Author: Samer Hakim

Get ready for something exciting! Pharmacy SOS is about to launch a loyalty program designed to reward both locum pharmacists and pharmacies for their ongoing support. While we’re keeping the details under wraps for now, we can promise that the program will offer exciting benefits and unique rewards to suit everyone. Whether you’re a pharmacy looking to streamline locums or a locum seeking recognition for your hard work, our loyalty program is tailored with you in mind. Stay tuned for the official launch and be prepared to unlock new opportunities with Pharmacy SOS. Big things are on the horizon—don’t miss out!

As the year comes to a close, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, love, and togetherness. May the coming days bring moments of peace and happiness to you and your loved ones. 2024 has been a year of challenges, and the world has seen its share of struggles. As we step into 2025, let us carry hope in our hearts for brighter days ahead—days filled with kindness, unity, justice and uplifting news that inspires and unites us all. Here’s to new beginnings, new opportunities, and a collective effort to create a world that reflects our highest aspirations. May the new year bring health, prosperity, and endless reasons to smile. Stay safe, cherish your loved ones, and let’s make 2025 a year of hope and positive change. Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year! 🎉✨

PDL has shared important guidance to help pharmacists reduce errors when dispensing e-scripts. To make it easier to follow, we’ve summarised their recommendations into a simple 3-step process: **Verify Patient Details**, **Match the Prescription**, and **Final Product Check**. This streamlined approach ensures accuracy at every stage, from confirming patient information to matching medications and conducting a final clinical assessment. By adopting this method, pharmacists can enhance patient safety and maintain professional standards. Print out this easy-to-remember process and place it in a visible spot in your pharmacy to keep these best practices top of mind for your entire team.

As the Christmas holidays approach, ensure your pharmacy is fully staffed by securing a locum today. With our cancellation fee-free policy, you can book with confidence, knowing you can adjust plans if needed. Don’t wait—locums are in high demand, and the benefits far outweigh the cost. Plan ahead today!

Sign up for benefits like 3% discount on your weekly Woolworths shopping, local savings like $5 cashback at Nandos, as well as discounts at fine dining restaurants, 6% off The Iconic or 8% off Country Road, 7% off Event cinemas or 8% off Hoyts, 4% off at JB HiFi or Harvey Norman, 25% off Samsung, 25% off Fitness First memberships and save thousands on income tax, GST, and driveaway costs with a novated lease.

Locum pharmacists are a vital part of Australia’s healthcare system, ensuring that communities receive uninterrupted pharmacy services. However, when shifts are booked directly with pharmacies without notifying Pharmacy SOS, a range of issues can arise for both the locum and the pharmacy. In this blog post, we’ll explore why it's crucial to notify us of any directly booked shifts and the benefits it provides to all parties involved. Avoid Missed Payments and Benefits When a locum pharmacist fails to notify Pharmacy SOS about directly booked shifts, they run the risk of missing out on critical payments and benefits. Pharmacy SOS is responsible for ensuring timely payments, correct superannuation contributions, and providing essential coverage such as WorkCover insurance. Without notification, we can’t guarantee that these elements are taken care of, potentially leaving the locum financially vulnerable and uninsured. The Importance of Superannuation and Insurance Superannuation and WorkCover insurance are essential protections that Pharmacy SOS manages on behalf of locum pharmacists. Directly booked shifts can lead to administrative oversights that may leave locums without proper superannuation contributions or insurance coverage. As a locum, ensuring that Pharmacy SOS is aware of all your shifts allows us to manage your payroll and benefits effectively, avoiding gaps in superannuation and protecting you under the appropriate insurance coverage. Prevent Legal Issues for Pharmacies For pharmacies, the consequences of not notifying Pharmacy SOS are significant. Without proper reporting, directly booked shifts can be classified as sham contracting by the ATO, which can result in substantial financial and legal consequences. Pharmacies may be required to withhold PAYG tax, pay superannuation, and account for WorkCover premiums themselves—adding unnecessary administrative burden. By notifying us, pharmacies can offload these tasks, ensuring compliance with tax laws and avoiding legal risks. Minimise Administrative Work Notifying Pharmacy SOS of directly booked shifts streamlines both payroll and paperwork. For locum pharmacists, this means less hassle during tax season, as our records ensure that everything is accurate and in order. For pharmacies, it means reduced administrative workload, allowing them to focus on what matters most—delivering high-quality patient care. We handle the complex aspects of employment—superannuation, tax ...

Partner with Pharmacy SOS to enhance patient care through our Home Medicines Review (HMR) service. By encouraging doctors to refer eligible patients, your pharmacy can help optimize medication management, improve safety, and reduce risks. Pharmacy SOS simplifies the HMR process, offering seamless communication, timely patient assessments, and comprehensive reports with actionable recommendations. Let’s work together to empower patients, promote collaboration between healthcare providers, and achieve better health outcomes. Encourage doctors to send HMR referrals and together, we can make a positive impact on medication safety and patient well-being.

It’s clear from the feedback we’ve received that this article on locum pharmacist wage expectations has sparked significant debate. Many locum pharmacists have expressed strong opinions, with some arguing that the content is inaccurate and urging pharmacy owners to be more realistic about compensation. We appreciate your passion and want to address these concerns directly. First and foremost, it’s important to understand that Pharmacy SOS is operated by a pharmacist with extensive experience across various sectors, including retail community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and industry pharmacy. Our goal has always been to advocate for both locum pharmacists and employers, striving to establish fair and balanced rates that reflect current market conditions while also considering the financial realities of the businesses we serve. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in demand for healthcare services created an exceptional situation where locum pharmacists could command significantly higher wages due to the extreme pressure on the system. However, as the pandemic subsides and the healthcare landscape stabilizes, the demand-supply dynamics have shifted. Pharmacies are now under substantial financial strain, making it difficult to sustain the elevated wage levels that were common during the height of the crisis. Some of you have suggested that pharmacy owners should continue to pay the higher rates or even fill shifts themselves if they cannot meet locum wage expectations. The reality is that many owners are indeed stepping in to cover shifts when they cannot find locums willing to accept the current market rates. This speaks to the financial challenges that many pharmacies are facing today. Comparisons to other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, have also been made. While it’s understandable to look at compensation across professions, it’s crucial to recognize that each sector operates under different financial and operational models. The pressures and economics of community pharmacy differ significantly from those of medical practices, and these differences must be taken into account when discussing wage expectations. We hope this clarification helps to shed light on the rationale behind the original article and the current wage dynamics. Our aim is to continue supporting both locum pharmacists and pharmacy owners by ...

Pharmacy SOS is your go-to for locum pharmacist opportunities tailored to fit your needs. Whether you’re a recent graduate eager to kickstart your career or an experienced pharmacist looking for flexible work, we have positions ranging from single-day shifts to long-term placements, including maternity leave and permanent roles. We’re here to make your job search easy, with 24/7 real human support and job alerts straight to your phone. Don’t miss out on these great opportunities—call us today at 1300 505 247, or register online at pharmacysos.com.au, and let us help you find your perfect locum position.