1.

NAME

The name of the Group shall be "The Glasgow and West of Scotland Group", hereafter referred to as "The Group".

2.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Group shall be:

i.

To improve the economic and social well-being of the members, to enhance their status and to watch over, promote and protect their interests.

ii.

To promote by all possible means the contribution of hospital healthcare pharmacists to the development of pharmaceutical services.

iii.

To promote by all possible means the contribution of hospital healthcare pharmacists to patient care.

Explanation: A consequence of the rule change to change the name of the Guild. The phrase "hospital pharmacists" is now over restrictive.

iv.

To contribute to the development of pharmaceutical education both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

v.

To contribute to discussions on health care issues of the day.

vi.

To develop working relationships with other pharmaceutical organisations.

vii.

To promote the objectives of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF) and to undertake any activity authorised by Guild Council in pursuance of the interests of the membership.

3.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Group shall be open to all classes of member of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Section of MSF whose registered address and/or place of employment falls within the geographical boundaries of the Glasgow and the West of Scotland Group.

4.

CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

i)

Full Mmembers

Full members shall be pharmacists employed by a UK Health Authority, Health Board, NHS Trust, Family Health Services AuthorityPrimary Care Group/Trust, Local Healthcare Co-operative or similar institution; or pre-registration pharmaceutical studentspharmacy graduates undergoing a period of practical training in accordance with the regulations of the RPSGB or PSNI at a hospital, health centre, or similar institution.

Explanation: FHSAs have been abolished. PCGs/PCTs/LHCCs are added. The phrase "pharmaceutical students" has been replaced with "pharmacy graduates" which is more accurate and distinguishes this group from undergraduate students.

ii)

Retired membersMembers

Retired members shall be members aged 55 50 or over and with not less than five years consecutive full membership of the Guild Section who on retiring from active employmentpermanent NHS or equivalent employment wish to continue in membership as retired members.

Explanation: the word "active" is open to a number of interpretations, and is inconsistent with the change in the NHS Superannuation rules brought in in 1995 enabling members to opt for voluntary retirement from the age of 50. The replacement phrase also harmonises it with the MSF rule for retired members.

iii)

Affiliate/International Mmembers

Affiliate members shall be:

a.

Former former members who no longer hold a permanent appointment at a hospital or similar institution.

or

b.

Undergraduate pharmaceutical students in the UK.

International members shall be:

pharmacists employed in a hospital, health centre or similar institution outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

iv)

International Members

International members shall be pharmacists employed in a hospital, health centre or similar institution outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

v)

Student Members

Student members shall be undergraduate pharmaceutical students in the UK.

Explanation: The Rule Changes passed by the Annual General Meeting of the Guild in April 2000 split the existing rule into different classes of membership in order to set out their respective entitlements, benefits and subscription rates.

5.

Retired members may attend all meetings of the Group and shall have voting rights in such meetings, and in elections to the Council and postal ballots subject to Rule 30.

6.

Affiliate members may attend all meetings of the Group but shall not have voting rights in such meetings, elections to the Council or postal ballots.

iv)

Honorary Members

Honorary members shall be those persons so designated by Guild Council.

5.

MEMBERSHIP ENTITLEMENTS

i)

Full Members

Full members shall be entitled to hold office at all levels of the Guild. They may attend all meetings of the Group and shall have voting rights in such meetings, in elections to the Council and in postal ballots.

ii)

Retired Members, Affiliate Members and Student Members

Retired Members, Affiliate Members and Student Members shall not be entitled to hold any office above Guild Group level. They may attend all meetings of the Group, and shall have voting rights in such meetings and in postal ballots subject in both cases to rule 30, and in elections to the Council.

iii)

International Members

International Members shall not be entitled to hold any Guild or Group office. They may attend all meetings of the Group, but shall not have voting rights in such meetings, in elections to the Council or in postal ballots.

iv)

Honorary Members

Honorary Members shall not be entitled to hold any office above Guild Group level. They may attend all meetings of the Group, and shall have voting rights in such meetings, but shall not have voting rights in elections to the Council or in postal ballots.

International Members do not have entitlements explicitly set out in the current Rules. Such members are unlikely to be more than occasional visitors to GHP meetings, and therefore it is suggested that they should not be afforded voting rights.

6.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

i)

Full Members

Full members shall be eligible for the full range of Union and GHP benefits and representation.

ii)

Retired Members, Affiliate Members, Student Members, International Members and Honorary Members

Retired Members, Affiliate Members, Student Members International Members and Honorary Members shall not be eligible for Union benefits and representation.

Explanation: Corrects the omission that membership benefits are not provided for in the existing Rules. The above proposals are derived from MSF benefits to members.

23.

The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be held during the months of March or April each year or at such a date as the Committee may direct. The Group Secretary shall ensure that a notice, accompanied by a statement of the business to be transacted, reaches each Accredited Representative not less than 21 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Accredited Representatives shall ensure that each member receives copies of same not less than 14 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting, at which 10 6 members shall form a quorum.

Explanation: Three times in the last four years it has been necessary to reschedule an Annual General Meeting because the first meeting was inquorate.

The business to be transacted shall be as follows:

i)

Presentation of the annual reports of the Officers.

ii)

Presentation of annual report of the District Member.

iii)

Presentation of report on Group Delegates Meeting.

iv)

Election of Group Officers and/or Committee Members.

v)

Election of Auditors.

vi)

Declaration of results of Accredited Representative elections.

vii)

Presentation of audited accounts of the Group.

viii)

Discussion and voting upon motions submitted by the Committee.

ix)

Discussion and voting upon motions or business which may have been notified to the Group Secretary not less than 28 days before the date of the meeting.

29.

Postal ballots of the Group membership shall normally be carried out in the following manner:

i)

Written details of a ballot shall be received by the accredited representative / contact for each Trust / department not less than 30 days before the closing date of the ballot.

ii)

Ballot forms shall be issued to each member entitled to vote not less than 21 days before the closing date of the ballot.

30.

Only full members are entitled to vote in ballots relating to terms and conditions issues.

Explanation: There are differences in voting entitlement between the different classes of membership. These new rules allow the group to carry out postal ballots in accordance with national GHP procedures. Subsequent rules require to be renumbered.

3129.

There shall be no smoking at local meetings of the Group.

320.

No alteration of the Constitution or Rules shall be made except at a General Meeting, due notice of the proposed alteration having been given. Any such alteration shall be accepted if approved by a majority of members at the General Meeting. The alteration shall not become operative until three months after the date of the meeting at which the alteration was approved, subject to acceptance by Guild Council.

331.

The above rules shall be read in conjunction with the Rules and Constitution of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Section of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF).

These changes will bring the Group Rules and Constitution into line with the Rules and Constitution of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Section of MSF, as amended by the Annual General Meeting of the Guild, held in Brighton in April 2000.

1.3.01