Quality Candidates For National Boards Sought - Royal Pharmaceutical Society Of Great Britain

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 26 Oct 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Pharmacists who are passionate about the future of their profession are being urged to step forward for the National Pharmacy Board elections which start in December. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is asking interested candidates to ensure their nominations are in by the 23 November closing date.

National Boards for England, Scotland and Wales will form the backbone of the new professional body, and for the first time since the 1840's there will be no Council next year. The Council will relinquish its role at the time of the Society's de-merger, planned for April 2010.

The increased role of the Boards recognises that health policy is different in each country and those elected will play a major role in making national decisions for the RPSGB. Board members will be elected with some seats allocated by sector of practice. Each Board will have a different composition in line with devolution and the needs of each country. England and Wales will each have 11 places and there will be 12 places on the Scottish Board.

Society Chief Executive and Registrar Jeremy Holmes says; "It really is an exciting time for the profession and I would like to encourage members who are committed to creating our new body to stand up and be counted at these elections. The role of the National Pharmacy Boards is particularly significant as they will be crucial to ensuring that the support and decisions of the professional leadership body are right for our members.

"All the elected places are vacant in this first election, so this really is your chance to shape your profession and make a difference. Equally, I would like to urge all members of the Society in Great Britain to vote so that the elected candidates represent our diverse membership."

Voting can be done by post or online from 12 December to 22 January 2010. The elections are being held earlier than in previous years to allow the new Board members time to be inducted before the Society's scheduled separation on April 1 next year.

Although there will not be a Council election next year, there will be an Assembly. It will meet less often than the boards and will look after overall strategic direction as well as maintaining responsibility for the financial and governance aspects of the organisation. The Assembly will be made up of members from the English, Scottish and Welsh Pharmacy Boards plus a pharmaceutical scientist, an academic and a lay member to provide an external perspective.

More information on how to stand for the election can be found at http://www.rpsgb.org by clicking 'Board Elections' on the right hand side. The same site will carry online hustings of candidates after nominations close.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain