Welsh board seeks to strengthen communications
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February board meeting
Attendance Present at the meeting
were the chairman (Peter Jones), the vice-chairman (Marc Donovan),
Alan
Crabbe, Jodine Evans,
Richard Evans, Diane Heath, Carwyn Jones, Alan Kershaw, Rowena
McArtney,
Phil Parry, David Temple, Fiona Price and Cath O’Brien
(Director for Wales).
Apologies Apologies for absence
were received from
Mair Davies, Hemant Patel (President of the Society) and Colin
Ranshaw (Council member and ex-officio board member).
Guests Present by invitation were Alan Hughes (Clwyd branch), Gemma
Inkpen (Cardiff
and Vale branch) and Lesley Morgan (member of Council). |
Efforts to improve the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's communications in Wales were made at the first meeting of the Society's new Welsh Pharmacy Board, held on 7 February.
The board agreed to establish a Communications and Public Affairs Group,
which would be reviewed in January 2008. The group would be chaired by
the vice-chairman. Its other members would be the chairman and two board
members. Richard Evans and Diane Heath were elected to the places for
board members.
Discussing a draft communications and public affairs plan for 2007, the
board agreed that a number of comments should be discussed at the first
CPAG meeting, on 15 March. A final draft of the plan would then be sent
out to the board for ratification.
It was agreed that engagement with patient and voluntary organisations
should be strengthened by nominating board members to key organisations
to develop stronger links and to promote ongoing working relationships
with these bodies.
It was also agreed that board members would attend all four political
party conferences in Wales in the spring, as follows: Labour (Llandudno,
22–24 February), Carwyn Jones; Conservative (Cardiff, 3–4
March), Alan Crabbe; Liberal Democrat (Swansea. 9–11 March), Jodine
Evans; Plaid Cymru (Caernarfon, 24–26 March), Carwyn Jones.
The board also agree to improve its engagement with the Society’s
branches in Wales by aligning one board member with each of the 10 branches.
In the first instance, contact would be made by telephone to establish
how active each branch was and to obtain a brief verbal report on activities.
This would facilitate further discussion by the board.
Election of officers The board began its meeting by adopting the Society’s
national boards governance handbook and then electing a chairman and
vice-chairman in accordance with procedures set out in the handbook.
In the election of a chairman, Peter Jones was the only candidate. He
was nominated by Phil Parry and seconded by Richard Evans. In the election
of a vice-chairman, there were two nominations. David Temple was nominated
by Rowena McArtney and seconded by Alan Crabbe. Marc Donovan was nominated
by Fiona Price and seconded by Diane Heath. After the two candidates
had been given an opportunity to explain why they wished to be considered
for the position, Mr Donovan was elected by eight votes to three.
Meetings and events The board agreed that no annual meeting of the members
in Wales would take place in 2007. Instead, ideas would be developed
for an event in spring 2008 that would enable greater participation and
involvement for all members in Wales.
The board was advised that the meeting had never been particularly successful,
typically attracting only about 40 members, including members of the
former Welsh Executive. It was agreed that the CPAG would look in details
at ideas for engaging with the members in Wales and would bring proposals
back to the board.
The board agreed that the annual meeting for secretaries of branches
and pharmacy development groups should continue as planned for 3 May,
with a review following the meeting to consider the purpose and structure
of future meetings.
It was also agreed to hold a dinner for key stakeholders in Wales in
June 2007.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal