Most pharmacies rely on a handful of trusted locums they reach out to on WhatsApp. That works until it does not — your usual person is on holiday and the bank holiday Saturday is approaching.
Before you post
Decide three things: - Dates and hours. Specific is better. "9am–6pm Saturday with a 1 hour lunch" beats "Saturday cover". - Hourly rate. £36/hr is mid-market for a locum pharmacist in 2026; £40+ for short notice. Going below market just delays bookings. - Services that day. Pharmacy First, NMS, hypertension case-finding — flag these so only signed-off locums apply.
Post the shift
Once posted, your shift appears in saved-search alerts for every relevant locum. Verified locums apply first — applications include their GPhC number, indemnity status, right to work and DBS, so you can verify without asking for documents over WhatsApp.
Triage applications
Look at three things: - Credentials. Green badges for GPhC, indemnity, right to work and (for services) DBS. - Past activity on the platform. Completed shifts, endorsements from other employers, "worked with N employers" badge. - Profile summary and services list. Confirms they have the experience you need.
Tap Accept on the candidate you want. They get an instant notification with your branch address, key code and dispensary system. The shift is now booked — no follow-up texts needed.
On the day
Most pharmacies hand over via a short brief: dispensary system login, opening checks, where keys are, manager's number for emergencies. A printed one-page locum guide kept by the till saves repeating yourself.
After the shift
The locum signs off their timesheet. You approve with one tap. The platform generates an invoice you forward to payroll. No cash, no chasing.
Building your bench
After two or three good shifts with the same locum, mark them as a preferred locum on their profile. They appear at the top of your applicant list on future shifts, and they get a private notification when you post a new shift in a branch they have worked at before.
