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Vol 279 No 7461 p61
21 July 2007

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Separating professional regulation and representation General Pharmaceutical Council and a royal college-type body for the Society


Regulatory change team revealed

Membership of the oversight group that will work with health ministers to establish the General Pharmaceutical Council and to advise on the formation of a professional leadership body was announced by the Department of Health last week (see Panel). However, its composition has been criticised by some pharmacy organisations.

Announcing the group, Dawn Primarolo, minister with responsibility for pharmacy, said: “[The members] do not represent any specific interest or organisation — and are, therefore, able to work across the broad spectrum of interested parties to help us achieve these significant changes within pharmacy.”

But the All-Party Pharmacy Group is concerned that some key constituencies are not represented. Sandra Gidley, vice-chairman of the APPG, said: “We are encouraged by the diversity of the group and welcome the inclusion of grass roots pharmacists from Scotland and Wales. However, we are concerned by the omission of the National Pharmacy Association and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, as well as the lack of English grass roots pharmacists represented in the group.”

The NPA said that it is surprised and disappointed not to have been asked to participate in the Professional Regulation and Leadership Oversight Group. Alison White, the NPA’s chief executive, said: “We agree with the APPG that the omission of the NPA causes under-representation of community pharmacists. The NPA will be pressing hard for the opportunity to correct this under-representation, to ensure that our members are not disenfranchised by this process.”

A spokesman for the PSNC commented that it is important to ensure that all relevant national pharmacy bodies are represented in the group so that all views are taken into account. “NHS community pharmacy contractors employ the majority of practising pharmacists. They must have a voice in shaping the future of professional regulation and leadership in pharmacy,” he added.

Professional Regulation and Leadership Oversight Group

Ken Jarrold, director of Dearden Consulting (chairman)

Chief pharmaceutical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Keith Ridge, Bill Scott, Carwen Wynne-Howells and Norman Morrow)

Raymond Anderson, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

Tracey Boyce, a senior hospital pharmacist based in Northern Ireland

Judith Cope, chief pharmacist, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and honorary senior lecturer, the School of Pharmacy, University of London

Duncan Craig, head of pharmacy and chair in pharmaceutics, University of East Anglia School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy

Rob Darracott, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association

Jennifer de Val, president of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, and a junior hospital pharmacist

Stephen Griffin, director of personnel and development, County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust

Mayur Lakhani, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners

Chris Martin, an independent community pharmacy owner and pharmacist based in Wales

Peter Noyce, professional adviser to the PRLOG and professor of pharmacy practice, University of Manchester

Hemant Patel, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Fiona Price, a pharmacy technician based in Cardiff, Wales

Duncan Rudkin, chief executive and registrar of the General Dental Council

Michael Schofield, former lay member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council

James Semple, managing director of the TLC Pharmacy Group, based in Scotland

Rosie Varley, acting chairman of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence and chairman of the General Optical Council

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