District Member Wales It was noted there was still no District Member for Wales. This matter was being pursued.
Presidents Report There was some discussion about the increase in RPSGB retention fee and the situation in Darlington with pharmacy services being contracted out to the private sector. A plan of action was decided.
Agenda for Change As Amicus NHS National Conference had decided that there should be no recommendation on the ballot, it will not be possible for GHP to issue any recommendation. However, it is proposed to produce a press statement which will detail the benefits and problems GHP sees with AfC as it applies to pharmacists.
Professional Agenda With the ever increasing professional agenda facing the GHP, it has been recognised that it will be impossible to address every item. There was a discussion on a new method of dealing with the workload which followed on from a presentation given at the last meeting of Council. It has been agreed that a single workplan will replace the workplans of the individual committees. This will be placed on the members pages of the GHP website and updated constantly. Any work coming into Council will be considered first by the GHP Executive Committee who will decide by what route it would be best to deal with it. If it does not meet certain criteria, it will not be taken any further. Work which passes the criteria will either be dealt with by Council alone or in conjunction with one or more relevant partner organisations.
Partner Organisations At the moment, the open Council meeting is attended by representatives of the RPSGB Hospital Pharmacists Group, the Primary Care Pharmacists Association and the Primary Care and Community Pharmacist Network. It was agreed to invite the Association of Pharmacy Technicians and UK Clinical Pharmacy Association to send representatives.
Practice Committee Unlicensed Medicines: Comments received since the last meeting have been incorporated and an Executive Summary is in preparation. The next stage is to send the completed document to the MHRA for comment on the legal statements contained within it. Subsequent to their approval, a booklet will be prepared and issued.
Education and Development There was some discussion on competency frameworks and the fact that at least five different groups are producing them. It was acknowledged that this could be a problem, but that only ones which link to the Knowledge and Skills Framework will be used in the managed service. A discussion document entitled "A career framework for the NHS" was shown to Council. The DoH Consultant Pharmacist Project is continuing. A Wider Reference Group has been established to meet twice and make decisions on whether to have target numbers, the definition of the role, competency framework, appointment panels and a comparison of the organisation, training and appointment of other healthcare professional groups.
A discussion document entitled "A career framework for the NHS" was shown to Council.
The DoH Consultant Pharmacist Project is continuing. A Wider Reference Group has been established to meet twice and make decisions on whether to have target numbers, the definition of the role, competency framework, appointment panels and a comparison of the organisation, training and appointment of other healthcare professional groups.
ANC 2005: Glasgow Moat House Hotel, April 15-17 2005 The programme is being firmed up and it is planned to finalise the publicity material shortly. Areas planned to be covered include unlicensed medicines and pharmacists' responsibilities, various ethical topics, supplementary and independent prescribing, infection updates and various leadership topics.
PDIG Symposium 2004 It was reported that the date for this symposium had been changed from 10th to 3rd November at the Hilton Hotel, Coventry.
FIP 2004 Sue Carter represented GHP at this meeting and reported back on it.
Forthcoming meetings Council closed with discussion on topics to be raised at forthcoming meetings with Jim Smith, Rosie Winterton and the RPSGB.
Colin Rodden 23.9.04