The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7242 p455
29 March 2003

Society summary

BPC is to include a primary care day

A one-day, interactive programme to support primary care pharmacists (PCPs) will be held at this year's British Pharmaceutical Conference, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has announced.

The programme, on Tuesday 16 September, will examine professional issues important to pharmacists working in primary care settings, including primary care organisations and GP practices. Sessions will include an examination of how mandatory continuing professional development and revalidation will work for PCPs, a question-time panel with Council members and Society staff and a debate on "Primary care pharmacists: leading or leaving the profession?" Work groups will address the question "What do primary care pharmacists want/need from the Society?"

Council member Clive Jackson (chief executive, National Prescribing Centre) is helping to co-ordinate the day's programme. He said: "All pharmacists will have to adapt to the modernisation of our profession's regulatory and developmental processes. Primary care pharmacists are crucial to the future development of the profession and need improved communication with, and input into, the Society and its work. The BPC is the one annual event where all elements of pharmacy can meet to communicate with each other and, importantly, with pharmacy's leaders."

Further information about the primary care day and the full BPC programme can be obtained from the conference administrators, Health Links (tel 0121 248 3399; e-mail alyons@health-links.fsnet.co.uk).