The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7219 p524-525
12 October 2002

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  Community pharmacy
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Letters to the Editor

Modernisation

Disappointed by lack of consultation

From Ms E. Doran, on behalf of the executive of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association

Since many of the United Kingdom's 8,000 pharmacy students return to university this month, we believe the time is right to comment on the ongoing modernisation debate. As the branch of the Society that represents pharmacy students, we are certain that changes proposed now will affect our members for the whole of their working lives.

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association continues to support the dual role of the Society and we appreciate that, as it stands, the Society is close to the Government's vision of a health care professional body. It is important that this fact is not lost in the midst of the debate.

We do not believe that anyone in the profession should be against substantial lay input with regards to public safety, however, we are disappointed by the apparent lack of meaningful consultation with the wider membership. The BPSA will support any sensible model which upholds the interests of its members, the public and the profession as a whole. We believe this means a proposal that includes the fundamental principles of:

• Maintaining both regulatory and representational roles, but if necessary having the ability to oppose Government policies that affect non-regulatory issues

• Accountability to members for the services and functions provided

• An increased lay input into the governing of the profession, but at a lesser proportion than that proposed by the modernisation steering group

We look forward to the membership deciding on which proposal they support and which they believe will genuinely take pharmacy forwards.

Elizabeth Doran
Public Relations Officer
British Pharmaceutical Students' Association

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