The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7253 p842
14 June 2003

Society summary

Election of Officers for 2003-04

In the election of Officers of the Society on 6 June, the Council elected Dr Gill Hawksworth to succeed Marshall Davies as President and Alison Ewing to succeed Dr Hawksworth as Vice-President. Linda Stone was elected Treasurer in succession to Kirit Patel, who was unsuccessful in the recent Council election.

In the election of the President for 2003–04, the retiring PRESIDENT (Marshall Davies) said that the only nomination was that of Dr Gillian Hawksworth.

The Council affirmed that Dr Hawksworth be formally elected President.

The new PRESIDENT (Dr Hawksworth) thanked Mr Davies for his two years as President, during which he had had taken the Society through a challenging period that included making decisions that would be crucial for the profession's future. His ongoing chairmanship of the Modernisation Steering Group would ensure that he maintained a high-profile role, as well as being an Officer as immediate past president.

Mr DAVIES, in reply, said that he struggled to think of any period comparable to his two years, in which all the Society's activities had been so affected by change and development. He congratulated Council members for the disciplined, intellectual rigour with which they had formulated and agreed many fundamental policy changes. That would not have been possible without the total support of Dr Hawksworth and the other Officers. He also thanked Council members for their help, support and fellowship.

Mr Davies particularly wanted to record his thanks to the staff, without whose devotion the Council and the Society would be much the poorer. He thanked the Secretary and Registrar (Ann Lewis) for her support and advice on many facets of the Society.

He added that Dr Hawksworth would have his full support. He wished her success.

The PRESIDENT thanked the Council for support and confidence in electing her. It was a great honour. The Council's trust in her would not be misplaced. She would work hard and put the profession first, as she had always done.

The next year would probably be a significant watershed for the profession. She aimed to tackle it with true Yorkshire grit and determination to get things done and do what was right. She could not do anything without the Council supporting and working with her as a team. They had much to deliver together — not least communicating with the members and rebuilding their trust.

She did not underestimate the importance of leadership as the reform agenda unfolded, and the task ahead was enormous. As a team they had to deliver a secure future for the profession, taking the members with them and ensuring that the public and Government had confidence in pharmacy.

The historic decision to seek both new legislation and a new Charter had mapped out an agenda that would clearly demonstrate that the Council was reformng the professional and the regulatory functions and sought to ensure professional leadership was implicit within the new charter.

The policy framework to deliver the Government's agenda for the three home countries had to be pursued to encompass new and developing roles focusing on patient benefit and outcomes, while providing professional core values and services.

Matching supply and demand for professional roles across primary and secondary care was a key issue, especially with the future introduction of mandatory continuing professional development, which should be inclusive and appropriate for all members of the profession.

The Council had a huge workload. The regulation of support staff needed to be carefully managed and they needed to remain focused on the important issues ahead. The President had no doubt of pharmacists' value in the National Health Service and looked forward to leading a profession whose contribution to a multidisciplinary integrated health care system was valued by all stakeholders. That required a strong, overarching national Society and a proactive Council. By making use of the skills and the talents of individual Council members, mapping the work being done throughout the Society and working with staff to introduce changes to meet future demands, they could develop and implement the plan together with a clear vision and purpose.

The President said that she intended her presidency to be inclusive. She prided herself on being approachable and easy to talk to and her door was always open.

What was required for a strong, independent profession was dynamic, energetic leadership. The President said she would devote her energy to serving the profession in that way, and she looked forward to working with the Council.

Vice-President

When the Council moved on to the election of the Vice-President, Pat Hoare, Alison Ewing and Wally Dove nominated themselves. Council members then voted, Miss Ewing receiving 13 votes, Mrs Hoare, nine votes and Mr Dove one vote. Miss Ewing was duly declared elected as Vice-President.

The PRESIDENT congratulated Miss Ewing on her election.

The Vice-President (Miss Ewing) thanked Council members for their belief in her. To be Vice-President was a tremendous honour. She intended to work as hard as possible for the profession, for the members, for the organisation and for the advancement of pharmacy in the wider world.

Treasurer

The PRESIDENT then invited nominations for the post of Treasurer.

LINDA STONE nominated herself for the office.

There being no other nominations, Mrs Stone was elected Treasurer.

The TREASURER said that the Council would now have a double dose of Yorkshire grit. She thanked the Council for its expression of confidence. She paid tribute to Kirit Patel in his year role as Treasurer. He had left the Society in good financial order. Although her own skill set was different, she hoped it would also help to ensure that the Society stayed in good order financially and went from strength to strength. She would continue to fight to the utmost for the profession she loved.

The Council then went on to reappoint Ann Lewis as Secretary of the Society.