The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed Neville Carter as its new chief education and membership officer.
Neville joins RPS from the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) where he is currently director of engagement, leading a team of over 60 and responsible for creating a
combined directorate accountable for education, membership, philanthropy, and business development.
He has, in particular, led on the development of a digital education strategy and launched professional development training programmes for members.
Prior to joining the RSM, Neville worked as director of product and sales at the British Medical Association with responsibility for membership growth, supporting
corporate transformation and developing and managing member benefits and relationships with third-party providers to support revenue growth. He also has senior
manager experience at the RAC and at British Airways.
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Bennett, RPS CEO, said: "I'm delighted that Neville will be joining our Executive team. He brings a wealth of relevant experience
and this, in combination with a strong existing education and membership team at RPS and a clear ambition to strengthen the relevant functions further, will enable
the organisation to deliver a dynamic offering for our members.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has stated that the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership lacks the essential transparency, efficiency, and
diligence needed for success, urging a shift in its approach.
The Commission's operational approach hinders its ability to meet the expectations of both the profession and the public, while prioritising government interests
over their needs and preferences, RPS Chief Executive Paul Bennett (R) and President Claire Anderson have jointly said.
In a blog post on September 7, the RPS leaders asserted that the Commission lacks transparency and is progressing slowly in implementing proposals that were published
seven months ago. "Most pharmacy leaders are growing frustrated and increasingly impatient with the Commission's perceived lack of "meaningful progress" in enhancing
leadership within the field," the pair noted.
In June 2022, the four UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers (CPhOs) formed an independent Commission with leadership expertise drawn from various domains, both within
and outside of pharmacy, to assess the future of professional leadership. The Pharmacy Minister Neil O'Brien recently revealed that the Commission's costs, funded
by the offices of the CPhOs, amounted to £87,745.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacist Support have announced a formal agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration to better support RPS
members and increase the impact of the charity.
This partnership comes after years of working closely together, and formalising it will allow both organisations to reach a wider audience and focus on supporting
the wellbeing of pharmacy professionals.
The aim of the partnership is to establish a visible link between the professional body and the independent charity to increase awareness about the two
organisations for greater focus on the support within the sector.
Along with this, the key objectives also include identifying fundraising opportunities for Pharmacist Support, and collaborating on specific wellbeing projects.