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Network News is produced by The Pharmaceutical
Journal as a service to members of the Society resident
in Great Britain.
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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is
going through a period of rapid change, and we still do not know what
the endpoint will be. What we do know
is that having a strong local branch and regional network is crucial
for pharmacists’ futures as health professionals operating in
an environment that is driven by local need. Effective local leadership
is necessary to capitalise on the promise of recent pharmacy policy
documents.
 The local branch may be the only face of the Society that many pharmacists
see during their professional careers. The opportunity to meet with others,
and to hear about topical issues — be they clinical or political — is
invaluable, and yet all too often ignored.
The committees of local branches and regions are fascinating in terms
of their diversity and level of activity. Some committees soldier on
bravely in the face of apathy from the local pharmacist community: others
enjoy consistently high attendance and push forward with pharmacy development.
Perhaps some speculative statistics, grounded in our experience of the
network, will underline the impressive level of participation and activity
that we see within local networks within any one year:
• 130 branches across England, Scotland and Wales
• Assuming an average of four committee members per branch = 520 pharmacists
actively involved in local leadership
• With meetings at least six times a year = 780 local meetings
• Attracting 10 per cent of the Register resident in GB = 4,000 local
pharmacists connecting with peers
• And newsletters circulated at least three times to most members = 120,000
opportunities to engage pharmacists in professional debate
It would be interesting to know what motivates pharmacists to become
committee members. The goodwill that is shown by hundreds of pharmacists
in getting involved benefits the whole profession. The chance of revival
for inactive branches and regions is dependent upon local pharmacists’ vision
and commitment. We are fortunate to have relatively few ailing branches,
and to have seen some truly impressive ‘comebacks’.
It is true that the advent of continuing professional development for
pharmacists is an opportunity to focus on an issue that is a concern
for pharmacists from all sectors of practice. The existence of this forum
for mentoring and sharing advice is a local strength.
There is also a role for local branches to raise their profile as a point
of contact for other health professionals and commissioners who wish
to access a definitive pharmacy viewpoint. Having pharmacist members
from different sectors of the profession makes the branch a useful vehicle
for developing joined-up local thinking and a possible source of new
ways of working. Some branches have collaborated with other organisations
(such as the local pharmacy development group or the local pharmaceutical
committee). This maximises the benefits of co-ordinated local communication
and minimises duplicated discussions and meetings.
Branches also have an important role to play in raising the profile of
the pharmacy profession in the media. The Society's central PR unit works
to support branch public relations officers and help them to highlight
the work of pharmacists in the pages of local newspapers and also on
regional radio and television channels.
We do not yet know the recipe for success: all we can do is to report
what seems to work and hope that we can share good ideas effectively.
In the quest for effective local leadership, branches and regions point
the way.
— From Dr Nicola Gray, member of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society’s Council and Council sponsor for the “Shape up for
the future” review of the Society’s branches and regions. |
