We recently conducted a workforce survey in which we received a response from over 1000 pharmacists.
The research aimed to explore the following issues:
- The extent of the professional pharmacist resource pressures for the community pharmacy sector;
- The merging trend of a pharmacist choosing a locum (temporary) position over a contracted (permanent) position;
- Pressures and deterrents to community pharmacy as a career; and
- Factors that might curtail or influence a pharmacist’s ambition to become a supervising pharmacist or take a permanent position in a community pharmacy.
The analysis and reporting on the results was completed by Behaviour and Attitudes and the final report is available here. This report will enable us to develop additional actions and to engage key stakeholders who have influence on the community pharmacy sector.
Lobbying
It is also essential in promoting our agenda that members contact their local public representative to highlight our key concerns in relation to manpower shortages. To assist, a list of politicians is available here and a message sheet highlighting our main concerns and asks is available here. If you have any queries please contact communications@ipu.ie.
