Introduction

This page provides information about common enquires made to Pharmacist Support by people considering becoming a locum pharmacist, or from those who are already practising locum pharmacists.

Locum pharmacists are an integral part of the pharmaceutical workforce, and for some the attractions of being a locum pharmacist are clear. You can choose your own hours, you can decide where you would like to work and often the pay can be very good.

Whilst locums can often command a high wage, the increasing number of registered pharmacists in Britain has led to tough competition for jobs. Increasingly, reports point to a drop in the hourly rate paid to locums.

• Self-employed or employee
• Contract for services
• Employment rights
• Financial considerations
• Managing your finances and preparing for retirement
• Pensions
• Staff benefits
• Smartcard registration
• Unpaid fees
• Tax returns
• Financial problems
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Finding work
• Disclosure and barring service
• Locum wellbeing
• Positive workplace relationships and communication skills 
• Overcoming isolation with peer support and connection
• Leadership and Embracing a Workplace Wellbeing Culture
• Further information and help

Self-employed or employee

Ordinarily locums are classed as self-employed, meaning that they will be responsible for paying their own tax and national insurance (NI) contributions and keeping their accounts in order and up-to-date. The amount and type of NI contribution paid will depend on the amount of money earned.

It is important to establish employment status at the very outset, as this will determine who is responsible for making tax/ NI contribution payments.

A person who starts self-employed or contracted work and is responsible for her/his own tax and/or NI contributions has a duty to notify the HMRC within three months of the start of that activity or s/he could be liable for a financial penalty. For further information, see Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website.

If you are a member of a trade union you can contact them for further clarification of your employment status. You could also contact an organisation such as the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) or your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for further guidance. For contact details, see Useful organisations below.

If you are not a member of a trade union, Pharmacist Support can refer you for free and confidential employment advice provided by trained Citizens Advice advisers. They will be able to help you to ascertain whether or not you are self-employed.

If you would like to be referred, contact us using our online enquiry form, e-mail us at [email protected] or call 0808 168 2233.

Contract for services

It is advisable to have a written contract for services. Without this it is difficult to settle disputes that may arise and it can also add uncertainty to employment status and tax liability. The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) cites the absence of a written agreement as being the main source of difficulty for them when advising their locum members.

National Pharmaceutical Association (NPA) members can see their standardised contract for locum pharmacists on their website.

Employment rights

Many of the basic employment rights that apply to employees in the UK do not apply to someone who is self-employed. For example:-

• statutory sick pay
• paid holidays
• paid maternity leave
• redundancy payment
• protection from unfair dismissal
• right to notice.

Self-employed workers are entitled to certain basic employment rights, examples include the right to take maternity leave (but not necessarily paid maternity leave) and the right to take rest breaks and holidays (again, not necessarily paid).

Agency workers who work for the same end user for more than 12 weeks can acquire rights to be treated comparably to other workers/employees. Examples include the ability to use child care schemes and comparable pay.

For further information about basic employment rights, see the government website.

Discrimination law

All workers have the right not to be unlawfully discriminated against. For further information, ask your trade union, see the online guide from the Citizens Advice guide,   visit the government website, or see our Discrimination page.

Financial considerations

As locums do not have employment rights such as statutory sick pay and paid holidays, it is advisable to plan ahead for the unexpected, for example, illness, or for other events such as starting a family or holidays.

Also, as work is not guaranteed, it makes sense to prepare for periods of unemployment. If you are not working or your work is sporadic, Pharmacist Support can refer you for free and confidential benefit advice provided by a specialist Citizens Advice adviser. They can help you with, for example, a benefits check to ensure that you are claiming your full entitlement. If you would like to be referred, you can contact us. For full contact details see the Self-employed or employee section.

Money Helper is a free service set up by the government to help people make the most of their money. For budgeting and money-managing advice see the Money Helper website.

As self-employed people are not entitled to statutory sick pay, locums might want to consider getting financial protection to cover themselves in the event of illness, accidents or disability. Illness insurance can be a means of ensuring that you have an income in times like these.

Illness insurance

There are many different types of illness insurance available. Many policies will only cover certain illnesses and many do not cover self-employed people. Ordinarily, there is a waiting time before payment begins, and some policies will only pay out for a limited time. You will need to check your policy carefully to make sure it is the right one for you. For further information on illness protection insurance, and the advantages and disadvantages, see the Citizens Advice website.

Managing your finances and preparing for retirement

All pharmacists can benefit from taking their financial wellbeing seriously. However, locum pharmacists may face additional financial challenges such as unpredictable income.

Managing your finances well and having a safety net to cope with unexpected financial challenges can be crucial. This can help avoid spiralling into financial difficulty.

Financial education can increase your chances of having the freedom to work and live in ways that support your wellbeing. It can also help you achieve a happier, healthier retirement.

47% of pharmacy professionals say financial pressures are negatively impacting their health and wellbeing. If that’s you, you’re not alone—and we’re here to help. Pharmacist Support has joined forces with Rebel Finance School to bring free and empowering financial wellbeing education tailored for our pharmacy family. For more information, see our Rebel Finance for Pharmacists webpage.

Pensions

Self-employed people are entitled to the basic state pension as long as they have enough NI contributions or credits.

Given that locums often have earnings fluctuations due to irregular working patterns, come retirement time they may find that they do not have a full NI contribution record and this could affect the amount of state pension received.

If you are unsure of your entitlement, you can ask for a state pension estimate. This will tell you what you are likely to get when you retire. You can call the Future Pension Centre on 0845 3000 168 or you can request a statement online via the government website.

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)

TPAS now comes under the Money Helper umbrella. This service provides free information about all types of pensions. For further information see the Money Helper website.

Staff benefits

Locums do not enjoy the same benefits that an employee might. Staff retail discount, employee share schemes, membership fees for other bodies and staff training, for example, are often limited to workers who are classified as employees.  Some private or small group pharmacies may still offer incentives such as a staff discount.

Training

Locums will need to keep abreast of new services in order to remain an attractive proposition to prospective employers. Pharmacists who are unable to provide services such as Flu vaccinations and New Medicine Services (NMS) will be less likely to get work. See the CPE website for further information on flu vaccination training and NMS.

Smartcard Registration

Smartcards allow access to patient information in a secure manner. Locums will need a smartcard that allows them to work at multiple sites. They should request a user profile registered on the generic code for a locum pharmacy which is FFFFF. This will allow a locum to work in any EPS Release 2 enabled pharmacy in England.

Local NHS England teams are responsible for commissioning local registration authorities (RAs) to provide and oversee smartcards. For contact details for all RAs in England, see the NHS Digital website.

Unpaid fees

Occasionally locums have trouble securing payment for services provided. Where there are unpaid fees, locums cannot take the matter to an Employment Tribunal, they have to go to court and make a claim for a money judgement via the small claims track. For further information, see our Recovering unpaid fees page.

Tax returns

If you are self-employed, you will need to fill in a self assessment tax return every year. You will be responsible for keeping accurate records so that you can fill in your tax return correctly. You can use an accountant to do this on your behalf if you wish.

The HMRC website has further guidance about filling in a self assessment return and keeping the right records.  You could also contact their Self-Employed Helpline for further basic information about self-assessment, NI payments and record keeping. The number is 0300 200 3504, or see the government website.

If you think that you will be unable to pay your tax bill on time, you should contact the HMRC right away. The HMRC’s Business Payment Support Service Helpline number is 0300 200 3835.

If you have financial problems, see also the Financial problems section below.

TaxAid

TaxAid is a charity that helps people on low incomes with their tax affairs. You can contact their national helpline on 0345 120 3779 or for further information visit their website.

Financial problems

Pharmacist Support can refer you for free and confidential debt advice provided by a specialist Citizens Advice adviser. They can help you with, for example, preparing a financial statement or rescheduling payments to creditors. For full contact details for Pharmacist Support, see the Self-employed or employee section.

If you have been affected by issues such as unforeseen loss of work or ill-health and are experiencing financial hardship, you could contact Pharmacist Support for information about possible financial assistance. 

Pharmacist Support also have a Help with Debt page.

Professional indemnity insurance

It is a GPhC requirement to “make sure that all your work, or work that you are responsible for, is covered by appropriate professional indemnity cover”.   This insurance cover is designed to protect against claims made by a patient if mistakes are made or a locum is found to be negligent in some or all of the services they provide.

Even if your employer’s insurance covers you, it is worth bearing in mind that in the event of a conflict of interest between you and your employer, the insurance may actually provide cover for the employer rather than yourself.

If you are a member of a trade union/association check your membership benefits as in some instances full membership may provide you with standard insurance cover and related legal costs. We would recommend that you get several quotes before choosing your insurance provider. You could also look at the PDA video to help you to understand which policy is best for you.

Finding work

Locums may be contracted directly by an employer or may choose to join an agency. Some employers will only book locums via an agency.

Joining an agency can alleviate the stress of finding locum work. Locums can specify the hours they would like to work, the area and also the minimum rate of pay they will need.

There are numerous agencies for locum pharmacists and it might be a good idea to have a look at a few before choosing. A personal recommendation is also helpful.

Points to consider when joining an agency include:-

• does the agency charge a placement fee
• how long is a typical wait between placements
• does the agency provide any benefits
• what is the rate of pay.

Our Looking for work page includes a compilation of specialist pharmacist sites, locum agency sites and more general job sites.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks 

The DBS check has replaced the old Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB). It is not currently a General Pharmaceutical Council regulatory requirement for pharmacists to undergo a DBS check before providing pharmaceutical services. However, individual employers should carry out a risk assessment on the various roles within the pharmacy to ascertain who should have a check. Therefore you may be required to have had a DBS check before commencing work. See the government website for the guidance on which roles are eligible for a check.

An employer will ask you to fill in an application form and provide proof of identity. The employer will then submit the completed from for the DBS check. If you are registered with an agency they will ordinarily arrange for a DBS check for you.

In some instances, locum agencies will be happy to arrange a DBS check even if you are not registered with them. Also, some Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPC) can now organise a DBS check for you. To search for your area LPC go to the LPC Online website.

As a self-employed locum the expense incurred for the DBS check would be classed as tax deductible.

Locums can also use the government search engine to locate an umbrella company in their local area.

For further information about DBS, contact the DBS customer services department on 03000 200 190 or see the government website.

In Scotland, see the Disclosure Scotland website.

Disclosure and barring update service

Once an application for a DBS check has been made, the applicant can register for the DBS online update service. The government have produced an applicant guide for the DBS update service. See the guide on their website.

Locum wellbeing

The freedom and flexibility of working as a locum can have a positive impact on a pharmacist’s wellbeing. However, along with pressures in life all pharmacists can face, some locums may face additional challenges. For example, working in unfamiliar or demanding environments, or uncertainty about when the next shift will be. This may cause stress. No locum should have to put up with poor or unsafe working conditions. If this happens, seeking professional advice or support from organisations such as the PDA or RPS can be important. However, making wellbeing a priority can help locums build the strength and resilience to cope with the challenges of work and life.

Wellbeing support

Pharmacist Support has lots of information and resources to help improve mental and health wellbeing.

Locum pharmacists can also sign up for our free Wellbeing Learning Platform. It offers wellbeing workshops on a range of topics. This includes stress management, building resilience, financial wellbeing, living the life you want to lead, nutrition and mental health, time management, and more.

Self-help has helped many locums improve their wellbeing. But if you are struggling, you should not have to cope alone. We have confidential support that can help.

We offer Listening Friends peer support from pharmacist volunteers. This can help pharmacists, including locums, who are experiencing stress in or out of work.

Our counselling service has helped many pharmacists who are struggling with their mental health.

If you are worried about addiction or dependency, we provide Addiction Support.

Positive workplace relationships and communication skills 

Locum pharmacists who build positive workplace relationships are likely to experience less professional isolation and greater integration into pharmacy teams. Effective workplace relationships can positively impact wellbeing and can significantly increase the chance of securing more work at a pharmacy. There are many important characteristics that make up good, healthy working relationships. We have information on them in our Building positive workplace relationships page.

Assertiveness

Locum pharmacists can work with a diverse range of people. You may not get the opportunity to build long-term working relationships with some these colleagues. Clear and effective communication skills are vital in supporting a locum and pharmacy team’s performance as well as supporting their wellbeing.

When it comes to effective communication at work, assertiveness is what we should be aiming for.

Passive communication is when the outcome means the other person is happy and you are not.

Aggressive communication is when you are happy and the other person is not.

Passive-aggressive communication is when neither person is truly happy because feelings are expressed indirectly.

Assertive communication is a win-win because you have been able to communicate clearly and respectfully so both parties are happy.

For more guidance on assertive communication, see our Building Assertiveness pages and our Introduction to Assertiveness workshop on our Wellbeing Learning Platform.

Overcoming isolation with peer support and connection

Working as a locum can be a great way to meet many different colleagues. Lots of locums build lifelong working relationships or friendships. However, we hear from some locum pharmacists who tell us that working as a locum can feel isolating at times. Issues may range from struggling to find a peer to complete a revalidation peer discussion, fewer opportunities to form friendships, or feeling unsupported or disconnected from the pharmacy profession.

Keeping connected with other pharmacist colleagues can be vital for professional development and wellbeing. It can boost confidence and reduce stress. We have already mentioned the emotional peer support available via our Listening Friends service. However, there are different ways to stay connected with your profession and access peer support. For more information, see our Peer Support page.

Locums who would like to improve their social connections may find our Exploring our social circles and Improving social skills and connections pages helpful.

Leadership and Embracing a Workplace Wellbeing Culture

Locums will often find themselves leading and supporting the pharmacy teams they’re working with. At Pharmacist Support, we believe that leaders should embrace a workplace wellbeing culture. This can create healthy working environments where everyone can perform at their best.

Informed by the results of our annual workforce wellbeing survey, we are proud to introduce our award winning Embracing a Workplace Wellbeing Culture course. This is designed for current and aspiring pharmacy managers, leaders, and supervisors. It offers practical, hands-on strategies to create a healthier workplace, help you lead teams more effectively, and nurture a culture of wellbeing, all tailored specifically to the pharmacy setting. For more information and to sign up for the course, see our Embracing a Workplace Wellbeing Culture webpage.

Further information and help

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

Members can access a full range of services, including support alerts for drug and device recalls, guidance for pharmacy law and ethics and the online Locum Group. This group is for locum pharmacists and is about locum practice in every sector. They also offer a professional liability insurance scheme.

For further information about RPS services, ring 0207 572 2737 or visit their website.

Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA)

The PDA is a trade union for pharmacists. Locums can see the PDA Locum Booklet and contract for services on the website. Members can seek advice from PDA lawyers and access information on a variety of topics. They also offer a professional liability insurance scheme.

For further information, ring 0121 694 7000 or visit their website.

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)

The NPA is the trade association for community pharmacy.  Amongst their other services, members can also access NAPTV, a video-content platform enabling locums to keep up with the latest in pharmaceutical news and get answers to current ethical, legal and clinical questions.

For further information, ring 01727 858 687 or visit their website.

Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP)

The GHP is a trade union for pharmacists working in hospitals, primary care and other healthcare institutions in the NHS and the commercial sector. They also offer   a professional liability insurance scheme.

For a small fee, locums joining the scheme can benefit from trade union support and insurance cover whether working in a hospital, service company or community pharmacy.  For further information, visit their website.

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

ACAS offers help and advice on issues such as the difficulties in identifying employment status. For further information, see the ACAS website.

Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB)

Citizens Advice Bureaux offer free confidential advice on all manner of issues including employment, legal and financial matters. Search for your local bureau on the CAB website.

This page was last reviewed in November 2025 and updated in December 2025.