The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7502 p588
17 May 2008

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Benevolent Fund seeks ideas for services

The Benevolent Fund, the independent welfare charity for present and past members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and their dependants, is seeking ideas from pharmacists across the UK to develop its services.

The Benevolent Fund recently carried out an online survey, attracting responses from more than 1,100 pharmacists, which will be used to help shape the organisation’s future.

“A number of the participants stressed there is a real need for support across the profession, from general advice and support to counselling, [and] debt and legal services. As an organisation we believe there is a voice out there which needs to be heard to enable us to adapt our services to the changing needs of the 21st century pharmacist,” said David Qualter, Benevolent Fund manager.

The fund provides assistance at every stage of a professional pharmacist’s life and in response to a range of problems, including illness, stress, bereavement and unemployment.

The focus for the future will be about offering an interactive and proactive service and the fund’s trustees wish it to be seen as the starting point for help, not the last resort.

Three focus groups are to be held in Cardiff, London and Glasgow in May and June 2008.

Further details can be obtained by e-mailing information@rpsgb.org