Leading pharmacy bodies and associations are looking forward to working with 'reappointed' Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, on
'future roles' and 'funding' for the community pharmacy.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) England Country Board Chair, Thorrun Govind, hopes that the ministers will now be able to focus on addressing the key
challenges facing the health service and the country.
"This means not just getting through the winter, but planning for and investing in the future."
She added: "It will be crucial to use the skills of all our health professions to support the NHS recovery, reduce health inequalities, manage the growing cost
of long-term conditions, and deliver best value from medicines.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland the BMA's Scottish GP Committee has called for improvements to the pharmacotherapy service.
The joint statement released by the organisations on Friday (13 January), has recognised that much progress has been made but states that further improvements are
needed to fully maximise the benefits of the service.
It highlighted the need for better use of skill mix, including more clearly defining roles and responsibilities; improved IT enablers to reduce administrative burden;
and further developing a tandem model of working comprising hubs with in-practice activity
The two organisations state that inadequate funding and workforce shortages are a real threat to the pharmacotherapy service.
They have urge Scottish Government to reconsider its recent decision to reduce funding for training pharmacy technicians.
Clare Morrison, RPS Director for Scotland, said: "In the statement, we stress that the use of pharmacists' clinical skills must be maximised.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed Laura Wilson as Director for Scotland commencing 23rd January 2023.
Laura, is currently Policy and Practice Lead for RPS in Scotland. She is accountable for bringing national RPS policy to life for members in Scotland, while
contributing to the GB wide professional leadership agenda.
She will work closely with the Scottish Pharmacy Board, senior NHS officials and other key stakeholders across the breadth of the pharmacy profession and beyond
to ensure pharmacy is on the forefront of healthcare in Scotland.
She joins the existing team of RPS Country Directors, which includes Elen Jones, Director for Wales and James Davies, Director for England and will report directly
to the Chief Executive.
Laura Wilson said: "I am delighted to be appointed Director for Scotland having worked as part of the RPS Scotland team as the policy and practice lead. It will
be an honour to continue the fantastic work started by former Director Clare Morrison to bring Pharmacy 2030, our vision for pharmacy in Scotland in the future,
to life and supporting pharmacy teams to deliver person centred care.
Women in the UK will be able to purchase Gina 10 mg vaginal tablets without prescription from September from their local pharmacies, announced the Medicines
and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) product, Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets (containing estradiol) are used for the treatment of vaginal symptoms such as
dryness, soreness, itching, burning and uncomfortable sex caused by oestrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women aged 50 years and above who have not had a period
for at least one year.
The decision to reclassify these vaginal tablets follows a safety review by the MHRA, independent advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), and a public
consultation.
The UK regulator sought views from patients, pharmacists, prescribers and a wide range of stakeholders including the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,
the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, the British Pharmacopoeia Commission and the British Menopause Society.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has appointed Robbie Turner as chief transformation officer, to work closely with LPCs as part of its
newly launched Transforming Pharmacy Representation (TAPR) programme.
PSNC launched the TAPR Programme in response to the contractor vote in favour of the Review Steering Group's proposals. As part of the programme - alongside
actioning the recommendations for PSNC - there will be support for LPCs to implement their proposals.
Williams will be responsible for leading, driving, and having oversight of the TAPR workstream to increase efficiency and outcomes across the network of LPCs in
England.
This will include the provision of specialist hands-on guidance and support to LPC members and officers, to promote implementation of the RSG proposals, best
practice and challenging the status quo.
Williams was formerly chief officer of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire LPC and subsequently Director for England and Director of Pharmacy and Member Experience
at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is seeking views of pharmacists to help shape the future of pharmacy practice in England over the next decade.
The RPS's project with The King's Fund, transforming pharmacy practice, aims to develop a vision for the role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams working across
systems, providing patient care and NHS services. It's due to be published at the end of the year.
"From 15 August to 30 September we are asking people to respond to our consultation on six key themes," the RPS said.
"We'll also be holding face-to-face and virtual events in September to hear your views."
The King's Fund has completed a literature review which has helped inform the initial six themes which will be the focus of the consultation, all of which can be
downloaded and read before responding.
A member of the English Pharmacy Board and RPS Assembly, Sharon Isobel Tait Buckle (also known as Sibby) has been elected unopposed as the treasurer of the
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
Sibby takes over the role from Andre Yeung, whose tenure ended in June 2022.
Sibby was first elected to the English board in 2012 and is the first woman to hold the post since RPS became the professional leadership body in 2010. She is
already part of the Finance and Investment Committee, where RPS budgets, pensions, assets, financial priorities and performance, reserves and investment policies
are scrutinised and agreed.
Commenting on her new role, Buckle said: "I want to build on the great contribution made by our previous Treasurer. Over the next two years of my tenure I will
monitor and challenge our financial performance, our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance factors (ESG), investment strategy and performance and our
financial governance.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has confirmed it will respond to UK Commission's 'call for evidence' on pharmacy professional leadership.
The commission wants to ensure the professions are well equipped, with a voice to help shape the future, and enabled to develop through sharing and learning from
best practice.
The UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership has been set up by the chief pharmaceutical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will
produce recommendations for the future of pharmacy professional leadership in the UK.
The commission is co-chaired by Nigel Clarke, former chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council, and Professor Dame Jane Dacre, professor of medical education at
University College London's Medical School.
The commission will be hosting a webinar and has urged the associations and individuals to take part in 'call for evidence' which has been launched to inform and
develop its work.
A webinar in England will take place on Wednesday 7 September 6:30 - 8 pm. In Scotland it will be organised on Tuesday 6 September 7-8:30 pm and in Wales it will be
hosted on Thursday 8 September 7-8:30 pm.
National pharmacy bodies have called on the government and NHS leaders to take appropriate action to keep pharmacy teams safe from violence and abuse.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) - in collaboration with the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp), the Company Chemists'
Association (CCA), the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) - is supporting an important petition started by Mike Hewitson,
a community pharmacy contractor, who has been threatened with stabbing and robbed in his own pharmacy.
The PSNC and the other national pharmacy bodies strongly believe that no healthcare professional should have to deal with this, that and pharmacists and their teams
should be better protected.
It said: "Community pharmacies play an integral role in the delivery of primary care and most patients are highly appreciative of the hard work of local pharmacists
and pharmacy teams from dispensing medicines and administering vaccines to providing medical advice and health monitoring services.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales that outlines a plan focusing on what can be achieved by end of 2025.
The society has urged people to share their views by responding to the consultation on four key themes which were already set out in Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier
Wales -enhancing patient experience; developing the pharmacy workforce; seamless pharmaceutical care; and harnessing innovation and technology.
"We want to hear from as many of you as possible. It is important that the aims for pharmacy over the next three years are right. So please take a look at the draft
2025 goals, the proposed activity and measures and complete our consultation response form by 11 September," said RPS.
"We have been proud to continue to manage this important ambition for Wales, working on behalf of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee and with colleagues from all
over Wales. Over 300 of you have already contributed to our face to face and virtual engagement sessions we held over the past three months and we thank you for your
valuable input.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called pharmacy employers and pharmacy trade unions to come together to a round table meeting to agree on principles
for a way forward that ensures patients benefit consistently from access to high quality, adequately staffed, safe pharmacy services.
It has also urged the governments, NHS organisations and individual pharmacy teams to define clear prioritisation plans, which can be embedded in organisational
business continuity plans which set out the pharmacy services that are essential and must always be provided and can be de-prioritised at specific levels of
pressures.
The challenges for pharmacies are compounded by the escalating cost of living crisis. With unprecedented levels of burnout among pharmacists, pharmacy closures
and the potential for strike action, RPS has called for three things- 'professionalism, respect and prioritisation.'
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, the nation's figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully
at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96.
"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," the new king, her eldest son Charles,
said.
"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world," the 73-year-old said in a
statement.
The news has stunned and deeply saddened community pharmacy in Britain.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) issued a statement to say it "has been very saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
"At this time of national mourning, we join the rest of the country in sending our thoughts and condolences to the royal family."
In partnership with Oxford University Press, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched the 'RPS Pharmacy and Pharmacology' reports.
RPS Pharmacy and Pharmacology Reports is a new, fully open access journal and the sister journal to Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology.
The journal is edited by Professor Dennis Douroumis, professor in Pharmaceutical Technology and Process Engineering at the University of Greenwich.
RPS said: "The journal aims to create a truly interdisciplinary forum for members of the pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, and microbiology
communities alike to come together to develop life-changing medicines of the future. The journal prioritises scientifically sound results from pharmacy and
pharmacology researchers across the world."
The journal operates a rapid review and publication process to ensure impactful research is disseminated as quickly as possible.
All RPS members are eligible to receive a 20 per cent discount on the article processing charge.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed James Davies as Director of England.
Davies will be joining RPS in January 2023 to drive professional leadership for the pharmacy profession in England, working with and for RPS members.
He'll lead on national policy development, professional advocacy and member engagement across England, in partnership with the English Pharmacy Board.
Davies said: "It's a privilege to take up this position within the RPS, the professional home of pharmacy. I have been a member of the RPS throughout my pharmacy
career, and that has helped me to continually drive excellence in pharmacy practice. I'm excited about delivering the current RPS strategy to ensure that pharmacy
is, and continues to be, at the forefront of healthcare. I'm eager to work as part of the team and with the Board, leading and developing opportunities for the
profession that improve the lives of patients and the public.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)'s new research (YouGov poll) revealed that one in five of UK adults (19%) keep their medicines in the bathroom.
The research revealed, "Almost one in two (45%) of UK adult keep their medicines in the kitchen, which could also cause problems.
RPS Chief Scientist Professor Parastou Donyai said: "It's important to store your medicines in the right place as this could affect how they work.
"Medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place and are particularly affected by heat and moisture. Keeping your medicines in the same place as where you have
baths and showers could make your medicines less effective or spoil them.
"Instead keep your medicines in another room, for example your bedroom or if you keep them in the kitchen, make sure this is in a kitchen cabinet, away from sources
of heat such as the hob, oven or windowsill. If you have small children or pets in the home, always make sure your medicines are kept in a lockable storage box
somewhere out of their reach and sight."
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Director for Scotland Clare Morrison participated in the panel discussion alongside representatives from other health
professional organisations on tackling the workforce crisis at the SNP conference in Aberdeen on 8 October.
At the conference, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care committed to achieving protected learning time for health professionals. Morrison welcomed the
Cabinet Secretary's statement as fantastic news for pharmacists across Scotland.
"RPS Scotland will follow up the discussion by writing to the Cabinet Secretary to request a meeting to discuss achieving protected learning time, the forthcoming
results of our workforce wellbeing survey, and positive examples of how pharmacy teams have improved the well-being of their teams," said the society.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the charity Marie Curie have developed a consultation on 'professional standards for palliative and end of life care
for community pharmacy'.
The consultation will be open for four weeks for community pharmacists, organisations with a role in community pharmacy or palliative/end of life care, or patients
or carers with first-hand experience of palliative and end of life care to share their views until 1st December 2022.
Through this consultation, Society aims to that ensure the standards are clear, relevant, current, and fit for purpose from the perspective of the community pharmacy
team, the wider health team and patients/carers.
"The final standards will be published in 2023 and will help community pharmacies across the UK to self-assess and continuously improve their palliative, end of
life and bereavement care," said RPS.
Pharmacy bodies and MPs discussed on support needed to unlock the "full potential" of community pharmacy at the All Pharmacy Party Group (APPG)'s general
meeting held in Westminster on Tuesday (01 November).
The attendees of the meeting were Janet Morrison OBE, Chief Executive of Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee; Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of The
Company Chemists' Association; Thorrun Govind, Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society; Sanjeev Panesar, National Pharmacy Association Board Member, and Pharmacist
Superintendent and Owner of the Pan Pharmacy Group; and Sandeep Dhami, Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies member and superintendent at MW Phillips Chemist
At the session, 18 parliamentarians were briefed on the myriad of ways pharmacies contribute to the health of the nation.
The panel of experts also highlighted that pharmacists are 'running out of fuel' with the growing challenges such as flat funding, workforce shortages and the
cost-of-living crisis impacting pharmacies' ability to deliver vital services.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacist Support hosted a roundtable on the impact of pharmacy workforce wellbeing on patient safety on Wednesday
(17 May).
It also released its annual Workforce Wellbeing Survey which showed continued pressures on pharmacy teams.
The discussion explored the actions needed to support staff so they can continue providing safe and effective patient care and included representatives from the NHS,
professional bodies, employers, trade unions, education and regulators.
A report of the roundtable will be published in the summer.
Amandeep Doll, RPS Head of Professional Belonging, said: "We know that pharmacy teams go above and beyond for their patients, but are also under enormous pressure.
"Now more than ever, we need to strive to make the pharmacy profession more inclusive and ensure that everyone's wellbeing is supported.
"It is vital that we do all we can to encourage people into pharmacy and to support them so they can enhance their skills, develop their careers, and continue to
deliver high-quality patient care.
"This discussion was a welcome step and showed that making a difference for staff wellbeing requires a concerted effort from stakeholders across the whole of pharmacy.
The voter turnout for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) England this year has dropped to 7.3 per cent.
Out of a total 18,333 eligible voter only 1,336 voter elected Danny Bartlett to the vacancy on the English Pharmacy Board.
This year, four nominations were received for one substantive place on the English Pharmacy Board.
One nomination was received for a single vacancy on the Welsh Pharmacy Board. Richard Evans has been elected unopposed to the vacancy on the Welsh Pharmacy Board.
There were no vacancies this year on the Scottish Pharmacy Board. Therefore, no election was required for the Welsh Pharmacy Board nor the Scottish Pharmacy Board.
Sarwat (Sorbi) Khattak has been elected for a period of one year to fill the casual vacancy.
