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Council election
Members have got the Council they deserve
From Mr E. J. H. Mallinson, FRPharmS
The members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have got the Council
they deserve. At a stroke we have lost most of the expertise and experience
from the Council and, with the odd exception, have effectively been left
with a group of small chemist contractors with little or no Council experience
and no representation from the other branches of our profession.
The reason is easy to explain. The silent, apathetic majority did not
vote and a change in the guidance for Council elections, allowing canvassing
by candidates, was exploited to full advantage by a group of pharmacists
standing under the banner of “Save Our Society”, using tactics
such as unsolicited mailshots to a select section of the membership.
Branches which, I am sure, did not anticipate the consequences of their
actions brought about this change as a result of repeated motions at
branch representatives’ meetings.
The result, far from saving our Society, could be disastrous. A Council
made up predominantly of individuals elected on a single issue ticket
lacks the breadth of experience required to address the many and diverse
issues facing all professions. When that Council is drawn from a single
sector of the profession, albeit the largest sector, the interests of
the others are neglected. This does not augur well for the future.
I appreciate that my frustration and disappointment at the outcome can
in no way match that of the ex-Council members, some of whom have contributed
to the wellbeing of our Society over many years, but I would wish them
to know that this pharmacist, at least, appreciates all their efforts
for and on behalf of the profession. I hope they will stand again next
year, by which time the apathetic majority may well have been stunned
into action. My only hopes are that not too much damage is done in the
short term, that the staff at Lambeth do not “vote with their feet” and
that our political masters will see this as a blip in the history of
the Royal Pharmaceutical Society rather than a sign of things to come.
Edward Mallinson
Glasgow
Have we an “elected dictatorship”?
From Mr J. T. Mearns, FRPharmS
Once again, “block voting” has occurred as a result of using
the “first past the post” method of electing the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society’s Council. Fewer members voted and this has proved that
the change from the single transferable vote system has not increased
the rate.
All it requires to be elected is a “block” of Save Our Society “single
issue” supporters, ie, 3,260 votes, which is 7 per cent of the
total membership, to become a member of Council. We now have an “elected
dictatorship”.
Minority groups have great difficulty in being elected and this is unsatisfactory
when the Council should have a broad representation of the membership.
Philip Brown (PJ, 23 April, p487) asks why apathy is so universal and
I believe that he has given some of the answers. However, is it not time
for the members of the Council to set up a committee to find out all
the answers to Dr Brown’s question? I suggest that a Privy Council
member might chair the committee and that the membership could be chosen
not only from the Council but from a wider section of the membership.
James T. Mearns
Bristol
Concern at lack of women pharmacists on new Council
From Mrs H. M. Rose, MRPharmS
Further to the letter from the chairman
of the Hospital Pharmacists Group (PJ, 23 April, p488) expressing concern over the lack of hospital
representation on the newly elected Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, I should like to highlight the under-representation of women
pharmacists on the Council.
There are only two women pharmacists on a Council of 17 pharmacists (12
per cent). Since women today make up 53 per cent of the Register of Pharmaceutical
Chemists and over 60 per cent of pharmacy undergraduates, the Council
must ensure that it remains in touch with issues affecting this majority
section of the profession’s workforce. Although one cannot quarrel
with a decision reached via a democratic election, it seems fair to ask
the new Council how it will ensure that it has a realistic view when
making decisions for the profession as a whole?
In 1905 there were fewer that 200 women on a Register of 11,000 pharmacists
and at that stage the National Association of Women Pharmacists was formed
to represent their interests. Today, almost exactly 100 years since its
foundation, NAWP is still strong and fit for purpose.
During the course of the next year we will need to find a way of mobilising
dormant votes to ensure that women pharmacists are better represented
on Council.
Monica Rose
President
National Association of Women Pharmacists
Which “single issue”?
From Mr S. K. Bagga, MRPharmS
I am confused. Of the many issues the Save Our Society campaign has
raised, which single issue do Michael
and Vela Burden have in mind (PJ,
23 April, p487)?
Shiv Bagga
Member of Council
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Preconditions for groupthink!
From Mr A. R. Willson, MRPharmS
Andrew Burr’s letter (PJ, 23 April, p487) was troubling. With
its apocalyptic message and hopelessly mixed metaphors, it did little
to convey his radical vision. Few will doubt his sincerity although whether
that is based on love of pharmacy or imagined cries of “You’re
next mate!” it is hard to say. Perhaps both.
Douglas Simpson (ibid, p489) worried me too. There is a difference between
saving and preserving (his verb). The second is often done in formaldehyde
and relies on killing everything.
The new Council has the respect of those who cared enough to vote and
it is unlikely to lose touch with the membership. The weakness is that
it has at least two of the preconditions for *groupthink: establishment
values and weak opposition. Hemant
Patel’s letter (ibid, p488)
promised courage and determination and it is to be hoped that this will
include use of the mandate to bring about change if it is needed. That
judgement will not be formed by introspection but by detailed study of
experience elsewhere.
May I suggest that the new Council takes a further look at the radically
reformed General Medical Council and why it is that it still draws the
criticism that it looks after its own? What are the lessons for our profession?
Alan Willson
Swansea
*Groupthink: A mode of thinking that people engage
in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive group, when the members’ strivings
for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative
courses of action (Irving Janis, 1971).
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