from them. This demand has increased with burgeoning service expansion, and increased signposting to pharmacies as the first port of call for an increasing range of conditions.”

The PDA added that it would “carefully consider next steps” to support locum pharmacist members.

Commenting on the survey, Gareth Jones, director of corporate affairs at the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Many community pharmacies depend on locums who are valued members of the team. 

“Sadly, the amount of work for locums is related to the many years of chronic underfunding that pharmacies have faced, that have left many pharmacy businesses severely strained.

“We hope that the recent funding uplift will do something to ease the situation for pharmacies, but there’s still a very long way to go. 

“We also look forward to the publication of the NHS’s ten-year health plan, which we hope will see an expanded role for community pharmacy and increase the use of the pharmacy workforce, including valuable locums.”