Independent review to clarify Society's future role
An independent review to examine how the Royal Pharmaceutical Society can separate its regulatory and professional leadership functions is to be undertaken, the Council agreed at its meeting last week.
In the so-called Foster report, consultation
on which closed last month,
the Government recommended that the Society should clarify separation
of its regulatory and professional leadership functions (PJ, 22 July,
p91).
During the debate there was widespread support, at least among the pharmacist
members of Council, for the view that the Society should continue as
a professional body and that a separate UK-wide regulatory board should
be established. Several members suggested that a royal colleges-style
model would be appropriate.
There were mixed opinions about what the independent review should address.
Should it be whether the Society should separate or how it should separate?
Ultimately it was decided that the review will examine the principles
around the separation of functions and consider options and models, and
their implications, before proposing a way forward. The initial stage
of the review is likely to take six to eight months and involve a consultation
with members and other stakeholders. A progress report will be made in
March 2007. The timescale of the review will provide an outcome for “in
principle” decisions on the future shape of the Society, which
will sit alongside any further decisions that might be taken by the Government
over the future of health care regulation.
Anthony Cox, secretary of the Birmingham branch of the Society, believes
that the independent review should not attempt to revisit the decision
to separate. “That is a political decision, which the Council will
be accountable for,” he told The Journal. Instead, he said, it
should focus on the practical management of the separation, and in particular
advise the Council on how to deal with the threats, and opportunities,
that losing the shackles of regulation will create for the Society.
Ian Simpson, chief executive of the College of Pharmacy Practice, said: “We
are pleased that the Council has reached this decision and are delighted
that, in the debate, it was suggested that a royal college model might
be appropriate. We look forward to participating in the review and working
with the Society to make the vision of the college founders a reality.”
However, the Institute of Pharmacy Management International warned that
the timescale for the review is too fast. “The Council and members
must not be pressured into deciding anything prematurely — this
process should take the time it needs to deliver a patient-safe and professionally
competent system for the future that is affordable to members.” It
may be prudent to wait for the final outcome of the Foster and Donaldson
consultation process before implementing the review to ensure
the ground rules have not changed or will not change yet again, said
the institute.
Commenting on the independent review, John D’Arcy, chief executive
of the National Pharmacy Association, said that although there are many
issues to consider if the Society is to split, at some point the Council
needs to stop consulting and make a decision.
See Society,
p749
Foster outcome Proposals
affecting the regulation of non-medical health professionals are to be
published by the Government in a White Paper
early next year.
In a Parliamentary written reply at the end of last week, health minister
Andy Burnham told David Drew (Lab Co-op, Stroud) that the Government
was now considering
responses received during the four-month consultation period after publication
of the Foster review of non-medical health care professions.
He said: “We are now considering the way forward in the light of responses
and the Government’s policy objectives. We expect to publish our proposals
early in the new year.” |
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