Paul Stuart / The Pharmaceutical Journal
Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) English Pharmacy Board, has been appointed to the NHS Assembly as a representative of the pharmacy profession.
The NHS Assembly was set up in 2019 and advises the NHS England board — the senior decision-making structure for NHS England — on the delivery of the ‘NHS long-term plan‘, published in January 2019.
The NHS Assembly meets up to five times per year and includes 50 representatives from across health and social care.
It is chaired by Dame Clare Gerada, former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and Sir Chris Ham, emeritus professor of health policy and management at the University of Birmingham and former chief executive of The King’s Fund.
Oputu, who was elected as chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board in June 2023, will officially join the NHS Assembly at its next meeting on 11 September 2024.
Speaking of her appointment, Oputu said she was “honoured to join the NHS Assembly at such a key time for healthcare in England”.
“Pharmacists and pharmacy teams play a crucial role in the healthcare system, and I look forward to representing the pharmacy profession.
“This is a valuable opportunity for me to contribute to the discussions that will shape the delivery of the ‘NHS long-term plan’, ensuring the voices of pharmacy are heard and play an integral part in the plan’s delivery.”
Ravi Sharma, director for England at the RPS from November 2018 to October 2022, is a former member of the NHS Assembly, having been appointed in 2019 when the advisory group was first established.
