Royal Pharmaceutical Society
On 16–17 July 2024, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Assembly held its summer meeting at its London headquarters.
During the meeting, Brendon Jiang, Assembly member and vice-chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board (EPB), was elected as treasurer of the Society by Assembly members.
Speaking at the meeting after the result was announced, Jiang said he was “honoured” and thanked Assembly members for their confidence in him, saying he would do his best to continue the work of previous treasurers. He also thanked Eleri Schiavone, fellow Assembly member who also sits on the RPS Welsh Pharmacy Board, for running for the position. It was “great that we had two candidates”, he said.
Claire Anderson was also confirmed as president of the RPS, marking her second year in office.
The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board
The Assembly received an update from Sir Hugh Taylor, chair of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (PPLAB). He explained that the idea of the board was to provide “scaffolding to support closer collaboration between leadership bodies in the pharmacy area”. He confirmed that the board had already held two meetings in April and July 2024, with a third to follow in September.
In a statement published after the Assembly meeting, Anderson said: “The collaborative ethos of the UKPPLAB is inspiring, working closely together we are focusing on strengthening clinical practice, supporting pharmacists and technicians to reach their potential and driving up standards of care to benefit patients and the public.”
Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, told the Assembly that the ongoing ‘RPS constitution and governance review‘, conducted by independent organisation Firetail, had so far provided a range of views and options for what the future might look like.
“[Work is currently] focusing on what good governance might look like in a reconstituted organisational structure,” Bennett said, describing it as a “detailed and nuanced” matter. He said he looking forward to engaging with wider membership.
International strategy
Laura Wilson, director for RPS Scotland, updated the Assembly on the Society’s international strategy. She noted that the RPS was a founding member of International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), meaning that the Society’s international presence “is significant and prolonged”, something she said members place great importance on.
Wilson added that strategic goals of the international strategy include connection and collaboration; learning and development; promotion of the safe and effective use of medicines; and inclusion and diversity. She said the Society will also look at producing a webpage over the next year to link members with RPS member organisations and to showcase its international work.
Pharmacist Support
Danielle Hunt, chief executive of the charity Pharmacist Support; James Davies, director for RPS England; and Neal Patel, associate director for pharmacy and membership experience at the RPS, gave an update on the Society’s partnership with the charity.
Patel told Assembly that the strengthened partnership included work towards increased awareness of each other’s organisation; identifying opportunities for fundraising for Pharmacist Support; development of specific wellbeing projects and provisions; and enhanced understanding of the work and support of both organisations within the sector.
- The next Assembly meeting will be held on 19-20 November 2024
