The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7291 p363
20 March 2004

Society summary

Branches learn about Society's directorates

Representatives from more than 60 branches and regions of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society met the Society's directors on Wednesday 10 March to learn more about the new organisational structure and hear how it will help in taking the profession forward.

The all-day meeting, held at the Society’s London headquarters, was designed to help those involved in the Society’s local network understand how and why the changes had taken place. The meeting heard that the new structure, which has involved an increase from five to seven directorates, is part of the Council’s reform of the Society and is designed to support the Society’s operations in line with best management practice.

The meeting was addressed by all seven directors — Philip Green (director of education and registration, who is also Deputy Secretary and Registrar), Beverley Parkin (director of public affairs and communications), David Pruce (director of practice and quality improvement), Charles Fry (director of publications), Rob Darracott (director of corporate and strategic development), Bernard Kelly (director of finance and resources) and Mandie Lavin (director of fitness to practise and legal affairs).

The meeting also included presentations from the President (Dr Gill Hawksworth), the Secretary and Registrar (Ann Lewis) and the editor of The Pharmaceutical Journal (Olivia Timbs). The President spoke about her vision of all pharmacists making a personal pledge when they first entered the profession and asked that those attending take the idea back to local members for their thoughts.

Commenting on the success of the day, the Secretary and Registrar said: “The local branch and regional network provides an important sounding board for grass roots members’ opinion. It was pleasing that so many took the opportunity to come and learn first hand about the changes to the Society’s structure and how this is moving the profession forward into the future.”

David Morgan, secretary of the Clwyd branch, said: “There was much evidence in the presentations of the huge amount of work that the Society is doing on behalf of members, and branch and regional secretaries can now communicate these important messages to members at a local level.”