From Mrs A. Robinson, MRPharmS, and Dr D. J. Temple, FRPharmS
SIR,—We are, of course, aware of the financial stringencies forced on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society by its current situation, but are somewhat dismayed by your report (PJ, November 18, p749). It would appear that the Society's Council is giving priority to meeting the opportunities presented by the NHS pharmacy plan for England. There is no mention in your report to indicate whether the Council gave consideration to responding to the policies and priorities of the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland.
The Welsh Executive of the Society is totally committed to maximising the opportunities presented through responsibility for health and social services being devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. The Minister for Health and Social Services has already indicated that the NHS Strategy for Wales, which is expected in January, 2001, will follow a different path to England and will reflect more closely the circumstances in Wales.
The executive, supported from the Society's headquarters in Cardiff, has been robust in ensuring that pharmacists' contribution to improving the health and well being of the people of Wales is recognised at the strategic level. For instance, the executive has worked very successfully with Assembly members and officials on the Sexual Health Strategy for Wales, published in January, 2000 (the Sexual Health Strategy for England is still being developed). Other initiatives include the Assembly's unique Prescribing Task and Finish Group, the coronary heart disease national service framework and its implementation plan for Wales, and the two All-Wales Mental Health Strategies, one for adults and the other for adolescents and children.
We have a planned programme of meetings between individual Assembly members and Welsh Executive members, who will talk through current issues within pharmacy. These meetings will include a visit to a local community or hospital pharmacy to demonstrate the added value pharmacy offers to their constituents.
At the request of local health group (LHG) pharmacist board members, the executive hosted a most successful workshop on November 22. All but three of the 22 LHGs were represented to debate the way forward to implement clinical governance in community pharmacy and its distinctive multidisciplinary nature in Wales.
We understand that the Council must formally approve the proposed budget at its December meeting. We therefore urge Council to take full account of the need for the elected body in Wales to work effectively with the National Assembly for the benefit of pharmacy and patients. A similar effort is required to respond to each White Paper, strategy and implementation plan, irrespective of the size of the country. The Welsh Executive will need to be adequately resourced in order to do this.
Andrea Robinson Vice-Chairman David J. Temple Finance Officer Welsh Executive, Royal Pharmaceutical Society
As the Secretary and Registrar (Miss Ann Lewis) pointed out last week (p787), provision has been made for appropriate funding for the Scottish and Welsh Executives and priority has been given to the opportunities provided by the health plans in Scotland and Wales as in England. —EDITOR.