How work planned in 2002 is progressing
At the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's annual general meeting in May,
the Hull branch asked questions about the progress of the work that the
Society had itemised at the time of the retention fee increase in 2002.
Responses were provided at the AGM and it was agreed to publish fuller
details. This article, prepared in the Resources Directorate, provides
that information
Has the Health Committee been established and how much
of the £35,000
budgeted in 2002 was spent?
When the budget was set for 2002, it was expected that a Health Committee
would be established through regulations made under the Pharmacists (Fitness
to Practise) Act 1997. However, public policy on regulation of health
professionals has moved on and it now seems likely that we may need to
wait until the new legislation governing the Society (an Order under
Section 60 of the Health Act 1999) comes into force before a Health Committee
can be established.
Through 2003, the modernisation steering group has continued its work,
including bringing forward proposals to the Council on future fitness-to-practise
machinery. These include recommendations for the establishment, structure,
composition and procedures of a health committee. These proposals have
been submitted to the Department of Health for inclusion in the Section
60 Order.
As a result, no costs have yet been directly apportioned to this project.
Have the proposed changes in the disciplinary process happened
and how much of the budgeted £50,000 in 2002 was spent?
Until the Section 60 Order comes into force, the restructuring of the
Investigating or Statutory Committee cannot take place. The work will
be taken up as soon as possible.
Does the Society continue to fund the post previously supported
by the Department of Health for clinical governance? What are the additional
posts within clinical governance and how much of the £245,000 budget
was spent in 2002?
In 2002, the title of this project was changed to “Support quality
in pharmacy and the NHS” which includes clinical governance. By
the end of 2001, the funding from the Department was exhausted and the
Society has fully funded the work since 2002. The Society funds four
posts in this area, all within budget (professional development fellow,
professional development manager, clinical governance pharmacist and
secretary).
The financial statements for 2001–02 reported actual expenditure
of £216,000 after allowing for a small income of £11,000.
Has the new Competence Audit Committee been established
to support the 2002 budget of £242,000 to implement CPD among
5,000 pharmacists?
The Continuing Professional Development Implementation Committee was
established in 2002 to support the roll-out of CPD. Five thousand CPD
packs were distributed during 2002 and expenditure of £230,000
was reported in the results to support the roll-out to 5,000 members
and to develop the programme further. Work continues on this programme
of activity.
What has been achieved in 2002 for the development of work
on corporate governance and how much of the £151,000 budget
was spent?
Substantial work has been undertaken and major results achieved in 2002.
Key issues were identified and reported in the financial statements of
the Society:
• Interim changes to the Infringement Committee (composition, quorum,
voting and circulation of papers)
• Implications for members of Council not signing the Code of Conduct
• Composition of the Resource Management Committee
• Attendance at Audit Committee meetings
• System for the nomination of Council members to international organisations
and attendance at overseas meetings
• Proposal to extend the Vice-President’s monitoring role
• Preliminary work on staff code of conduct
• Seminar, scoping exercise on equality and diversity, and particularly
the Society’s compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment Act)
2000
• Setting up of governance network comprising governance leads in regulatory
and professional bodies (not just health) — comparison of governance
arrangements in these bodies
• Voting of committee chairman
• Development of risk management framework and risk register
The financial statements reported expenditure of £130,086 in 2002.
What has been achieved with the implementation of policy
to modernise regulation and what has been spent against the 2002
budget
of £200,000?
The following were undertaken in 2002:
• Consultation on the Society’s future remit and decision to retain
its integrated regulatory and professional roles within a reformed organisation
• Consultation and decisions on the constitution and governance of the
reformed Council
• Progress of work towards registration of pharmacy technicians
• Roll-out of a communications programme to support the reform
The large number of documents including discussion papers and decisions
taken by the Council within the reform programme can be found on the
Society's website (www.rpsgb.org.uk).
The financial statements reported expenditure of £118,500. Further
expenditure has been incurred during 2003.
What has been achieved with the research to support modernisation
and what has been spent against the 2002 budget of £238,000?
In 2002, the Society’s practice research division completed five
tasks within this project:
• Working out a strategy for the project including running a seminar
and publishing a report
• Detailed work force review, including census, significant analysis
including understanding “innovation in community pharmacy” and
a complete review of the database
• Support to the Pharmacy Education R&D Reference Group
• Allowance for two PhD studentships under ethics criteria
• Trust activity
The financial statements reported expenditure of £207,942 for
the financial year and further expenditure has been incurred during the
remainder of 2003.
Was the planned update of the membership database completed
to support the 2002 budget of £297,000?
The Society undertook significant work with regard to its information
technology infrastructure. Major milestones were:
• Enhancing network reliability to ensure 24-hour online access to support
the various membership functions and communications
• Enhancing the website with dedicated resource to ensure that information
is updated regularly and available at all times
• First part of membership database project is complete. 2002 undertook
the evaluation of the membership system to agree the appropriate work
programme
The financial statements reported expenditure of £224,000. This
work remains ongoing throughout 2003.
What progress has been made on work with other health regulators regarding
sharing of information and increasing transparency and consistency?
Regular meetings are held with other regulators with a view to sharing
information. In 2002, the following committees were established with
other regulators to enable the sharing of information: data protection;
disaster recovery; information provision.
The formation of the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals
will also lead to work in this area.
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