BOPA to establish a faculty of oncology pharmacy
Preliminary steps have been taken by the British Oncology Pharmacy Association
to set up a faculty of oncology pharmacy with the College of Pharmacy
Practice. Of the 120 BOPA members who took part in the association’s
annual general meeting, held at its annual symposium (PDF,
50K) in Glasgow last week, 116 voted in favour of taking forward oncology
pharmacy
accreditation
in this way.
Geoff Saunders, BOPA chairman, told The Journal that the faculty would
provide access to comprehensive, accredited continuing professional development
for pharmacists working in the field of oncology, and set education,
training and accreditation standards.
“
By forming a faculty of oncology pharmacy within the College of Pharmacy
Practice BOPA is providing its members with a route to formal recognition
of the knowledge and skills required for pharmacists to become specialists
in the field of oncology pharmacy. Ensuring competence for specialist
practitioners will safeguard patient safety,” he said.
Steve Tomlin, membership secretary of the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists
Group, told the symposium about the NPPG’s experience of working
with the CPP in setting up the Faculty of Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacy
in 2002. He said that it is important for the profession to understand
where it wants to head with regards to learning and accreditation. “The
only body that has set up any system at the moment around accreditation
is the College of Pharmacy Practice,” he told participants.
Mr Saunders elaborated: “The faculty will consist of associates,
members and fellows within the CPP structure and will be open to members
of BOPA. UK as well as other European and foreign pharmacists, and pharmacy
technicians will therefore be eligible to become faculty members.”
The faculty is expected to be launched early in 2008.
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