The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7501 p575
10 May 2008

Society summary

Welsh Pharmacy Board takes steps to ensure a cohesive response to NHS structure consultation

The Welsh Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has decided to establish a task and finish group to draft a response to a consultation on the NHS structure in Wales. The group, which will be led by the chairman, will arrange an event to bring together all pharmacy organisations in Wales to ensure a cohesive approach to responses from the pharmacy profession and to draft a response from the board.

The board made its decision at it sixth formal meeting on 15 April 2008 after discussing how it would respond to the proposals announced by health minister Edwina Hart for major changes to the NHS structure in Wales. These proposals are currently the subject of a three-month consultation.

As part of the discussion, Barry Harrison, chairman of Flintshire Local Health Board, informed the meeting of the LHBs’ perspective. He confirmed that the LHB chief executives had discussed the document and had given the proposals a cautious welcome.

Preregistration students The board was advised that following the success of both the pharmacy student event and the three regional awareness events hosted last year, three events for preregistration students would be held to coincide with regional awareness events currently being planned for 2008. The board considers that such events are vital in promoting its work and in ensuring two-way communication with current and future members around the role of the new professional body.

Veterinary pharmacy The board has committed to working with the Society’s Veterinary Pharmacists Group to improve pharmacist’s access to information and training. The work is being taken forward with the practice and quality improvement directorate at Lambeth.

Rural health The board discussed its input into the Welsh Assembly Government’s rural health review. Following discussions between the director for Wales and Assembly officials, the board has been given the opportunity to feed into the review. Two papers are currently being prepared. An “issues log” had been distributed to the board and was discussed. Comments were being sought from pharmacists across Wales who work in rural areas and this log had been taken to the North Wales meeting of Community Pharmacy Wales for input. It will also be discussed at the trust chief pharmacists’ next meeting.

White Paper for pharmacy in England The board received an update on the White Paper, “Pharmacy in England — building on strengths, delivering the future”. Although the board recognised it was an English White Paper, it realised that there could be knock-on effects for Wales and that some cross border or GB issues might arise. A summary was being produced by the policy department at Lambeth.

It was also noted that the Welsh Assembly Government had published its Implementation Plan for the One Wales manifesto. It was confirmed that the plan would be analysed by the staff and actions proposed as necessary.