National boards given go-ahead
The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society agreed on 2 August to establish three national pharmacy boards for England, Scotland and Wales to provide strategic leadership and support for pharmacy practice development at a national level.
The decision followed discussion of the results of the Council consultation
on the recommendations of the Devolution Review Group, chaired by Lord
Fraser of Carmyllie.
The new national pharmacy boards will develop and implement country-specific
policy related to the practice of pharmacy and will support pharmacists
in practice and assist development of overarching Council policy for
Britain. The three bodies will take the lead in promoting pharmacy and
its contribution to health to government and its agencies, NHS bodies,
and other health and social care organisations and support the membership
through the Society’s branches.
In Scotland and Wales the existing executives are to be replaced by boards
complete with new devolved powers. In England a new board will be created
to operate from the Society’s London headquarters.
The Council also agreed that the precise nature of its working arrangements
with the boards will be set out in a series of concordats, to be developed
by the end of this year.
Commenting on this historic decision, the Society’s President,
Hemant Patel, said: “The Council was united in agreement that the
Society must respond positively to the devolution agenda of government.
We must ensure that pharmacists in Scotland, Wales and England are supported
in their work in what are increasingly three distinctly individually
flavoured national health services. Lord Fraser’s review showed
us the way and pharmacists and pharmacy organisations have, in a significant
majority, responded positively to the proposals. The Council is now setting
in train processes that will lead us to three national boards holding
their first meetings in 2006.”
The chairman of the Scottish Executive, Angela Timoney, said: “I
am delighted that the Council has listened to the views of members and
acted upon them. I believe the creation of three national boards will
strengthen the Society as a GB organisation and enable pharmacists to
work more effectively with governments in each of the countries to the
benefit of public, patients and the profession.”
Peter Jones, chairman of the Welsh Executive, said: “The agreement
of Council to the establishment of three national boards will provide
the Society with a robust framework to maximise the opportunities that
devolution offers the profession of pharmacy. The Welsh Executive will
continue to support the work that will now need to be undertaken in the
establishment of these structures, their ways of working and their interaction
with Council and its committees.”
Jonathan Buisson, member of Council for England, said: “I am pleased
that the Council has had the courage to take this far-reaching decision.
The English national board will be the success that members make of it
and I hope that they will engage with the next debate, which is about
its constitution.”
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