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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7478 p565
17 November 2007

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Letters

• Retention fees (3)
• Pack sizes
• Supervision (2)
• Safety (3)
• Locum pharmacy
• NHS and pricing (3)
• The Society (2)

Letters to the Editor

The Society

Stressful investigations (Mr C. B. Modi)

Emeritus status (Mr B. Rhodes)

Reply from Christine Gray, head of corporate governance at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Stressful investigations

From Mr C. B. Modi, MRPharmS

I write in regard to the letter from Graham Southall-Edwards (PJ, 20 October 2007, p440) who warns that it is only a matter of time before a pharmacist commits suicide due to lengthy stressful investigations over (often trivial) misconduct hearings by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Jeremy Holmes, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Society, replies that the Society’s main concern is public safety. If this is stressful he suggests contacting the Benevolent Fund, Listening Friends or the Pharmacists Health Support Programme and helpfully provides the Society’s website address.

This tells you all you need to know about the Society. I am surprised he forgot the Samaritans, the local vicar and the Salvation Army.

Chandravadam Modi
London

Emeritus status

From Mr B. Rhodes

On a dull afternoon in search of light entertainment I decided to study the alterations to the Byelaws that stretch to three whole pages in the official notices in The Journal of 13 October 2007 (pp418–20).

I was comforted to read that after many moons the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council has at last decided to make some progress in stemming the loss of some members from the profession by introducing “emeritus” status for qualifying members and fellows. It is a pity that more publicity was not given to this good news in the body of The Journal since it is just possible that some members may not study the official notices with the care they merit.

We have lost too many of our senior members of the profession and the proposal to keep some on the Register albeit in another form or even to attract some back is welcomed. However before making a decision to stay or return more information is necessary.

• Will emeritus members or fellows have to pay a fee and if so how much?

• Will they receive the PJ?

• Will they be entitled to attend the annual general meeting and branch representatives’ meetings and make a nuisance of themselves?

Good public relations means making the most of good news and I do not think we have, but before making a decision we need to know just how good the news is. This is not going to solve all our problems but it could be a significant step in the right direction. My dictionary defines “emeritus” as “honorably discharged” and some may prefer this to being cast out into the wilderness.

Bruce Rhodes
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

CHRISTINE GRAY, head of corporate governance at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, responds:

How the regulations for “emeritus” membership and fellowship will be implemented (including participation at annual general meetings) has yet to be confirmed in detail. We will be publishing more information about emeritus membership or fellowship before the regulations come into force, which we hope will be early in 2008.

Those people who are awarded emeritus membership or fellowship will not be required to pay a fee and will be eligible for a reduced rate subscription to the PJ if they so wish.

Just to clarify, emeritus members and fellows will not be on the Society’s Register since the award is specifically for those who have retired from the Register.

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