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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched an ‘Inclusion and Wellbeing Pledge’, and is inviting organisations, businesses, pharmacy teams and individuals to sign up from 9 June 2021.
In a statement, the RPS said signing the pledge will help to bring about “change in the workplace”, adding that the pledge is a public commitment to “be inclusive, celebrate diversity, create a culture of belonging and support pharmacy teams’ health and wellbeing”.
On an individual level, all members of the pharmacy team are invited to sign the pledge, including pharmacists, technicians and pharmacy support staff.
The pledge, which is part of the Society’s five-year ‘Inclusion and Diversity Strategy‘, published in June 2020 and covering 2020–2025, was developed with input from stakeholders across the profession, including employers, regulators, pharmacy schools and students.
The Society also invited input from a series of focus groups, as well as its own ‘Action in Belonging, Culture and Diversity‘ (ABCD) and ‘Workforce Wellbeing’ action groups.
Sandra Gidley, president of the RPS, said: “Together we can all create the change we want to see.”
“You can make a real difference by talking to your teams and managers and signing the pledge. I’m convinced that we can create a movement across pharmacy to increase a sense of belonging at work and ensure that everyone’s wellbeing is supported.”
The pledge was welcomed by the chief pharmaceutical officers (CPOs) of the three GB nations.
Keith Ridge, CPO for England, said he would “encourage pharmacists across all NHS services to join together and sign the pledge to demonstrate your personal commitment to workforce wellbeing and inclusive pharmacy practice”.
Alison Strath, interim CPO for Scotland, said that signing the pledge “demonstrates an ongoing commitment to create a positive culture at work which will help to ensure we continue to provide vital pharmaceutical care services to communities across Scotland”.
Andrew Evans, CPO for Wales, said: “[This pledge] is a welcome step to bring us together, creating a sense of belonging for the whole pharmacy profession. It is a timely reminder of the importance of embracing diversity, rooting out unfairness and discrimination, and developing a positive and supportive culture within the pharmacy profession.”
The pledge can be signed and downloaded at: https://www.rpharms.com/pledge
READ MORE: RPS and APTUK join NHS England to agree on inclusion and diversity principles for the sector
