Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

Most of us are aware of the impact of having pharmacy expertise within our practice and network teams but in many areas, the continuing issue of sourcing (and retaining) pharmacists is proving to be a very challenge. In this week’s episode, we meet Holly Laurence and Ruhina Kassam from Clinical Pharmacist Solutions (CPS), an award-winning training, recruitment and clinical services provider that specialise in providing much-needed, skilled pharmacy resources to practices and primary care networks. Holly and Ruhina talk to Ben about the problem of sourcing staff, why it can be so difficult to hold on to good pharmacists, what we can be doing to incentivise potential new pharmacy staff (and hold onto them), and what CPS can offer by way of support.

Introduction (0:09)

Meeting Holly, Head of Primary Care Support (0:26)

…and Service Manager Ruhina (1:10)

Is recruitment of Clinical Pharmacists a widespread problem, generally? And if so, why? (1:29)

Working out what you want from your pharmacist (3:29)

Setting up dedicated support networks (4:51)

Expectations of salary (5:30)

Handling pay scales (6:41)

Meeting pharmacist expectations (7:20)

Maintaining retention (8:02)

Working within a multi practice network? (8:39)

Holly’s role and how she can ease the burden of recruitment on primary care staff (9:36)

Access and availability of pharmacists (11:11)

The CPS training programme (12:08)

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) assessment (14:38)

What else do CPS offer by way of support to practices (15:10)

Slotting in alongside the national pharmacy training programme (16:09)

Pricing schedules (16:45)

Getting in touch (17:41)

If you’d like further information, please check out the CPS website or their LinkedIn page here.