Access to member lists sought for mailings
A call was made by the BRM for the Society to amend its Data Protection Act registration to allow other non-profit making organisations to access membership lists for educational and joint working purposes.
Proposing the motion, Bill Brookes (South Cheshire) said the aim was
to give pharmacists access to local education events organised by non-profit
making organisations such as primary care trusts. This could not be done
through branch membership lists because branch secretaries had to sign
a statement saying that address labels or lists of members would only
be used for branch purposes and would not be passed on to third parties.
Failure to observe this would be in breach of the Data Protection and
the Freedom of Information Act.
As the only other way outside bodies could contact pharmacists was through
their work places, locums and those not currently working could miss
out. The branch wanted all members to have access to courses and training
events. It also wanted to forge closer links with local health care professional
organisations. The motion would allow this to happen.
Christine Robinson (South Cheshire), seconding, said that the motion
would allow organisations such as PCTs to contact the disappearing 50
per cent of the Society.
Steven Curtis (Harrow and Hillingdon) said that such mailings were already
possible if the branch took control of the mailing.
Mike Burden (Leicestershire and Rutland) endorsed Mr Curtis’s comment.
His branch had often carried other people’s information with its
newsletter. The other bodies provided printed material and made a contribution
to the postage costs.
Summing up, Mr Brookes said that he was obliged to Mr Curtis and Mr Burden
for their comments. What was needed was sensible information put out
to everyone so they knew how to bypass the problem.
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