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The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has said it has helped a “senior specialist pharmacist” secure a four-figure sum after an employment tribunal found they had been unfairly denied their redundancy payment. 

After the pharmacist was made redundant following an NHS restructure, they applied unsuccessfully for a role that reflected their high level of experience. 

They then rejected two alternatives offered  by the employer, both of which would have seen them demoted to a lower pay band and one of which would have “removed their clinical responsibilities” and caused their career to stagnate while requiring them to travel more, said the PDA in a statement on Friday (June 20).  

The employer claimed that because the pharmacist rejected these offers they were not entitled to a redundancy payment on the grounds they were being “unreasonable”. 

However, the tribunal found that the roles were not suitable for the pharmacist’s level of skill and that their concerns about diminished clinical responsibility and career progression were reasonable. 

The PDA said the case “sets a precedent of practical value” to NHS-employed pharmacists, adding: “This victory sends a clear message, that pharmacists are highly skilled professionals whose roles cannot be casually downgraded by employers through restructuring exercises.

“It also demonstrates how vital it is to have expert representation from an organisation that understands both the legal and professional complexities unique to pharmacists.”