Superdrug 'leads the market' with new £50,000 salary for pharmacists

Superdrug has announced an 11% increase to its salary for newly qualified pharmacists as it looks to strengthen its pharmacy offering across the UK.

The health and beauty retailer will now pay its newly qualified pharmacists £50,000, compared to £45,000 previously. According to Glassdoor, the average annual wage of an NHS Pharmacist is £46,994.

Superdrug is also introducing a new financial wellbeing package for its staff amid the rising cost-of-living crisis and growing pressures on pharmacies.

Caris Newson, Healthcare Director at Superdrug, said: “Our pharmacy team members are at the core of our business, and I am delighted to announce this increase in newly qualified salary in recognition of the skill and expertise required for these roles.

"The last few years have been extremely challenging for pharmacists and have also highlighted the vital and positive role that they play as clinical professionals, supporting patients and delivering safe and effective healthcare services and care within communities.”

Superdrug is actively recruiting for 200 pharmacy jobs across the UK to join its existing pool of 155 pharmacists. It is also enhancing its pharmacy offering and operational structure with the introduction of a new Pharmacy Team Leader role at selected pharmacy stores.

The news follows a number of recent initiatives to help strengthen healthcare on the high street.

Earlier this week, Boots UK's Managing Director said that sharing patient data between community pharmacies and the NHS could "transform the way healthcare services are delivered". Currently, community pharmacies in England do not have full read and write access to NHS patient health records.