The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is beginning a series of consultations with its members on a new legal framework for professional regulation. The aim is to develop proposals for a modern, dependable and effective framework in line with the expectations of the Government and the public.
The Council's Health Act working party is issuing a series of preliminary consultation papers on different aspects of professional regulation. The first, on measures to ensure professional competence and lifelong learning, is published as a four-page supplement to The Journal this week and is already available on the Society's website (www.rpsgb.org.uk/29-hawp1.htm). Comments are sought by April 20.
The exact number of consultation papers has yet to be decided but will probably be at least five. The responses to the preliminary consultations will be used to prepare a formal consultation document for circulation at a later date.
The Health Act working party was originally constituted as the disciplinary machinery working party, which in 1998 produced a consultation paper setting out proposals for reforming the profession's 40-year-old disciplinary legislation (PJ, May 2, 1998, p622). Because the Health Act now gives Ministers wide ranging powers to amend all existing legislation in the field of professional regulation - including the provisions of royal charters such as that of the Society - the Council decided to reconstitute the working party with a remit to examine all aspects of pharmacy's professional regulation.
One matter the working party is currently considering is the composition of the Council and the election of Council members. This will probably be the subject of the second consultation letter. Among other topics the working party is likely to consider is the regulation of pharmacy support staff. The working party will also revisit the profession's disciplinary machinery, but will probably not consult further on this matter in view of its earlier thorough consultation.