Voting form (DNY59/iStockphoto)
The election process for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s national pharmacy boards begins this week with publication of a call for candidates. This article, prepared by Society staff, explains why these elections are important and answers some questions about the process
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s national pharmacy board elections announced this week start in December (2009) and mark an important new era for pharmacy. National boards for England, Scotland and Wales will form the backbone of the new professional body so there will be no Council election in 2010.
The boards were formed in 2007 to recognise that health policy is different in each country and the extended role and power of the national boards in 2010 reflects this changing picture. Candidates are sought to stand for the Boards and nominations close on 23 November 2009
English Pharmacy Board election 2010
Scottish Pharmacy Board election 2010
Welsh Pharmacy Board election 2010
National pharmacy boards election procedures
Attendance records of retiring national board members
The Society’s Chief Executive and Registrar, Jeremy Holmes, says: “These elections are particularly significant as the national boards will be crucial to ensuring that the support and decisions of the professional leadership body are what the profession wants.
“All the elected places for each pharmacy board are vacant in this first election, so this really is your chance to shape your profession. I’d like to encourage those who are passionate and enthusiastic about creating our new body to stand. Just as importantly, we would like a strong voter turnout so that the elected candidates represent our diverse membership.”
Voting can be done by post or online from 12 December 2009 to 22 January 2010.
Board members will be directly elected with some seats allocated by sector of practice. Each board has a different composition in line with devolution and the needs of each country. England and Wales have 11 places each and the Scottish Board has 12 places (see Panel).
Boards compositionThe English Pharmacy Board has 11 places:
Three places are for pharmacists from any sector. The Scottish Pharmacy Board has 12 places:
Four places are for pharmacists from any sector. The Welsh Pharmacy Board has 11 places:
Three places are for pharmacists from any sector |
Since the separation of the Society is scheduled for 1 April 2010, Parliamentary timetable permitting, the elections are taking place earlier than before to allow time for the induction of new board members.
Although there will be no Council, there will be an Assembly. It will meet less often than the boards and will maintain overall strategic direction on Great Britain issues as well as maintaining responsibility for the overall financial and governance aspects of the organisation.
The Assembly will be made up of members from the English, Scottish and Welsh pharmacy boards plus a pharmaceutical scientist, an academic and a lay member to provide an external perspective.
More information on how to stand can be found at the Society's website by clicking “Board elections”.
Questions and answersWhy should I stand as a candidate?
The creation of the new professional body for pharmacists is a once-in-a-lifetime event. We need enthusiastic and passionate people to help create this organisation and to ensure pharmacists get the leadership body they want to support their professional lives. Why should I vote?
To ensure that the decisions made about the professional leadership body are right. Can I only vote for pharmacists in my sector of practice?
No — you can vote for your preferred candidate in each sector and for a number of unreserved places. How can I vote?
By post and online. Owing to the number of sectoral places, we cannot have telephone voting for this election. Details of how to vote online will be provided in the ballot papers being sent to members and at www.rpsgb.org by clicking on “Board elections”. How can I find out about the candidates?
We will be running online hustings for candidates to answer questions. These will also be done in the “Board elections” part of the Society website. Why does the number of places on each board vary?The election scheme makes provisions for the membership of the national pharmacy boards in 2010 only and takes into account there no longer being a Council in the new professional body.
For example, the English Pharmacy Board had 14 members but since three of these were from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council this number goes down to 11 because there will be no Council from April 2010. This number is only for the 2010 elections and will be changed in future. Can pharmacists who are registered with the Society who live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or overseas vote in these elections?No — these elections have to be held under the current Charter and regulations so, unfortunately, members who live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or overseas will not be able to vote in these elections. However, the new Charter makes provision for members who live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or overseas to vote in the board elections held by the Society in the future. |
There mention of a locum on Page 17 of the prospectus,but
This is my own view as not as a member of council.
I would prefer a Professional body to represent me as a pharmacist and thus would have wanted a Professional body for Pharmacists. I agree with multidisciplinary training and events, and I enjoy working as a team with support staff and other professions. But a professional body has to focus on one profession which is united by training, education and responsibility. I am therefore confused as to why there is mention of non-pharmacists joining the professional body and yet a huge group of workers has been missed out, that of Locum Pharmacists. They are mentioned in the prospectus on page 17 in all of the board structures, yet there is now no reserved place for them in the coming elections. I am cautious about too many sectorial places as this might not be in our interests and I also welcome members standing to work across sectors as this experience of the day job is very important to the future for all of us.