The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7460 p56
14 July 2007

Society summary

National Pharmacy Board reports

Welsh Pharmacy Board to hold three regional meetings instead of one annual general meeting

The Welsh Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is to replace the annual general meeting for members in Wales and the traditional annual lecture with three regional meetings across Wales.

At its third meeting on 5 July 2007, the board agreed that such a measure would help it reach as many members in Wales as possible, and it would use these meetings to engage members in discussion about the White Paper on health regulation, the role and work of the board, and the Pharmacy 2020 consultation. Board members were also asked to consider further their own engagement with members in Wales.

Medicines management The board heard a presentation from the heads of pharmacy and medicines management (HoPMMs) of local health boards. Brian Hawkins, HoPMM at Rhonnda Cynon Taff LHB, delivered “A vision for primary care pharmacy and medicines management for Wales 2007–11” and discussed the strategy document produced by the All-Wales Heads of Pharmacy and Medicines Management Group. The board agreed to work with the HoPMMs to identify perceived political barriers to delivery of the strategy.

Public affairs Marc Donovan, vice-chairman of the board and chairman of its Communications and Public Affairs Group, updated the board on the main subjects considered by the group. He told the meeting that a “Discover pharmacy” suite of literature was currently being developed. The template for the design of the literature was being finalised and two further leaflets, looking at discharge planning and diagnostics, were currently being produced.

Mr Donovan also updated the board on responses received following the issuing of parliamentary briefings to Welsh members of Parliament. He confirmed that the Welsh Directorate had received requests for further information from a number of Welsh MPs on the potential impact of the regulation White Paper on their constituents. Further exchanges of information were taking place.

Engagement with voluntary and patient organisations The board agreed to align its members to key patient and voluntary organisations in Wales and discussed the way forward in establishing and developing links. The board recognised that robust, two-way engagement with these organisations was an essential part of its remit.

Existing endeavours in this area were discussed. Arlene Osman, board representative on the Wales Advisory Council of Diabetes UK, provided an update on the role and remit of that group and its current work streams, and discussed how the board could work with it in future.

Simulated patient programme The board discussed a paper on “the simulated patient” provided by Heidi Wright, head of quality improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It agreed to support the concept but raised a number of questions around the detail of the project, seeking further information. The Director for Wales would clarify these issues with Ms Wright and report back to the board.

Legislative process in National Assembly for Wales The board was reminded that the Government of Wales Act 2007 had come into force following the election of the Welsh Assembly Government on 3 May 2007. The Act heralded a new legislative process in Wales, and the board was advised that it would have to evolve its ways of lobbying and scrutinising legislation pertinent to Wales.

It was emphasised that this was a new process for assembly members and civil servants,  and different ways of engagement would be needed. The WAG had indicated the importance of listening to the people of Wales and introduced petitions by the Welsh public. This placed greater emphasis on the links needed with the voluntary sectors and networks within the voluntary sector to engage on single health issues.

An analysis of how the board’s role in policy development in Wales may have to develop is being undertaken with advice from the board’s public affairs consultants.