We have been supplied with the following biographies and statements of candidates for election to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Welsh Executive. The statements indicate how candidates consider they can assist the Welsh Executive to carry out its responsibilities. There are eight candidates for the four vacancies. Voting papers will be posted on May 17 by second class post and must be returned by noon on June 8. Any pharmacist resident in Wales who has not received a voting paper by May 24 should contact the Welsh Executive headquarters (tel 029 2041 2800; fax 029 2041 2810)
Mr Robert Gartside, BSc, FRPharmS, of Llanberis, Gwynedd, registered in 1959. Current positions: Secretary and member, North Wales local pharmaceutical committee; member, the Society's Welsh Executive; member, Welsh pharmaceutical committee, National Assembly for Wales; member, Welsh central pharmaceutical committee; member, North Wales district pharmaceutical committee; pharmacist member, Gwynedd local health group and member of clinical governance and prescribing groups. Chairman, Vale of Ffestiniog tourism forum; volunteer marketing officer, Ffestiniog Railway Ltd; vice-chairman and board member, Caernarvon and Anglesey Motor Club Ltd; board member, Welsh Highland Railway Society Ltd. Previous positions: Chairman, the Society's Welsh Executive; chairman and treasurer, the Society's Gwynedd branch; member, prescription information user group, Welsh prescription pricing service; member and chairman, various Welsh Office working parties. Originally worked in the pharmaceutical industry and has owned community pharmacies on Merseyside and in North Wales.
Statement: As pharmacists move towards new responsibilities in medicines management and patient care, I believe that my combination of practical community pharmacy experience and extensive contact with the machinery of Government will enable me to continue to help to implement the Society's policies in Wales, while my extra-pharmaceutical activities help me to retain a sense of proportion and perspective. New opportunities appear almost daily and, provided we are willing to act flexibly and swiftly when that is the need, or more carefully when judgment indicates caution, I am sure the profession will continue to advance and prosper, perhaps in ways we cannot even conceive at present.
Mr Andrew Hales, BSc (Hons), MRPharmS, of Cardiff, South Glamorgan, registered in 1988. Current positions: Proprietor pharmacist in St Isan Road, Heath, Cardiff, since 1994. Committee member, the Society's Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan branch. Previous positions: Prior to graduation worked for Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert and various community pharmacies; preregistration training followed by management with R. Gordon Drummond/Savory & Moore; pharmacist attached to infectious diseases ward and endocrine department, pharmacy representative on hospital's general medicines committee, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown, Sydney, 1990-91; pharmacy manager, G. M. Thomas Ltd, 1991-93; pharmacy manager, Moss Chemists, 1993-94; locum pharmacist for both multiple and independent pharmacies at various times. Vice-chairman 1994-97 and chairman 1997-99, the Society's Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan branch. Welsh school of pharmacy, teaching the practice of pharmacy and dispensing to final year BPharm students, 1998-99. Student representative, Portsmouth school of pharmacy committee and faculty of science committee; British Pharmaceutical Students Association representative and member of pharmacy students committee; school governor, 1994-99.
Statement: I have been fortunate enough to have worked, if only briefly, in academia, industry and hospital pharmacy, although I have a greater awareness of today's problems and challenges facing community pharmacy. I have an understanding of the opportunities and threats facing our profession today as immediate past chairman of the local branch, and having attended several meetings of the Welsh Executive and branch representatives' meetings at Lambeth. I hope, with this knowledge and experience, I can bring fresh ideas to the executive and help achieve closer links between pharmacists in Wales and other professionals as well as the Welsh Assembly.
Mr Peter Jones, BSc (Hons), MRPharmS, of Carmarthen, registered in 1975. Current positions: Manager, Boots the Chemists, Carmarthen, following previous managerial appointments in Guildford, Bridgend and Porthcawl. Member, Dyfed Powys local pharmaceutical committee, since 1996; vice-chairman, Dyfed Powys pharmaceutical committee; Dyfed Powys pharmaceutical services negotiating team; Dyfed Powys needle exchange scheme; Carmarthenshire drugs and alcohol abuse local implementation team. Practising preregistration tutor since 1979. Selection and recruitment of students and graduates on behalf of BTC; delivering dispensing excellence champion to drive improved professional services within BTC. National vocational qualification assessor. Member, Carmarthen Lions International and the Welsh pharmaceutical golfing society. Previous positions: Member, Mid Glamorgan LPC, 1981-89; member, service committee, Mid Glamorgan family practitioner committee.
Statement: As a full-time practising community pharmacist I am committed to improving the professional standards of care available to all and ensuring clinical governance is delivered. My present position includes an additional responsibility for South West Wales within Boots the Chemists covering recruitment and retention of pharmacists and support staff and including best practices within the dispensary area to achieve the professional standards required by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the company superintendent. I believe that by utilising my personal knowledge and experience, I can assist the executive in ensuring deliverable policy decisions are proposed while not compromising professional standards.
Mr Roger Jones, BPharm (Wales), MRPharmS, of Battle, Brecon, Powys, registered in 1967. MSc in management from Bradford. Qualified person under European Community Directive 75/319/EEC. Current positions: Chairman (and founder) of Penn Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Chairman of the Council of TECs in Wales. Chairman of Broadcasting Council for Wales; national governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation; chairman of BBC Pensions. Member, board of governors, University of Glamorgan; member of council of Welsh National School of Medicine. Trustee of Nantgwrtheyrn Welsh Language Centre. UK chairman, Children in Need. President designate, YMCA Wales. Member of Welsh board of Marie Curie Foundation. President, South Wales British Association for the Advancement of Science. Previous positions: Community pharmacist with Boots and Lansdales Pharmacies Ltd. Industrial pharmacist with Wellcome Foundation and Smithkline Beecham. Civil honours: Awarded OBE 1996. Professional awards: DSc, University of Wales Cardiff, 2000.
Statement: Living in Mid Wales, working in South Wales and coming originally from North Wales, I have a good understanding of issues facing the Welsh Executive of the Society. I have a useful knowledge of public affairs in Wales and, being non-political, have access to the spectrum of Assembly and Westminster politicians. Being involved with broadcasting and the media may bring a perspective that is helpful to the executive in upgrading the profile of pharmacy in a fast changing Wales and an evolving profession.
Mr David Morgan, BSc (Hons), MRPharmS, MCPP, of Mold, Flintshire, registered in 1973. Current positions: Director of pharmaceutical public health/immunisation co-ordinator, North Wales health authority, since 1996. Secretary, the Society's Clwyd branch, since 1993; member, Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, since 1996; governor, College of Pharmacy Practice, since 1999; member, CPP, since 1986; regional adviser (Wales), CPP, since 1993; examination moderator (Wales), CPP, since 1995; member, editorial board, Journal of Tissue Viability, since 1989. Voluntary usher, Cymru Theatre, Clwyd, Mold; friend, Welsh National Opera. Previous positions: Immunisation co-ordinator, Clwyd health authority, 1993-96; director of pharmaceutical public health/chief administrative pharmaceutical officer, Clwyd health authority, 1989-96; unit principal pharmacist, South Glamorgan health authority, 1986-89; acting principal pharmacist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, 1985-86; staff pharmacist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, 1975-85. Governor, CPP, 1996-98. Professional awards: UKCPA/Boots award; Winston Churchill travel fellowship; community services pharmacists' group award; the Society's millennium competition; professional development award (the Society); practice award (CPP).
Statement: I can assist the Welsh Executive to carry out its responsibilities: by being an active and enthusiastic executive member; by being a national and local ambassador for the executive; by sharing the workload of the executive; by promoting the responsibilities of the executive; by co-operating in the implementation in Wales of Society policies; by liaising with the local branches of the Society in Wales; by assisting in making recommendations to the Council upon matters affecting the Society and its members; by promoting two-way dialogue between individual pharmacists, branches and the executive.
Mr Kenneth Rew, FRPharmS, of Chepstow, Monmouthshire, registered in 1954. Current positions: Part-time locum pharmacist. Member, Society's Welsh Executive, since 1989. Previous positions: Former branch manager, head of retail training and development and territorial general manager, Boots the Chemists, with senior posts in Northumberland, South Wales, Avon and Somerset, 1972-87 until early retirement on company reorganisation. Member, Gwent branch of the Society since 1977 and chairman in 1980, 1989, 1990 and 1996; founder member, Gwent self help education group; member, Gwent local pharmaceutical committee, 1977-86 and secretary 1986-90; chairman, Gwent district pharmaceutical committee, 1977-86; first chairman, Gwent family health services authority, 1990-94 and chairman, Gwent health authority, 1994-1996; member, Welsh Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee and Welsh Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee, 1979-90; member, Welsh Committee for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education, 1989-93; presenter, communication courses for pharmacists, 1989-93. Professional awards: Designated a fellow of the Society for distinction in the profession, 1991; Evans memorial prize for a paper on self-assessment of training needs for pharmacists, 1990.
Statement: Having been first elected to the executive in 1989, I offer my considerable experience of its role, its relationships with the Council and its communications with local branches and with politicians, in the changing political face of Wales since devolution. My career in pharmacy senior management, subsequently LPC secretary, four times chairman, and continuing active member of the Gwent branch, and six years as a health authority chairman, have given me a considerable insight into the workings of the profession at all levels. I believe I have the necessary decision-making and communication skills to assist the executive successfully to promulgate its message to the profession.
Mr Alan Screen, BPharm (Wales), MRPharmS, of Montgomery, Powys, registered in 1967. Current positions: Proprietor, community pharmacy and the Marches Centre for Complementary Medicine, Bishop's Castle, since 1998. Chairman, the Society's Powys branch, since 1992; member of Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association; member, Society's Pharmaceutical Sciences Group and Community Pharmacy Group. Conservative party constituency deputy chairman since 1998 and branch chairman since 1987. Section winner, Welsh Bridge Union graded masters 1999. Chairman, Bishop's Castle chamber of trade, since 1996. Previous positions: Manager, B. J. Browning, Newcastle under Lyme, 1967-69; manager, L. Rowland & Co, Wrexham, 1969-77; proprietor, community pharmacy in Bishop's Castle, 1977-98. Vice-chairman, Society's Powys branch, 1991-92. Conservative party area chairman, 1990-99. Secretary, vice-chairman, chairman and president (variously), Bishop's Castle chamber of trade, since 1985. Appointments secretary, Mid Wales Referees Society, 1986-90. Secretary and chairman (variously), Tref-y-Clawdd rugby club (Knighton), 1986-90. Treasurer, Montgomery and district round table, 1981. Chairman Welsh Pharmaceutical Students Association, 1966-67. Captain, Dinas Powys rugby club, 1966. Captain, Monmouthshire secondary schools cross country team, 1960-62.
Statement: My assets which will contribute to the effective functioning of the executive: (1) my experience as a sole proprietor in community pharmacy for 23 years; (2) my experiences as chairman of the Powys branch, during which I have maintained a policy of developing "political" contacts; (3) my experience as an area officer of the Conservative Party, which will allow me to enhance the political awareness of the executive and, importantly, develop further the links with the Welsh Assembly, which are so vital for the future of our profession; (4) my political experience will help develop the essential two-way communication between executive and membership.
Miss Karen Worrall, BPharm (Hons), MRPharmS, MMedSci (clinical oncology) of Mayals, Swansea, registered in 1982. Current positions: Hospital pharmacist (dispensary manager and procurement), Prince Philip hospital, Llanelli, since January, 2000. Careers adviser, the Society's Morgannwg branch, since 1994, committee member, since 1993. Previous positions: Preregistration trainee, Leicester hospitals and Fisons pharmaceuticals research laboratories, 1981-82; hospital pharmacist, Kidderminster general hospital, 1982-83; Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital, Gobowen, 1983; Royal Shrewsbury hospital, Shropshire, 1983-92; Singleton hospital, Swansea, 1992-2000; occasional community locum work. Chairman, the Society's Shropshire branch, 1986-88; secretary, the Society's Shropshire branch, 1988-90; secretary, the Society's Morgannwg branch, 1995-97; member, Shropshire pharmaceutical advisory committee, 1985-92; secretary, Shropshire pharmaceutical advisory committee, 1986-92. Professional awards: Chemist & Druggist medal winner 1981.
Statement: As a practising hospital pharmacist I feel that I can give a balanced view of the impact of Society policy on current secondary care practice. My previous experience of the workings of pharmaceutical advisory committees and the local branch network has provided me with an insight into the implications of implementation of centrally determined policies at a local level. My involvement in provision of cancer services to patients throughout South West Wales has increased my awareness of problems of access to pharmaceutical care in rural communities.