The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7486 p82
26 January 2008

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Letters to the Editor

Welsh Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education (WCPPE)

Questions about the procedure behind director’s appointment

From Mrs S. M. E. Cockbill, FRPharmS

I am writing to support wholeheartedly the points raised by Colin Ranshaw (PJ, 8 December 2007, p655). I, too, was amazed to learn of technician Lesley Morgan’s appointment to the position of director of the Welsh Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education. I need to emphasise that this is not personal; I have known Ms Morgan for several years and have nothing against her.

There are, however, several questions surrounding her appointment which need to be asked. To ensure pharmaceutical credibility among our peers and the other healthcare professions we need a pharmacist at the helm when issues relating to postgraduate pharmaceutical education are being discussed and courses planned.

This is simply not a post that should be given to a technician. It is inconceivable that doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, nurses, etc, would appoint anyone of equivalent status to that of a pharmacy technician to lead their professional postgraduate activities. It simply would not happen.

Why was the appointment not advertised in The Pharmaceutical Journal and other relevant publications that would enable pharmacists with an interest in the area to consider applying for this senior pharmaceutical post in Wales? We are led to believe that the position was advertised on the relevant website for appointments within Cardiff University but that it was not considered necessary to advertise it anywhere else. Why?

I and several of my pharmacist colleagues failed to find the advertisement when we searched this source so, when, for how long and where did it appear? We know that a Groupwise e-mail message was circulated to a few select people within the Welsh School of Pharmacy. How were these individuals chosen and by whom?

We have become accustomed to openness and transparency and regard for the Nolan principles relating to the seven principles of public life being the norm when making appointments of this nature. It is regrettable that these principles would appear to have been overlooked on this occasion.

If at all possible, I urge those responsible for making this strange decision, to give those pharmacists in Wales who are unhappy with the way in which this whole procedure has been undertaken, an explanation and the reassurance that everything was, indeed, open and above board.

Otherwise, it would seem that for pharmacists practising in Wales, the unthinkable has happened at a time when the profession needs all the stability and credibility it can muster to engage with other professions to take forward the many Government initiatives currently before us.

I would urge my colleagues and the local branches in Wales to put pen to paper to encourage our Welsh Pharmacy Board to ask questions about the procedure behind this appointment.

We need, also, to lobby relevant personnel at the Welsh Assembly who are, ultimately, responsible for the funding of the director’s post, and to demand satisfactory answers and reassurance that, despite all appearances to the contrary, the best possible applicant was appointed.

Sarah Cockbill
Chepstow, Monmouthshire

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