Innovation, workforce development and enhancing care are the hot topics at this year’s RPS conference, which takes place next month in Birmingham.

This year’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society conference promises a line-up of world class speakers discussing the changes taking place within the pharmacy profession and how best to adapt for the future.

Taking place at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre from Sunday September 4 to Monday September 5, sessions are mapped to the RPS Faculty Framework and will explore key issues affecting community and hospital pharmacy, academia and education, as well as industry.

Day one sees RPS president Martin Astbury’s opening address, followed by Professor Zubin Austin, academic director at the Centre for Practice Excellence and the Murray B. Koffler Chair in pharmacy management, speaking on education and lifelong learning.

The day’s research lecture comes from Cris Ryan, chairwoman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Research Panel and senior lecturer at the RCSI School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Day two is opened by Rahul Singal, the first clinical fellow for pharmacy working with the chief pharmaceutical officer at NHS England, followed by the ministerial address from parliamentary under-secretary of state for community health and care, David Mowat.

This year’s Pharmacy Research UK annual lecture comes from Dr Debi Battacharya, senior lecturer in health services research and director of enterprise and engagement at the University of East Anglia School of Pharmacy.

After lunch, the plenary session is with the chief pharmaceutical officers for England, Scotland and Wales, and then Marc Donovan, chief pharmacist at Boots UK, and Professor Norman Lannigan, head of the Pharmacy and Prescribing Support Unit and lead pharmacist for acute services, will talk about the redesign of pharmacy services.

Conference streams

Four conference streams will run throughout the event on the topics of developing and enabling models of care; workforce development and education; ’Innovation: new medicines, better medicines, better use of medicines’; and enhancing patient care through research, covering a range of topics including 3D printing of medicines, new psychoactive substances and medicines optimisation.

The programme is also designed to give delegates the chance to hear from colleagues about best practice and innovative service delivery. For example, on the first day Anthony Sinclair and Parisa Mirbod will be speaking on implementing the Carter review. They will argue that the strong recommendations for reform of the NHS must not only occur in a top down manner, and that the challenge now facing pharmacists is to drive this change locally from a grass roots level.

At the same time, Graham Stretch will be discussing how pharmacists can successfully integrate themselves into primary care, and the benefits this can bring for patients and the pharmacy profession.

On day two, Paul Gimson will be highlighting the importance of quality improvement, focusing on supporting the changing role of pharmacists within primary care. He will discuss the new care model that is emerging in Wales, and the changing and growing role that pharmacists are playing in it.

In the afternoon, Mike Hannay will talk about the coming revolution in personalised medicines, outlining the impact they are set to have on the profession as a whole, and how best to be ready for them.

With over 500 delegates anticipated from across the profession, the conference aims to give attendees plenty of time for networking in the new and improved exhibition space, as well as the opportunity to update skills through practical workshops and access to more than 25 hours of CPD.

You can find out more about the programme and get tickets by clicking here.