Society Has Integral Role On New Nice NHS Evidence Advisory Committee

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 18 Nov 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain will sit on a new independent standing advisory committee for NHS Evidence. The establishment of the NHS Evidence Advisory Committee was announced today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

David Pruce, the Society's Director of Policy and Communications is one of 28 voting members on the committee, responsible for reviewing information on sources of evidence for use by the NHS and other external communities. NICE intends that this process will help to ensure NHS staff have access to authoritative clinical and non-clinical evidence and best practice and information about high quality care for patients. The committee will achieve this by setting a framework for accrediting providers of evidence so that they are recognised as being trusted sources of information for the NHS and advising on which individual pieces of information, such as guidance documents, should be identified as the standard for best practice in the NHS.

David Pruce said: "Pharmacy's inclusion on the NHS Evidence Advisory Committee is further evidence of the profession's recognition as a key stakeholder in the NHS. It is essential that evidence-base within the NHS is of a high, consistent standard. It will be our role, as committee members, to ensure that this is achieved."

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB)

The RPSGB is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. It also regulates pharmacy technicians on a voluntary basis, which is expected to become statutory under anticipated legislation. The primary objectives of the RPSGB are to lead, regulate, develop and represent the profession of pharmacy.

The RPSGB leads and supports the development of the profession within the context of the public benefit. This includes the advancement of science, practice, education and knowledge in pharmacy. In addition, it promotes the profession's policies and views to a range of external stakeholders in a number of different forums.

Following the publication in 2007 of the Government White Paper Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, the RPSGB is working towards the demerger of its regulatory and professional roles. This will see the establishment of a new General Pharmaceutical Council and a new professional body for pharmacy in 2010.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain