The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7222 p657
2 November 2002

Society summary

Opportunities in Scotland for pharmacists

Opportunities for pharmacists in Scotland have never been greater, a group of newly registered pharmacists was told on 21 October during a registration ceremony held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's House in Edinburgh.

The Society's Vice-President, Gill Hawksworth, told the new recruits that they should be confident that they can take an active part in implementing the Scottish pharmaceutical strategy.

The Vice-President reminded the audience that pharmacists' main responsibility was for the welfare of patients but that they also had a duty to their colleagues and to society as a whole. Emphasising the importance of continuing professional development and life long learning, she said that keeping up to date with exciting new therapeutic developments was a must.

Wishing the young pharmacists every success in their future careers within pharmacy, Mrs Hawksworth then presented each of them with a certificate to mark the occasion.

The chairman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland, David Thomson, encouraged all pharmacists in Scotland to make use of the facilities of the Society's House in York Place, a building situated in an area of growing importance close to the headquarters of other professional bodies and the Scottish Parliament.

In a time of unprecedented change, the profession in Scotland required all hands on deck to deliver the growing expectations of patients, the Government and, indeed, the profession, said Mr Thomson. Young pharmacists who embraced the substantial challenges ahead would be welcomed with open arms.

The Secretary of the Society's Scottish Department, Dr Sheila Stevens, gave a brief outline of Scottish pharmacy history before adding her own welcome and re-emphasising the willingness of the staff at York Place to offer professional support and advice to all pharmacists in Scotland.