WES MOUNTAIN / THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL
Nominations for elections to the future Royal College of Pharmacy’s national pharmacy advisory councils will open on 5 January 2025, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced.
“The elections offer an exciting and unique opportunity to shape the new organisation – particularly pharmacy policy and practice — in each nation and across Great Britain,” a statement from the RPS said.
Each national pharmacy advisory council in England, Wales and Scotland — previously known as national pharmacy boards — will be responsible for developing pharmacy policy and practice in their nation, supporting professional development activity in their nation, engaging with members and representing the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Elected council members can also apply to be elected to positions on the Senate and the Board of Trustees.
Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, commented: “We’ve made the nomination criteria for these elections more accessible and inclusive and would particularly like to see nominations from under-represented groups, people of all abilities and those from diverse communities.
“We want to ensure the future royal college is led with full understanding of the range of perspectives and experiences that reflect the diversity of our profession and the communities we serve. We want every elected member to feel they belong and can fully contribute.
“I strongly encourage you to consider standing in these crucial, inaugural elections to play an important part of the journey to becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy — you can help shape the future of pharmacy.”
Claire Anderson, president of the RPS, said: “These inaugural elections are a significant milestone on our journey to becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy. It’s an exciting and unique opportunity for members from across pharmacy to put themselves forward and play a key role in shaping the new organisation and, particularly, pharmacy policy and practice in each nation and across Great Britain.
“I urge everyone with a passion for pharmacy to consider standing and put themselves forward to play an important role in establishing the first chapter of the new royal college and into the future.”
To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be a member (MRPharmS) or fellow (FRPharmS) of the RPS, as well as a current registrant of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Candidates must still be a full RPS member at 17:00 on 29 January 2026.
Candidates are able to apply for one council and will need two nominators: a proposer and a seconder, who must both themselves be RPS members.
Nominations will close at 17:00 on 2 February 2026.
Full details of the 2026 elections can be found on the RPS website.
