Society News summary

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is to host a website devoted to helping pharmacists meet the challenges of National Health Service modernisation...[more]

In anticipation of a June general election, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is producing a “manifesto” on achieving improved pharmacy services...[more]

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate has added an extra London date to this year's programme of presentations by Society inspectors for preregistration trainees...[more]

Several hundred pharmacists and pharmacy owners who have not yet paid their annual retention fees are risking being erased from the Register and having to pay penalty fees in the region of £300 in addition to the annual retention fee to be restored...[more]

Society to host NHS modernisation website for pharmacists

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is to host a website devoted to helping pharmacists meet the challenges of National Health Service modernisation. The Department of Health is providing funding of £15,000 for developing the site.

The website is expected to be launched by the end of May. It will offer a toolkit for pharmacists who wish to be involved in the modernisation process. It will include NHS policy information, related pharmacy resources and examples of good practice from all sectors of pharmacy. The first areas to be developed will be concerned with older people's care and access to medicines.

The financial support from the DoH is the result of a successful funding bid led by Beth Taylor, pharmacy manager, Community Health South London NHS Trust, who is a member of the National Modernisation Board for England and its task force on older people. The bid was supported by Professor Alison Blenkinsopp, professor of the practice of pharmacy, Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, who serves on the board's access task force, and Beverley Parkin, the Society's Director of Public Affairs, who is a member of the board's communications task force.

The website is being launched in collaboration with other pharmacy organisations, including the National Pharmaceutical Association, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists and the Company Chemists Association.

The Society says that anyone who would like to offer material for inclusion on the site or to discuss possible links to other sites should contact either Mrs Taylor (Beth.Taylor@chsitr.sthames.nhs.uk) or the website co-ordinator, Pamela Mason (Pamela@mason189.freeserve.co.uk).

In an interview earlier in the year (PJ, February 24, p255), Mrs Taylor told The Journal that many pharmacists found it hard to access the information they needed to respond to the NHS plan. The website would try to anticipate their needs.

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Society's election “manifesto”

In anticipation of a June general election, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is producing a “manifesto” on achieving improved pharmacy services. Its aim is to give members to opportunity to air pharmacy issues with candidates.

The manifesto, being produced in both English and Welsh versions, is to be sent to branch secretaries in England and Wales over the next week, with advice on how to use it. It will be made available on the Society's website as a downloadable document. Some targeted mailings will be sent direct to key figures in the general election.

The Society's Scottish Department intends to carry out a similar exercise once the general election is announced.

Beverley Parkin, Director of Public Affairs, said: “Contacts made at this time can be useful in the future and we hope that members will take the opportunity to actively promote the roles and concerns of pharmacists.”

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Extra London preregistration talk

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate has added an extra London date to this year's programme of presentations by Society inspectors for preregistration trainees (PJ, March 10, p333).

The additional session, presented by Kinna Patel, will take place on May 25, from 10am to 1pm, in the assembly hall at the Society's London headquarters. It is open to all preregistration trainees. There is no need to reserve a place in advance and there is no charge for participation, although travelling costs will have to be met by the trainee or employer.

The aim of the presentations is to explain the roles of the inspectors and the directorate, so that trainees can gain an understanding of the help and support available to pharmacists from those sources.

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Hundreds risk penalty fee

Several hundred pharmacists and pharmacy owners who have not yet paid their annual retention fees are risking being erased from the Register and having to pay penalty fees in the region of £300 in addition to the annual retention fee to be restored.

The last date for the payment of retention fees for 2001 is approaching. If a fee has not been received by May 9, members risk being erased by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Registrar for non-payment of fees on May 14. Subsequent restoration will require payment of a penalty fee of £306 for members and £295 for each set of premises erased, in addition to the retention fees.

As of April 24, there were still about 1,300 members and 300 premises retention fees outstanding. The Society asks members who have not yet paid to ensure that their payment is sent urgently.

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