NHS pharmacist numbers in England and Wales have risen slightly over the past year to a total of 7,394 despite financial pressures, vacancy rates  and a decrease in pharmacist posts according to the latest NHS pharmacy staffing establishment and vacancy survey.

ince last year’s survey, in England there has been a slight improvement in the three-month vacancy rate for band 6 pharmacists (from 7 per cent to 6.7 per cent); and three-month vacancy rates continued to decrease for band 7 pharmacist posts over the survey period — from 6.6 per cent in May 2011 to 5.6 per cent in May 2012.

The findings in Wales show a marked improvement in vacancy rates for band 6 and 7 pharmacists. The three-month vacancy rate for band 6 pharmacist positions went from 14.7 per cent in May 2011 to 2.8 per cent in May 2012 and band 7 vacancies improved from 9.1 per cent to 3.3 per cent.

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