Professor Alison Blenkinsopp (professor of practice of pharmacy, Keele university)
has been appointed to the taskforce on access to health services that has been
established under the National Health Service modernisation board.
She is one of over 140 people from many walks of life who have been appointed
to 10 taskforces which are to help the modernisation board take forward the
implementation of the NHS plan.
Announcing the appointments on October 4, the Secretary of State for Health
(Mr Alan Milburn) said: “Many of the taskforce members are leading edge
modernisers — managers, clinicians and patients — who, because they
know the NHS, are in the best position to help us with the task of reforming
the NHS.”
The 10 taskforces are to cover: coronary heart disease; cancer; mental health;
older people; children; inequalities and public health; the workforce; capital
and capacity; quality; and improving access.
Professor Blenkinsopp is the second pharmacist to become directly involved with
the implementation of the NHS plan. Ms Beth Taylor (pharmacy manager, Community
Health South London NHS trust) is a member of the NHS modernisation board (PJ,
September 30, p473).