The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7213 p299
31 August 2002

Society summary

Society urges all pharmacists to complete workforce census

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is urging all its members to take part in its first-ever research-based census of pharmacists on the British register (see p302). It says that all members should complete and return the census form because the results are set to play an important part in the Society's future work as a professional and regulatory body.

In a statement issued on 27 August, the Society says: "The data from the census will be used to describe the current workforce and, in subsequent years, to analyse trends to inform future planning, It will provide the foundation for significant areas of future work at the Society in both professional and regulatory areas. The nature of professional practice in pharmacy and the pattern of work and careers of many pharmacists is rapidly changing and the need to understand this increasingly complex and dynamic workforce is therefore growing.

"Whether working to deliver care for patients directly or providing technical or advisory services or working in a management or strategic role, the Society needs to understand how much of that time contributes to the profession's workforce. The Society also needs to be able to account for those pharmacists working in industry or academia or even in a non-pharmacy job."

The Society's President, Marshall Davies, said: "We are urging all pharmacists to complete the census to give an accurate picture of the pharmacy workforce. In order for the Society, and others, to plan effectively for the future of the profession, we need more information about the work of pharmacists and how it is changing."

Census forms are to be sent to all pharmacists on the British register next week, and the workforce data will be analysed for publication in the new year. The Society is to repeat the data collection annually and will prepare reports and analyses to show how the workforce is changing and developing.