Scottish Pharmacy Board pledges to improve communications
 The Scottish Pharmacy Board has committed to engage more effectively with members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland. Part
of that strategy is to initiate more direct contact. The SPB reached
that decision when it discussed its draft business plan, which contained
engagement with members as a key commitment, at its second formal meeting
held on 18 April.
To move forward with this commitment, the board agreed that elected members
would be “twinned” with each Scottish branch of the Society.
In addition, the board is to pursue the concept of a road-show, which
would enable members across all the regions to meet board representatives
and provide a platform for members to share their thoughts on professional
developments and input into the work of the board.
Other matters discussed included retention fees for pharmacist prescribers
and the Scottish Office premises.
Prescribers’ retention fee After discussion at the meeting the
board agreed to ask the Council to reconsider its stance on the issue
of the annotation and annual retention fee for pharmacist prescribers
and to support a flat fee that would be borne by the profession as a
whole. The board took the view that all should be done to encourage pharmacist
prescribing for the advancement of patient care.
Premises The board received an overview of the situation regarding the
Scottish Office premises, which are owned by the Society’s Benevolent
Fund. The board discussed requirements of Scottish Office premises suitable
to support the SPB and the Scottish membership into the future. Rose
Marie Parr, chairman, placed on record her view that it was desirable
for the Society itself to purchase a building to accommodate the Scottish
Office and to remove the link between the Benevolent Fund and the office’s
accommodation needs. The board agreed to the formation of a working group
to take the issue forward.
Speaking after the meeting, chairman Rose Marie Parr said: “The
board is committed to putting in place a business plan that meets the
strategic needs of the profession.” She said that a major part
of this will be the board’s ability to communicate effectively
with members and to respond to their needs.
“The board is keen to ensure that we listen to the members, take
into consideration their views and keep them informed of the board’s
direction of travel, which is why we have committed to connecting directly
with all the branches and members across Scotland,” she said.
The board’s draft business plan will constitute the work programme
of the board and will, when finalised, identify its priorities for the
next three years. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal