Trends 2025

Navigating the Tides: Key Trends for UK Locum Pharmacists in 2025

The UK locum pharmacy landscape in 2025 is characterized by a dynamic interplay of challenges and emerging opportunities. While the market has seen shifts in demand and rates, new avenues for growth and professional development are also becoming more prominent. Understanding these trends is crucial for both locums and the pharmacies relying on their expertise.

1. Increased Competition and Rate Pressure

Recent surveys (such as those by the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) and Pharmacist Cooperative) indicate that 2025 continues to be a challenging year for many locum pharmacists. Key observations include:

• Reduced Shift Availability: A significant number of locums are reporting fewer available shifts compared to previous years, leading to increased competition for bookings.

• Downward Pressure on Rates: Hourly rates have generally seen a downward trend since the post-pandemic peak. Pharmacies, facing their own funding pressures and rising operational costs, are often less willing or able to negotiate higher rates.

• Booking Platform Influence: The rise of certain booking platforms is perceived by some as contributing to rate compression by limiting negotiation options for locums.

This necessitates a more proactive and strategic approach from locums to secure consistent work at desirable rates.

2. The Enduring Impact of ARRS

The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), designed to expand primary care workforces, continues to significantly shape the pharmacist employment landscape:

• Shift from Community to PCNs: ARRS roles have successfully drawn pharmacists, including some former locums, into Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and general practice settings. This has contributed to a perceived oversupply of pharmacists in the traditional community locum market.

• Upskilling for New Roles: While the initial surge might be stabilizing, ARRS has highlighted the growing demand for pharmacists in more clinically focused roles within primary care. This is a key driver for locums to acquire new skills.

• Funding Adjustments: The 2025/26 GP contract includes changes to ARRS funding, potentially impacting the types and number of roles PCNs prioritize, which could have knock-on effects for locum demand in different settings.

3. The Rise of Independent Prescribing (IP)

Independent Prescribing (IP) is perhaps the most significant transformative trend for UK pharmacists:

• Growing IP Qualification: The number of pharmacists gaining Independent Prescriber qualifications continues to rise sharply. From 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will be IPs, making this a standard expectation rather than a specialist qualification.

• Demand for Prescribing Skills: While the utilization of IP skills in community pharmacy has lagged behind the number of qualified individuals, there's a clear governmental push for pharmacists to take on more advanced clinical roles, including prescribing, especially with initiatives like "Pharmacy First."

• Differentiation for Locums: For locums, an IP qualification is becoming a powerful differentiator. Locums with prescribing capabilities may find opportunities in new types of services or command higher rates as pharmacies look to expand their clinical offerings and fully leverage the skills of their workforce. This includes potential for remote IP locum roles.

4. Focus on Enhanced Services and Clinical Roles

Driven by NHS strategies to shift care into community settings and the introduction of services like Pharmacy First, the role of pharmacists is becoming increasingly clinical:

• Beyond Dispensing: Pharmacies are under pressure to offer more advanced services (e.g., managing minor ailments, chronic disease monitoring, vaccinations, health screenings).

• Demand for Clinical Skills: This trend naturally increases the demand for locums who possess a broader range of clinical skills and are confident in delivering these new services.

5. Digitalisation and Efficiency

Pharmacies continue to adopt digital solutions for operations, inventory management, and patient services. While this aims to improve efficiency for pharmacies, it also means locums need to be adaptable to various pharmacy management software systems and comfortable with technology-driven workflows.

Navigating the Future as a Locum

For locum pharmacists in 2025, adaptability and continuous professional development are key. While challenges like rate pressures persist, upskilling, particularly in Independent Prescribing, offers a clear pathway to securing more desirable roles and potentially countering downward rate trends. LocumPoint aims to connect you with opportunities that align with these evolving market demands, helping you thrive in the dynamic UK pharmacy landscape.