Hospital pharmacy Pre-registration Applications (Pharmalife) 2017/2018
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Original post by MeredithGrey13
Thank you very much for that! How do they select who can stay on for band 6? Obviously they are renowned but Do you know if they are a good hospital for pharmacy pre reg?
Obviously performance during prereg will have a sway on the decision but generally all their preregs will get an interview if there's a position available and they apply, then it'll be based on their interview performance. NHS HR is very restrictive and you have to ask all candidates the same questions and grade them against the same scoring system so once you get to interview for any job you technically have the same chance as any other candidate.
In terms of prereg they're fairly similar to other hospitals. You get a fair amount of exposure to technical services which although it may seem a bit dull definitely beats spending too much time in dispensary. It's not a hugely clinical prereg as you don't spend a great deal of time on wards but you get enough exposure to see a fair bit of clinical and will obviously be way ahead of other preregs in terms of paediatric knowledge. Also you do a lot of calculations as its paeds which is useful for your exam.
Original post by paedspharm
Just to clarify GOSH do have a band 6 programme, they have approx 10-12 rotational residents (band 6) who cover different areas and provide their on call residency service.
Most GOSH pre-regs go on to non-paeds jobs (as not all 7 can be kept on every year and there arent many other specialist paeds hospitals), some go on to work in other paeds hospitals. I also know of people who've gone on to non-paeds jobs after a band 6 job at GOSH.
Most GOSH pre-regs go on to non-paeds jobs (as not all 7 can be kept on every year and there arent many other specialist paeds hospitals), some go on to work in other paeds hospitals. I also know of people who've gone on to non-paeds jobs after a band 6 job at GOSH.
thanks for the clarification
. Im surprised a lot of people dont stay on tbh. I have 4 friends who did their pre-reg there (3 in 2013/14 and 1 for 2014/15 cohorts) and none of them have stayed there despite saying they prefered GOSH to their current jobs. I always thought GOSH had a similar policy regarding band 6 places like papworth (when it was separate from addenbrookes) and other specialist hospitals.(edited 7 years ago)
Guys do you know what knowledge about schemes and policies in England we should know? I have no idea about things in England as I live in Scotland :P I know there was sth like Francis report but thats all 
Original post by quasa
thanks for the clarification. Im surprised a lot of people dont stay on tbh. I have 4 friends who did their pre-reg there (3 in 2013/14 and 1 for 2014/15 cohorts) and none of them have stayed there despite saying they prefered GOSH to their current jobs. I always thought GOSH had a similar policy regarding band 6 places like papworth (when it was separate from addenbrookes) and other specialist hospitals.
. Im surprised a lot of people dont stay on tbh. I have 4 friends who did their pre-reg there (3 in 2013/14 and 1 for 2014/15 cohorts) and none of them have stayed there despite saying they prefered GOSH to their current jobs. I always thought GOSH had a similar policy regarding band 6 places like papworth (when it was separate from addenbrookes) and other specialist hospitals.Did any of them end up working in paeds positions even?
Is there a chance that you could pass pre reg exam but not find a band 6 job?
Original post by MeredithGrey13
How does the pay change once qualified? 21K in pre reg?
Then whats it as a band 6? I find its listed as 26-35K but is it 26 or 35!!!!!! That's a massive difference.
Then whats it as a band 6? I find its listed as 26-35K but is it 26 or 35!!!!!! That's a massive difference.
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/careers-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates
The above web page tells you how pay changes with bands.
Usually when you get promoted you start off at the lowest point in the band, e.g. if going from band 5 as a pre-reg (point 16), you would go to point 21 as a new band 6. Each year, subject to satisfactory progression, you will move up a point (so for the second year of band 6 you may progress to point 22) until you are at the top of the band. After that, you stay at that point until you get promoted or your job changes such that you're in a higher band.
Hope this helps!
Original post by MeredithGrey13
Did any of them end up working in paeds positions even?
Is there a chance that you could pass pre reg exam but not find a band 6 job?
Is there a chance that you could pass pre reg exam but not find a band 6 job?
3 are now band 6 pharmacists in other hospitals but want to specialise in paediatrics. 1 is now working in community. generally speaking about not getting a band 6 job, it varies from trust to trust. some trusts keep most / all their prereg students (but you have to reapply via nhs jobs) other get rid of some. I guess it is something you could ask at the end of your interviews regarding availability of band 6 work
Original post by quasa
3 are now band 6 pharmacists in other hospitals but want to specialise in paediatrics. 1 is now working in community. generally speaking about not getting a band 6 job, it varies from trust to trust. some trusts keep most / all their prereg students (but you have to reapply via nhs jobs) other get rid of some. I guess it is something you could ask at the end of your interviews regarding availability of band 6 work
Oh right and sorry if you can't answer but may I ask why they aren't band 6 in GOSH if they do take them? Especially if they liked it? Was it just no positions available or did they willingly move hospitals?
Original post by MeredithGrey13
Oh right and sorry if you can't answer but may I ask why they aren't band 6 in GOSH if they do take them? Especially if they liked it? Was it just no positions available or did they willingly move hospitals?
2 of them told me because there werent available. theother 2 have no idea why to be honest. that being said 1 of them is on a gap year exploring the world so who knows what theyl do when theyre back
Do you find when you say pharmacy, people tend to look impressed? I also get a lot of 'money comments' if you know what I mean lol. In seriousness, what is the max you could earn as a hospital pharmacist and how many years does it take to be chief or fairly high up?
Is there any chance you could go for positions such as executive or director of hospitals? Or must you be a dr?
Is there any chance you could go for positions such as executive or director of hospitals? Or must you be a dr?
Original post by MeredithGrey13
Do you find when you say pharmacy, people tend to look impressed? I also get a lot of 'money comments' if you know what I mean lol. In seriousness, what is the max you could earn as a hospital pharmacist and how many years does it take to be chief or fairly high up?
Is there any chance you could go for positions such as executive or director of hospitals? Or must you be a dr?
Is there any chance you could go for positions such as executive or director of hospitals? Or must you be a dr?
"money" good or bad? depends on your banding. band 6 I know people who earn between 24 and 30 k. band 7 is usually30-40k but i know a few who get up to 43k. band 8 has sub bandings which pay up to the high 50s usually (average is 45-55k). extremely high senior roles earn more or less the same as consultant doctors.
community is different in the sense that wages can be quite shocking. I know people, as well as locum company heads who tell me that people in big cities earn as little as £10/hour (I have seen a few £14/hour locum jobs in london and the lowest I have been paid is £15/hour). lloyds start their pharmacists on £13-15/hour and cap their wages at £19/hour for locums (average pharmacists get 30-40k, with senior area managers with big companies getting up to 55k.). and locum wages tend to vary from place to place. even if it is the same company in the same country, you can still get regional variation (e.g. £20/hour vs £26/hour for working in a large chains different branches in the same county). generally speaking, id say £19/20 per hour is average for community pharmacists in the area I cover but know in some places people can get up to £40/hour (I was offered a locum shift for that place once but it would have meant a total 6 hours driving to and from the pharmacy for a 9 hour shift excluding traffic). the most Ive been paid is £30/hour in community. I know band 6 hospital bank staff get £25-31/hour
This time tomorrow some of us may have news! 
Original post by holistic_pharm
Haha why Geordie? Oh great! Do you know anything about interview? I dont know anyone who attended it 
So are you o anyones list in Scotland?
So are you o anyones list in Scotland?I might be on it with one provider but I doubt it ha, you gone for hospital with PRPS too?
Original post by holistic_pharm
I have no idea! But I presume, it may take sometime as they have interviews 21 and 22 of September.
The interview will be 21st September
Original post by holistic_pharm
Guys do you know what knowledge about schemes and policies in England we should know? I have no idea about things in England as I live in Scotland :P I know there was sth like Francis report but thats all
Is there anything specific to NES that you're aware of please
))Do pharmalife email any advancements or do we need to continually check the website itself?
Original post by quasa
2 of them told me because there werent available. theother 2 have no idea why to be honest. that being said 1 of them is on a gap year exploring the world so who knows what theyl do when theyre back
Do you know how much around GOSH pay as a band 5? Or if accommodation is available
Original post by MeredithGrey13
Do you know how much around GOSH pay as a band 5? Or if accommodation is available
no idea about accommodation as my friends more or less commuted from outside london. in terms of pay, most london hospitals pay the higher end of band 5, and my friends who were at GOSH confirmed it(no idea what it is for 17/18 cohort but 15/16 it was around 28.3k - but expect it to be as low as 24-25k). usually, theyll tell you during the interview how much you may get paid.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by quasa
no idea about accommodation as my friends more or less commuted from outside london. in terms of pay, most london hospitals pay the higher end of band 5, and my friends who were at GOSH confirmed it(no idea what it is for 17/18 cohort but 15/16 it was around 28.3k - but expect it to be as low as 24-25k). usually, theyll tell you during the interview how much you may get paid.
Ok thanks. Also do you start paying back student loan as its over 21K or can you wait until you've graduated?
Original post by MeredithGrey13
Ok thanks. Also do you start paying back student loan as its over 21K or can you wait until you've graduated?
its a weird thing is SF. if you earn >17k/year, it automatically deducts it from your PAYE wages (most people employed by companies have something called pay as you earn whereby NI, tax and SF loans are automatically deducted by HMRC). depending on how much you earn after 17k, you get x amount deducted.
at the same time, you can pay back whenever you want to large amounts.
I will say however, pay back soon as possible as you get interest added onto your loan from first term of first year onwards (as I found to my surprise when my loans were £7000+ more than I expected)
Original post by quasa
its a weird thing is SF. if you earn >17k/year, it automatically deducts it from your PAYE wages (most people employed by companies have something called pay as you earn whereby NI, tax and SF loans are automatically deducted by HMRC). depending on how much you earn after 17k, you get x amount deducted.
at the same time, you can pay back whenever you want to large amounts.
I will say however, pay back soon as possible as you get interest added onto your loan from first term of first year onwards (as I found to my surprise when my loans were £7000+ more than I expected)
at the same time, you can pay back whenever you want to large amounts.
I will say however, pay back soon as possible as you get interest added onto your loan from first term of first year onwards (as I found to my surprise when my loans were £7000+ more than I expected)
I didn't think there was interest on student fee loans! goodness me, what a disaster! What if people move abroad? How does paying back SF work then?
Can I also ask how did pharmalife contact you and how long after the deadline?
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