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Pharmacy leaders from across the sector need to work together in order to have a stronger voice in the future of the healthcare system, Sir Hugh Taylor, chair of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB), has told Pharmacy Business. The establishment of this board in April 2024 was the principal recommendation of the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership's report, published in February 2023. The report outlined that there is "an urgent need for the pharmacy professions to work collaboratively to deliver on their potential and, together, address a wide range of professional issues". "There's always been a measure of collaboration. And indeed, as we've begun our work, we've begun to unearth more examples of it, which is encouraging. But I think the conclusion that the UK Commission drew was that the fragmented nature of the professional leadership in pharmacy required something more concerted and organised in the form of the board," said Sir Hugh. Setup by the four UK chief pharmaceutical officers, the UKPPLAB is an independent public body, with the aim to enable greater collaboration across the pharmacy professional leadership bodies (PLBs) and specialist professional groups (SPGs), which are its constituent members.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced the results of the 2024 elections for its three national Pharmacy Boards. For the English Pharmacy Board, the newly elected members include Claire Anderson, Martin Astbury, Steve Churton, Ciara Duffy, Sue Ladds, Mike Maguire, Tase Oputu and Ankish Patel. Matthew Prior has been elected for a period of one year to fill the casual vacancy on the Board. Seven candidates have been elected unopposed to the RPS Scottish Pharmacy Board. They include: Jonathan Burton, Lucy Dixon, Laura Fulton, Catriona Sinclair, Amina Slimani-Fersia, Richard Strang and Audrey Thompson. Only seven nominations were received for the eight substantive vacancies on the board. Helen Davies has been elected to the RPS Welsh Pharmacy Board to represent the Primary Care sector. Meanwhile, Rafia Jamil and Geraldine McCaffrey have been elected unopposed to fill the two vacancies in the Hospital sector.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a consultation to review the 'Professional standards for the reporting, learning, sharing, taking action and review of incidents error reporting' in collaboration with Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and Pharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland. The consultation is open from 21 April 2023 until 2 June 2023 and are due to be published in early 2024. All three professional leadership bodies are calling for contributions from anyone using the standards to ensure they are clear, current, relevant and fit for purpose. "The review affects all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, trainees and members of the pharmacy team working in all sectors across the UK," RPS said. "The standards may also be of interest to the public, people who use pharmacy and healthcare services, healthcare and professionals working with pharmacy teams.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can empower customers and pave the way for a sustainable healthcare future. By embracing OTC products, pharmacies can achieve greater freedom, stability, and enhanced profitability. In our exclusive interview with Anna Maxwell, founder and CEO of pioneering consumer healthcare company Maxwellia, we explore their game-changing pharmacy brands leading the way in self-care. Why pharmacies should embrace OTC medicines? There's never been a more critical time for pharmacies to lean into the OTC space. Right now, about 90 per cent of pharmacy income in the UK is tied to NHS funding-a model that's increasingly unsustainable.[1] We all value the NHS, but it simply can't afford to cover every treatment at the point of use indefinitely. If pharmacies could achieve even a modest shift in NHS reliance this would mean more freedom, stability, and profitability for the business. OTC medicines are the key to making that happen, offering a way to quickly provide, effective treatments that help customers while reducing the administrative and financial burdens on pharmacists.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has partnered with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and several national pharmacy leadership organisations from four different global regions to launch a humanitarian relief campaign called 'Medicines to Gaza'. Building on the success of the 'Medicines to Ukraine' campaign, which raised over £4.5 million in collaboration with European pharmacy organisations, the PDA is now extending its humanitarian efforts to support those in need in Gaza. Mark Koziol, PDA chair, said: "I am enormously proud that we have been able to persuade FIP and the national pharmacy leadership organisations from across four different regions of the world to join this important initiative and this is just the start. "This gives significant capacity for our profession to work together to bring humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza." The PDA's 'Medicines To' campaign was endorsed by FIP at its annual conference last year, where South Africa became the first country to officially sign up. Since then, 12 countries have pledged their participation. The campaign aims to provide pharmacy support during humanitarian crises worldwide.

In September, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), the professional leadership body for pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in Great Britain, announced its proposal to transition into a Royal College. This significant step, which came following an 18-month independent review of the RPS constitution and governance, aims to strengthen the RPS's leadership role, with the ultimate goal of delivering greater benefits to patients and the public. In an exclusive interview with Pharmacy Business, Tase Oputu, chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board, discusses the key reasons behind the proposed changes, the potential impact on pharmacists and patients, and her personal journey as the first Black Chair of the RPS Board. Benefits for pharmacists and patients When asked how this transition would benefit pharmacists and patients, Tase says, "I'm excited about RPS' proposals for change. In my view, becoming a Royal College would elevate the status of the profession and strengthen our ability to raise the profile of pharmacy, advocate for change and advance the safe and effective use of medicines for the benefit of patients and the public."

In a delightful announcement, the University of Brighton has honoured NHS England's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, David Webb with its prestigious Doctor of Science honorary degree Webb's award is a highlight of the university's graduation ceremony which celebrated the graduation of over 3,400 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 92 countries at the Brighton Centre this week. The accolade recognises Webb's transformative work in the pharmacy services within the NHS, highlighting the profound impact his contributions have had on delivery of healthcare across the UK. Under Webb's leadership, significant advancements have been made in integrating pharmacy into NHS care pathways, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the healthcare system. Webb expressed his honour stating, "I am delighted to receive the honorary award of Doctor of Science from the University of Brighton in recognition of both my contribution to pharmacy in the NHS"

David Thomas, owner of LT Chemists in Newport, will replace Raj Aggarwal OBE as the next National Pharmacy Association (NPA) board member for Wales, following an uncontested election this month. Following the conclusion of a nomination process last week, Baldev Bange, Aisling O'Brien, Sehar Shahid, and Sanjay Ganvir have been re-elected to the Board, representing areas of England and Scotland. Ashley Cohen, Sanjeev Panesar, Sukhi Basra, Salim Jetha, Olivier Picard, and Nick Kaye continue their terms without needing to stand for election this time. They still have another two years to run on their terms as board members. Two board positions remain open. The nomination process is ongoing in Northern Ireland, while in England, five NPA members are contesting the remaining seat, which is open to any member with up to five pharmacies. Hustings for the remaining board position in England will take place shortly and a ballot for this position will take place later this month, according to a statement from NPA.

Hobbs, who joined the company in 2019, navigated it through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully oversaw the acquisition and integration of Lexon in 2023. He will retire from the company at the end of September 2024. "After five years with the company, I am retiring at the end of September to spend time with my wife who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year," Hobbs said. "I wish to extend my personal thanks to our owners, the Bestway Group, for their kindness and understanding of our situation. "It has been a privilege to lead the Well Pharmacy, now Bestway Healthcare organisation. The business is resilient for today and fit to prosper in the long term. When I leave it will be with gratitude and admiration for the 7,500+ people in Bestway Healthcare who are committed to improving the lives of our patients and customers, thank you all."

Bas Vorsteveld, former Haleon's vice-president and general manager for Great Britain and Ireland (GBI), has been appointed as Kenvue's new area managing director for Northern Europe. In his new role, he will oversee the company's operations across the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, managing a portfolio of iconic brands, including Nicorette, Aveeno, Johnson's Baby, Listerine, Neutrogena, Calpol, OGX, and Imodium. Vorsteveld has over 30 years of experience in consumer goods and healthcare. At Haleon, he played a pivotal role in driving its GBI business following its separation from GSK, delivering significant growth and earning notable recognition, including Best Company at the UK Pharmacy Awards 2024. He announced his departure from Haleon in October 2024, after "a journey of nearly 19 amazing years." Until recently, Vorsteveld was president of the board of the PAGB, spearheading the organisation's five-year strategy focused on advancing self-care to help alleviate healthcare pressures.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has emerged as a key player in international humanitarian efforts, delivering millions of pounds worth of medical aid to disaster-hit regions. This marks a significant evolution for the PDA, which has embraced a leadership role in global relief initiatives. The PDA, a member of the Employed Pharmacists of Europe (EPhEU), responded to an urgent appeal from its Ukrainian members following the extensive damage to Ukraine's healthcare infrastructure during the military invasion. As the elected Secretary General of EPhEU, PDA Chairman Mark Koziol orchestrated a campaign encouraging public donations through 'Medicines to Ukraine' posters displayed in pharmacies across Europe. The campaign successfully raised over £4.5 million, which was used to procure and deliver essential medicines directly to Ukrainian Ministry of Health pharmacists.

Major health, care and research bodies, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Office for National Statistics, should establish a national health data service in England to improve patient care and research - an NHS-commissioned review has recommended. Professor Cathie Sudlow's independent review of the UK health data landscape concluded that "complex and inefficient" data systems prevent and delay crucial analysis of health conditions affecting millions of people across the UK. The review - 'Uniting the UK's health data: a huge opportunity for society', published on 8 November 2024 - stressed the need for coordinated action across multiple organisations and stakeholders to ensure the greatest benefits for patients and the public from health-relevant data. They identified several barriers to using health data for public benefit and set our five recommendations for overcoming these barriers and transforming the national health data ecosystem. These include the establishment of a national health data service for England, embedded within existing organisational structures but with accountable senior leadership and a ring-fenced budget. Professor Sudlow said: "We are simply not maximising the benefits to society from the rich abundance of health data in the UK.

The Professional Records Standards Body (PRSB), which develops information standards for health and social care records, has appointed Professor Reecha Sofat as the new Chair. She will assume the role at the end of October 2024, succeeding Professor Maureen Baker CBE, who will step down after seven years as Chair of the PRSB. A Clinical Pharmacologist, Professor Sofat has held many leadership roles across the NHS, academia and scientific societies. Professor Sofat is Breckenridge Chair of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool. She practices general internal medicine and is also an Associate Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Data Science Centre (DSC) which is led by Health Data Research UK (HDRUK). With a passion for data science and extensive clinical and research insights, Professor Sofat is focused on embedding research into routine health and social care. She said: "I am passionate about using the rich health data that is already collected across NHS and social care to better understand the causes and consequences of disease and improve health outcomes.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has officially announced that Sebastian James, the Managing Director of Boots, will be stepping down from his role to pursue a new opportunity in the healthcare sector. James has given notice to leave the company and will remain with Boots until November. The UK pharmacy giant has already begun the search for a new Managing Director. James is set to take on the role of CEO at Veonet, a leading European chain of ophthalmology clinics. During his tenure as Managing Director since 2018, James played a pivotal role in transforming Boots into the UK's leading health and beauty retailer. He oversaw significant growth and innovation, achieving thirteen consecutive quarters of retail market share growth. Most recently, the company announced strong Q3 results in June with growth across all categories.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has appointed Anthony Harnden, a professor of primary care at the University of Oxford, as its new Chair. Professor Harnden brings decades of experience to the role. He has served the NHS for 40 years, including 33 years as a general practitioner in Wheatley, Oxfordshire. Until the end of December 2024, he will also continue as a registrant council member of the General Medical Council and chair of the Remuneration Committee. He previously served as deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), where he played a key role in ensuring public trust and patient safety during the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Professor Harnden succeeds Stephen Lightfoot, who served as MHRA chair from September 2020 until stepping down in 2023. On his appointment, Professor Harnden said: "It is a great honour and privilege to be appointed by ministers to be the next MHRA chair. I am looking forward to making a contribution to the future successes of the organisation.

Professor Anthony Harnden has officially commenced his role as chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). During his first 100 days, Professor Harnden plans to engage extensively with MHRA staff and partner organisations to gain a strong understanding of "how to drive forward the strategic direction of the MHRA to maintain the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences, in the best interests of patients and the public." The new MHRA chair has highlighted three primary areas of focus: Protect patient safety through robust safety surveillance systems Embrace risk-proportionate regulation Foster an inclusive workplace where people flourish. With a 40-year career in the NHS, including 33 years as a general practitioner in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, Professor Harnden brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is a professor of primary care at the University of Oxford. Until December 2024, he was also a registrant council member of the General Medical Council and chair of the Remuneration Committee.