RPS

If your GPhC registration is due for renewal by October 31 you need to revalidate now, says Sandra Gidley, chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board

By Richard Thomas, editor, Pharmacy Magazine The consultation on clarifying the legal obligations of responsible pharmacists and superintendent pharmacists, which closed earlier this month, prompted some predictable caterwauling and finger pointing on social media. Whether the work of the rebalancing board is a stalking horse for remote supervision or a genuine attempt to come up with a regulatory and legislative framework to underpin modern pharmacy practice remains to be seen.

The RPS has written to NHS England to put forward some key considerations for the primary care network initiative, and to argue that pharmacy “will be vital in delivering a sustainable NHS for the future”

A heated debate is raging concerning the consultation by the Government’s rebalancing board on proposed changes to the legislation that deals with responsible pharmacists and superintendent pharmacists

The RPS wants all pharmacists in direct patient care roles to have access to independent prescriber training

The Government is “missing an opportunity” by not relaxing rules around e-cigarettes, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has said, while the RPS maintains more evidence is needed

Mr Sharma said he looks forward to working with RPS members and other pharmacy organisations “to help ensure a successful and vibrant future for the profession”

An NHS England-funded report suggests pharmacists should be an integral part of general practice and calls for new training initiatives for this new career path

The RPS commented on the risks of any failure to secure a Brexit deal that ensured the "effective movement" of pharmaceutical products between the UK and the EU

Amid dramatic cabinet resignations, long-standing health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been promoted to foreign secretary and replaced by West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England has reaffirmed its opposition to the community pharmacy funding cuts

The RPS welcomed the promise of additional funding but said some of this money must be used to help pharmacy support "the best use of medicines"

By Richard Thomas, editor, Pharmacy Magazine. This month saw the publication of two major reports, polar opposites in terms of scope and purpose, yet each with potentially significant implications for the sector. The National Audit Office investigation into last year’s unprecedented hike in generics prices runs to 28 pages and contains a wealth of detail and market analysis – but little in the way of meaningful explanation.

A new document says people “will only go to a general hospital when it is essential,” with community-based services to “create even better care locally” 

Higher wholesaler margins and a fall in the value of sterling are among the factors cited as potentially contributing to the dramatic price hikes seen last year

The RPS in England wants pharmacists to be integrated into services providing care for people with mental health problems

Board member Sultan ‘Sid’ Dajani has ‘broken rank’ to attack what he describes as the Society’s ‘weakness’ in addressing community pharmacy funding cuts

Lord Carter’s review of NHS productivity says pharmacy services are underused in community and mental health

Sandra Gidley has an optimistic outlook for pharmacy despite mounting challenges for both the RPS and profession as a whole

The successful candidates have been announced in this year's RPS English and Welsh Pharmacy Board elections