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Network News is produced by The Pharmaceutical
Journal as a service to members of the Society resident in Great
Britain. |
Until the summer of 2000,
the activities of the Norwich and Norfolk branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society relied on a small group of individuals
who were struggling to maintain local interest. The same faces would
attend the meetings but eventually even they started to question the
value of their activities. Over the next year the branch drifted into
a state of dormancy.
Norwich Cathedral |
Dr Maria Christou, now secretary of the branch, says: “The problem
was that members could not see a link between their day-to-day work as
pharmacists and what the branch was trying to provide with regards to
professional issues. Many participate in meetings after a long day at
work and as a result the branch became dormant in summer 2001.”
Once the branch stopped holding meetings local pharmacists soon began
to believe there was a need to bring together colleagues from different
sectors of practice and importantly, to introduce preregistration trainees
to the profession. They thought that a unified local voice was needed
for the profession together with a forum where isolated rural pharmacists
could come together and discuss issues relating to their work.
Dr Christou explains: “Without branch meetings there is often little
to bring local pharmacists together and this leads to a lack of understanding
of the different roles within the profession. Added to this there can
be complete isolation of pharmacists, particularly those practising in
rural areas. All of this can contribute to a loss of momentum for development,
change and improvements in services.” Pharmacists in Norwich and
Norfolk missed their branch and it was decided in 2002 that the time
was right for a relaunch.
Says Maria Christou: “The first step was to re-form the branch
committee with members who felt that it was particularly important to
have an active branch in the area. We were fortunate that David Coleman — a
highly respected Norfolk community pharmacist and a former president
of the Society — agreed to act as chairman of the new committee.
David had clear ideas about introducing a programme of activities that
would be both interesting and relevant to members from all sectors of
pharmacy. He was also clear that we should give our members a sense of
ownership of their local branch.”
The Norwich and Norfolk branch committee was keen to follow the example
set by its neighbouring committee in the Ipswich branch, which had also
experienced problems in the past but had been successful in re-building
local interest. Katie Smith, secretary of the Society’s Anglia
region and coincidentally also Ipswich branch secretary, helped to prepare
a programme of events aimed at the full spectrum of pharmacists. Indeed,
the new committee itself consisted of members who represented all sectors
of the profession. An added bonus was that those from the Academic Pharmacy
Practice Unit based at the University of East Anglia (UEA) had considerable
experience of organising and promoting events.
Dr Christou explains: “As a branch, we had a successful relaunch
in October 2002 when around 80 members attended to hear Ann Lewis, the
Society’s Secretary and Registrar, give a guest speech on the Society’s
programme of reform. We subsequently ran successful meetings on topical
issues such as repeat and supplementary prescribing and the new MPharm
course at the UEA.”
The Norwich and Norfolk branch committee planned meeting topics that
were relevant to their target audience and these were confirmed only
after consultation with the local membership. The committee also took
great care with the selection of attractive and accessible venues with
plenty of parking. In addition to an annual programme of events, each
meeting was advertised via a mail-shot to branch members which included
a reply slip and deadline for responses. Certificates of attendance were
also produced for those coming to meetings.
The structure of the meetings was designed with pharmacists’ work
and travel needs in mind. Meetings start with a buffet provided at 7.30pm,
then speakers make their presentataions from 8pm, followed by questions
and informal discussions before the finish at about 9.30pm.
Today the Norwich and Norfolk branch has 465 members and 30 per cent
of them have become regular attenders at meetings, compared with less
than 10 per cent before 2001.
There is no doubt that the revival in the fortunes of Norwich and Norfolk
branch is benefiting local pharmacists. The fresh approach to the organisation
and delivery of an annual programme that is focused on members’ needs
has enabled them to feel their participation is important. As Dr Christou
explains: “Pharmacists now feel it is in their interest to come,
listen and discuss the big issues facing the profession and they now
have a forum to do that in, even if they may disagree with some of the
changes being proposed.”
Norwich and Norfolk branch members are now looking forward to a further
four meetings planned before April 2004, again focusing on big issues
that are topical and affect all sectors of pharmacy. These include “Technician
registration: skill mix issues”, “Mandatory CPD for pharmacists”, “Medicines
management: the Homer trial” and “Pharmacy practice research”.
Future plans include taking an active part in promoting CPD in the county,
once the Society’s framework has been rolled out in early 2004.
Other plans include raising the profile of the branch (and therefore
the pharmacy profession) in primary care trusts and among local government
officials and members of Parliament.
Dr Christou would encourage other branches wanting to review their programmes
or thinking of relaunching to contact the Society’s membership
unit for support. She adds: “It is important not to let the mundane
administrative side or the financial issues be obstacles. Our experience
has been that staff in the Society’s Membership Unit can offer
a lot of support on both these issues, provided there is commitment from
the Branch as to what it wants to achieve locally.”
For further information and ideas about the revitalisation of your local
branch, please contact the Society’s membership unit (tel 020 7572
2331; e-mail b&ra@rpsgb.org.uk).
— From Jean-Pierre Moser,
head of public relations and membership for the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society. |
