Over recent years I have been a critical friend of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). I have repeatedly questioned its lack of ambition, some of its decisions that were seemingly designed to undermine its own credibility, and its lack of engagement with members. I have rather tiresomely advocated for it to fulfil its commitments made to members at the time of its establishment and transform into a formally constituted royal college.
Such calls have until now been met with ambivalent responses questioning the value, complexity and cost of such a journey, while concurrently seeking to reassure members that the RPS is already the effective de facto royal college for the profession.
Clearly, these sentiments did not ‘cut it’ with members, as the leadership watched the continued exodus of those who questioned the relevance of the RPS in supporting them in the advancement of their professional careers, or its advocacy to raise awareness and recognition of the profession and its public value.
This unfortunate hesitancy of professional leadership has seen the RPS come under pressure from its own disillusioned members, the growth of new and more relevant organisations in the pharmacy ecosystem, and the understandable concerns of key stakeholders and decision makers who have questioned its reducing membership, and therefore the credibility of its representation. Even former presidents — one in particular — have joined the call for seminal change.
We now have the monumental announcement on 12 September 2024 that the RPS has agreed to take the necessary steps to seek charitable status and officially formalise as the new Royal College of Pharmacy.
This is certainly the most significant decision it has taken since its establishment in 2010 and arguably since it was originally founded in 1841. It is a decision of courage and a sign of the confidence it has in itself and the profession, and one which deserves the fullest support from its members and others. It is absolutely the right decision, not just for the future of the RPS, but more importantly for every patient we serve, every pharmacist and every member of the wider pharmacy family.
What this means for pharmacy and those working in the profession will be the subject of much conversation and iteration over the coming months, before a special resolution vote by members in early 2025. It is vital that members, prospective members, specialist professional groups and other stakeholders are provided with ample opportunity to question, shape and understand the benefits and consequences of this far-reaching proposal. It is only through collaborative engagement that everyone will be able to have their views listened to and valued, and that our new Royal College of Pharmacy will be co-created with a clear prospectus and with the structures, expertise and capacity to deliver on its commitments.
Make no mistake, we are on the cusp of a profound and historic change in our professional leadership that will see pharmacy at last take its rightful place to stand firmly and proudly alongside other health and medical royal colleges. Bringing with it parity of esteem and a greater recognition of the value of our clinical expertise and our contribution to the health of the nation.
So — credit where it’s due — well done to the RPS, our prospective Royal College of Pharmacy. It has listened and stepped forward with a sound proposal.
It will continue to listen and learn, and it now deserves our enthusiastic support in shaping and delivering this exciting future for the leadership of our profession.
Steve Churton FRPharmS, former president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, writing in a personal capacity
