Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think most people have no idea how much a pharmacy dispenser earns?

229 replies

Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:22

Following on from another thread I’ve seen today about TA’s I was wondering if people had any idea how much a pharmacy dispenser earns? And if you think they should be paid more/less than they currently get.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

It's not just counting tablets that's the whole of OP's point!

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 27/01/2024 20:47

I knew it was minimum wage because I do it as part of my role as a VCA. I also did a qualification so I can be called an SQP which allows me to prescribe some medication (albeit limited) but I'm still on minimum wage.

(I have level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications, a Bachelor's degree and a Master's as well)

Goinoutalone · 27/01/2024 20:47

I think as a pp said everyone reckons they should be paid more…I’m a fairly newly qualified microbiologist and I test medicines to ensure they are safe to release to market…I’m paid the equivalent to 35k uk pounds, I think I should be paid more!!

Rainsew · 27/01/2024 20:46

UpUpUpU · 27/01/2024 20:44

Isn't NVQ L2 the same as a decent grade GCSE? So not a high qualification. I believe the pharmacist checks everything before its dispensed so whilst its a job that requires diligence, it doesn't carry full responsibility.

Well accuracy techs who are dispensers with further quals who can check prescriptions without a pharmacist having to second sign start on £25k- hardly big bucks.

Original poster
Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:46

KissTheRains · 27/01/2024 20:41

Aren't a lot of people.on low wages put through training courses to an NVQ level?

I'm sure I've seen jobs advertised to earn Barista NVQs and Pets @ Home NVQs

Care workers too, don't they have to do all sorts of training and qualifications etc and they get paid two steps down from nothing.

The pay doesn’t rise when the qualification is complete and I totally agree about care workers. They should definitely be paid a whole lot more as should a lot of people in caring roles.

OP posts:
saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:46

Backtothe90ties · 27/01/2024 20:45

Sorry this was meant to quote the post by @saltnvini a huge part of teaching is keeping children safe and making sure no harm comes to anyone all day.

Show quote history

They can't kill a child easily with a mistake though. Unless they are a science teacher I guess.

Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FUPAgirl · 27/01/2024 20:45

I would definitely have expected the pay to be £2-3 over minimum wage.

Backtothe90ties · 27/01/2024 20:45

Backtothe90ties · 27/01/2024 20:43

So you don’t think that teachers should be paid enough to keep children safe! 🤯

Sorry this was meant to quote the post by @saltnvini a huge part of teaching is keeping children safe and making sure no harm comes to anyone all day.

Rainsew · 27/01/2024 20:44

They shouldn't be paid more than teachers but the comments about just counting tablets are so wildly ignorant. I bet people moan about having to wait x days for their prescriptions and all.

SoDoffYourHat · 27/01/2024 20:44

Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:40

Fuck off is working in a shop worth more than a profession that requires a degree and a post graduate qualification.
The pharmacist yes, that's who does the real checking.
Counting out pills and pouring medicine into a bottle with a NVQ (which incidently can be taken by school leavers) is not worth more than teachers.
Behave yourself.

Show quote history

Well, the pharmacist doesn't exactly earn a marvellous wage either - starting salary is about £35k rising to £60k for an experienced pharmacist. Given the life or death nature of what they do, that isn't a lot.

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:44

Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:42

Yes it’s level 2. Many of us would like to go on to a Pharmacy Technicians course but not many employers are willing as they feel a dispenser is all they need in community pharmacy.

Show quote history

Could you find it yourself?

UpUpUpU · 27/01/2024 20:44

Isn't NVQ L2 the same as a decent grade GCSE? So not a high qualification. I believe the pharmacist checks everything before its dispensed so whilst its a job that requires diligence, it doesn't carry full responsibility.

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:43

Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:40

Fuck off is working in a shop worth more than a profession that requires a degree and a post graduate qualification.
The pharmacist yes, that's who does the real checking.
Counting out pills and pouring medicine into a bottle with a NVQ (which incidently can be taken by school leavers) is not worth more than teachers.
Behave yourself.

Show quote history

Just because it doesn't require a degree doesn't mean it's worth less money! It's way more responsibility.

Backtothe90ties · 27/01/2024 20:43

So you don’t think that teachers should be paid enough to keep children safe! 🤯

Original poster
Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:42

Shinyandnew1 · 27/01/2024 20:39

It looks like a Level 2 qualification, @Froggy99 -is that right? Equivalent to a gcse?

Yes it’s level 2. Many of us would like to go on to a Pharmacy Technicians course but not many employers are willing as they feel a dispenser is all they need in community pharmacy.

OP posts:
Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:42

Greensleevevssnotnose · 27/01/2024 20:39

My mum was a dispenser for 25 years in a doctor's surgery. She has a degree in pharmaceuticals and pharmacology. She earned well and retired at 50 on full NHS pension. Took over the practice manager's role afterwards as she was bored as a retired. Not sure if that is different to a dispensing assistant. Before that she was a counter assistant in chemist shop which was more lowly paid.

That is clearly very different, she would be involved in actually mixing the medicines.
This role appears to be counting tablets.

KissTheRains · 27/01/2024 20:41

Aren't a lot of people.on low wages put through training courses to an NVQ level?

I'm sure I've seen jobs advertised to earn Barista NVQs and Pets @ Home NVQs

Care workers too, don't they have to do all sorts of training and qualifications etc and they get paid two steps down from nothing.

Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:40

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:37

They could kill someone if they do it wrong though so I think above a teacher.

Show quote history

Fuck off is working in a shop worth more than a profession that requires a degree and a post graduate qualification.
The pharmacist yes, that's who does the real checking.
Counting out pills and pouring medicine into a bottle with a NVQ (which incidently can be taken by school leavers) is not worth more than teachers.
Behave yourself.

Rainsew · 27/01/2024 20:40

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:36

if they do all that before it gets to me why do they ask if its my first time using a medication I've used for years? Every time.

So that they can check you're alright with how it's administered etc. Whoever hands it out to you isn't necessarily the one who dispensed or checked it, they don't exactly print or check on the computer everyone's history once the label is popped on ready to be handed out to see whether it's worth asking or not.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 27/01/2024 20:39

My mum was a dispenser for 25 years in a doctor's surgery. She has a degree in pharmaceuticals and pharmacology. She earned well and retired at 50 on full NHS pension. Took over the practice manager's role afterwards as she was bored as a retired. Not sure if that is different to a dispensing assistant. Before that she was a counter assistant in chemist shop which was more lowly paid.

Shinyandnew1 · 27/01/2024 20:39

It looks like a Level 2 qualification, @Froggy99 -is that right? Equivalent to a gcse?

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:39

Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:34

It’s an NVQ level qualification.

Show quote history

NVQs come in various levels. Which level NVQ?

saltnvini · 27/01/2024 20:37

Llamallulu · 27/01/2024 20:32

Ahh OK.
In that case I change my answer to a pound or two above a shop assistant.
I actually have no idea what minimum wage is now £11 or so? So may this role should be £13 an hour, I know a teachers starting salary is £19 an hour (32.5 hrs a week for the number of weeks in school + 6 weeks holiday) so it should be less than that but more than a shop assistant.

Show quote history

They could kill someone if they do it wrong though so I think above a teacher.

SoDoffYourHat · 27/01/2024 20:37

Froggy99 · 27/01/2024 20:34

It’s an NVQ level qualification.

Show quote history

I saw the materials when my sister was taking the qualifications - heavy going, and lots of coursework stuff as well as the actual tests.