The RPS Assembly is the primary governance body of RPS which is responsible for setting strategic direction, financial management and organisational governance. 

Commenting on the following discussion points at the Assembly’s July meeting, RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said:

RPS Faculty

“The RPS Faculty scheme launched in 2013 and was created to acknowledge pharmacists' advanced levels of practice.

“The scheme was the first time that RPS had looked at how we might enable pharmacists to demonstrate advancing levels of practice and as such, was an important building block in our organisational development as an independent leadership body following the changes to our remit in 2010. Those who developed Faculty and those who took part were real pioneers who laid the foundations for our Credentialing ambitions.

“Credentialing, which robustly defines and assures post-registration standards of patient-focused pharmacy practice, is rightly our focus now.

“As we journey towards royal college status, now is the time to stand down the RPS Faculty. Assembly was keen to recognise the achievements of all who took part, particularly those who achieved Faculty status, and requested that RPS consider how members in non-patient facing roles can demonstrate their achievements, attainments and impacts in the future.”

Science and Research

“I’d like to offer sincere good wishes to our Chief Scientist Professor Parastou Donyai as she steps down for health reasons. Many thanks also go to Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope for her fantastic support over an extended period with us as her time as Deputy Chief Scientist has also come to an end and she focusses on her substantive role elsewhere. We will soon commence recruitment of a new Chief Scientist. We will also appoint new members to our Science and Research Committee to increase capacity and broaden our range of expertise.”

AGM motions

“Three motions were presented to the AGM in June.

“The first urged RPS to safeguard the rights of its publishing arm in terms of intellectual property (IP), copyright and the use of Artificial intelligence.

“Pharmaceutical Press manages the IP of the Society’s publishing activities and works to strongly protect it. RPS has internal policies to support staff with activities involving AI to minimise risk and has published a policy on AI in pharmacy. Assembly agreed that those with queries on this subject beyond the content of the above should be signposted to the policy and onwards to other organisations who lead in the areas of IP, copyright and AI.

“The second motion requested RPS to develop specific guidance for members who have concerns raised against them or brought to their attention about the professional practice of others. RPS Support, our professional support service for members, already provides initial advice to members and signposts to appropriate services for more complex situations. Any member with a specific request for the development of guidance that they believe is not currently produced can raise this by completing the content request section on our website.

“The third motion focused on lack of remote access for members to the June 2024 national boards meeting which was an exceptional situation impacted by available technology at an offsite venue. The motion was lost at the AGM but the Assembly affirmed its full commitment to transparency and accessibility in Open Business of our governance meetings and will continue to improve efforts to ensure members are able to observe meetings virtually.”

UKPPLAB update

“We were grateful to Sir Hugh Taylor, Chair of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board, for an update on the Board’s recent activities, including the publication of its Vision and Common Purpose document. As the RPS representative on the UKPPLAB, I fully support these shared principles that underpin strong, sustainable professional leadership. Ongoing collaboration and open dialogue are essential as we work to advance the profession and demonstrate our collective value in improving patient care."

International work

“Since our renewed commitment as a member of FIP, I’m delighted that RPS has carried out a full programme of activities over the past year, visiting international conferences to learn and share information, and hosting visiting international pharmacy bodies to highlight the achievements and share learning from pharmacy in Great Britain. We are also very pleased to have become a member of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, building on our existing collaborations with them.”

Humanitarian aid

“Assembly requested that we update our 2023 statement on the humanitarian emergency in Gaza and continue our conversation with FIP about aligning our positions on access for healthcare workers and civilians to medical supplies. We will also continue to offer three years free membership to all pharmacists in Great Britain who have fled from war zones.”

Developing the new strategy for the new royal college

“Assembly received an update about the work of the constitution and governance programme team to develop the legal and financial frameworks required to enact the changes voted for by members and to deliver the transition including becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy.

“Assembly also approved proposals for a programme of engagement events and activities to ensure that RPS members and the wider pharmacy community are able to contribute to the development of the new strategy for the royal college.

“We will be setting up a series of online events in September and October and also an all-member survey, so that members can contribute and share their aspirations. The strategy will be based on the commitments we made earlier this year. We will also reveal some of the findings of this work our annual conference in November.”

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