New beginnings
Now that the names of the new Privy Council nominees have been announced, together with the name of the academic pharmacist representative from schools of pharmacy in Great Britain (p571 and p595), the Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is likely to have a different take on matters. Including the pharmacists and the pharmacy technicians elected to Council for the first time (PJ, 16 April, p461), the academic pharmacist and the Privy Council nominees, there will be 18 new faces in the Council chamber.
The 10 Privy Council nominees will bring a wide range of expertise to
the Society and to Council meetings. The fact that a number of them have
current or recent experience of working within other health organisations
should be of great benefit to the profession. The Journal suspects that,
in addition to their role as custodians of the public interest, they
may have relevant advice to offer about how pharmacy’s role in
the care of patients can be enhanced and how pharmacy’s voice can
be better heard in health service forums.
Another new beginning can be found at Richmond House — the home
of the Department of Health in Whitehall. The Cabinet reshuffle sees
the departure of John Reid to defence — perhaps a happier home
for a man who has a reputation for being abrasive. At this stage it is
not known who will be responsible for pharmacy issues. Rosie Winterton
is still in situ, as is Lord Warner. Both of them have had a significant
part to play in the fortunes of pharmacy.
However, a shudder went through The Journal when we learnt that the new
Secretary of State for Health is to be Patricia Hewitt (p572). Without
doubt she is an able politician and an intelligent woman but, having
been Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since 2001 and, before
that, had junior ministerial posts in the Treasury as well as at the
Department of Trade and Industry, we wonder how sympathetic she will
be to pharmacy. It was, after all, a report from the Office of Fair Trading
(part of the DTI) on control of entry two years ago that so unsettled
the community sector.
Experience tells many of us that a first encounter often clouds our view
of issues ever after. So, the challenge for Ms Hewitt, and for her new
team, will be to pick up a pair of health service spectacles and learn
to focus with them as quickly as possible. Developments in pharmacy contractual
matters over the next couple of years and how she reacts to what the
OFT has next in store for the profession will determine how successful
she will have been.
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