Proposed changes to the
RULES AND CONSTITUTION
OF THE
GLASGOW AND WEST OF SCOTLAND GROUP
OF THE GUILD OF HEALTHCARE PHARMACISTS

The document below details the proposed changes to the Rules and Constitution of Glasgow and West of Scotland Group of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists. Deleted text is shown like this while the replacement text is shown like this. Unchanged text appears like this.


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 Members
Full members shall be pharmacists employed by a UK Health Authority, Health Board, NHS Trust, Family Health Services Authority, Primary Care Group/Trust, Local Healthcare Co-operative or similar institution; or pre-registration pharmaceutical students pharmacy 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 Members

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 permanent 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 Members
Affiliate members shall be former members who no longer hold a permanent appointment at a hospital or similar institution.
  1. Former members who no longer hold a permanent appointment at a hospital or similar institution.

    2. or

  2. 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.

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.
Explanation: Brings together in a single Rule the membership entitlements of the various classes of membership set out in Rule 4, and harmonises these with MSF Rules.
Full Members have not hitherto had membership entitlements defined in Rules.
Entitlements for Affiliate Members have been aligned with those of Retired Members.
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.

No changes are proposed to any of the subsequent Rules. Therefore numbering will remain the same for the rest of the document.

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.

Colin Rodden
1.5.00
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