Professional matters

News and views from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society 

Professional matters (16 February 2013)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2013;290:181-187

Professional matters (19 January 2013)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2013;290:51-66

Professional matters (22/29 December 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:703-714

Professional matters (17 November 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:557-572

Professional matters (20 October 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:425-440

Professional matters (22/29 September 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:325-340

Professional matters (18/25 August 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:185-200

Professional matters (21 July 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:85-100

National Pharmacy Board updates (7 July 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;289:23-26

Professional matters (23 June 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;288:741-756

Professional matters (21 April 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;288:479-490

Professional matters (17 March 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;288:341-356

Professional matters (18 February 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;288:205-220

Professional matters (21 January 2012)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2012;288:69-84

Professional matters (26 November/3 December 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;287:637-652

Professional matters (22-29 October 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;287:493-508

Professional matters (24 September 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;287:349-364

Professional matters (20/27 August 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;287:211-226

Professional matters (23/30 July 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;287:117-132

Professional matters (25 June 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:745-760

Professional matters (28 May 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:621-638

Professional matters (23/30 April 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:493-508

Professional matters (PDF 1.6 MB)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:365-380 (26 March 2011)

Millions hear RPS no-smoking message
Millions of people tuned in to hear pharmacists campaign for people to quit on No Smoking Day on 9 March 2011
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:365 (26 March 2011)

More quality time spent with members
A visit to Portsmouth earlier in March 2011 provided Helen Gordon (RPS CEO) with further insight into different aspects of the crucially important work being carried out by Royal Pharmaceutical Society members engaged in community pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:366-367 (26 March 2011)

At the heart of things
A message from the Society’s President
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:367 (26 March 2011)

How we are listening to members
Update on the work of the Society in England
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:368 (26 March 2011)

Hospital career paths need reviewing
Focus on issues affecting members in Scotland
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:369 (26 March 2011)

A day in the life of the Cardiff office
Latest views from the Society in Wales
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:370 (26 March 2011)

MP health checks, lobbying and more
Reports from the corridors of power
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:371 (26 March 2011)

Keep the date free! You will want to attend the 2011 RPS conference in London
The next RPS conference will take place in London on 11 and 12 September 2011. Here, the conference chairman Mary Tully provides a taster of what you can expect
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:372-373 (26 March 2011)

Looking for information? How to get the best from the RPS e-library
Martha Krumbach, the Society’s librarian, explains
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:374-375 (26 March 2011)

Tranexamic acid reference guide
Tranexamic acid 500mg tablets have become available over the counter as a pharmacy medicine for the relief of heavy menstrual bleeding
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:376 (26 March 2011)

Pharmacy will be a major force when we interact with each other effectively
Ten fast-track local practice forums met at the RPS headquarters
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:377 (26 March 2011)

Doors open for students and trainees
Benedict Lam, editor of Tomorrow’s Pharmacist, highlights changes affecting students and preregistration trainees
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:378 (26 March 2011)

Keeping pharmacy on the agenda
A round-up of the Society’s recent action for members
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:379-380 (26 March 2011)

Professional matters (26 February 2011)
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:229-244

RPS Support launches guidance on monitoring BP and hypertension
The latest guidance from RPS Support covers blood pressure monitoring. In this article Ruth Wakeman, head of professional support at the Society, explains why the guidance was needed and what it offers practising pharmacists
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:101 (29 January 2011)

Pharmacists can help people take their prescribed medicines more safely
Pharmacists should be a much more integral part of a clearly defined process of prescribing, dispensing and supporting medicines taking, to ensure that the risks of harm to patients from medicines are reduced. Paul Gimson, the Society’s director for Wales, discusses some of the issues raised at a recent symposium
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:102-103 (29 January 2011)

Access new mental health toolkit online
RPS Support recently launched a mental health toolkit for pharmacists and those who plan or commission pharmacy services. Ruth Wakeman, head of professional support, describes the toolkit and highlights an associated mental health webinar 
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:103 (29 January 2011)

Reasons to renew your membership
By now you should have received your renewal notice, reminding you that your fees for 2011 are due by 1 March 2011. Many of you will be asking yourself why you should renew for another year of membership. Victoria Bytel, the Society’s head of membership, has some answers 
Pharmaceutical Journal 2011;286:104 (29 January 2011)

Need money for your research? Send in applications to PTECO from January 2011
Trustees of the Pharmaceutical Trust for Education and Charitable Objects (PTECO) are finalising arrangements to make their first call for applications for funding to build the evidence base in pharmacy in January 2011
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:617-618 (27 November 2010)

What’s this? We can help identify foreign medicines
With more and more people travelling to other countries, be it for business or pleasure, encountering foreign drugs is becoming a part of many pharmacists’ day-to-day practice
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:618 (27 November 2010)

Working in partnership with UKMi
Partnership working between the UK Medicines Information (UKMi) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society support team has widened the range of practice support resources available to members
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:618 (27 November 2010)

RPS stands up for evidence in science by supporting libel reform campaign
Mark Wehrly, Royal Pharmaceutical Society science and policy lead, reports from a joint reception to help ensure the scientific community and pharmacists have a strong voice in public debate
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:619 (27 November 2010)

How will the White Paper affect you? Get to grips with the latest policy work
What is on the cards for pharmacy in England? Heidi Wright, Royal Pharmaceutical Society English practice and policy lead, keeps readers abreast of healthcare policies and consultations
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:620 (27 November 2010)

Public has poor lung cancer knowledge but would like advice from pharmacists
Melissa Dear, Royal Pharmaceutical Society senior communications officer, reveals results of a survey on the public’s knowledge of key symptoms of lung cancer and explains why the Society has been championing the role community pharmacists can play in early detection of the disease
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:621 (27 November 2010)

Hospital’s greatest prizes yet to come
In 2010 John Farrell retired from his post as district pharmacist for the Royal Free hospital, the Whittington Hospital and University College London Hospital. Kate Towers went to find out about his career and, as he leaves pharmacy, how he thinks the profession will evolve
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:622 (27 November 2010)

RPS takes on hospital pharmacy agenda
During November 2010 Royal Pharmaceutical Society Chief Executive Helen Gordon has been out and about, meeting clinical pharmacists at the Royal Free Hospital, the Whittington and University College London Hospital, including recently retired district pharmacist John Farrell
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:623 (27 November 2010)

Step-by-step guide to help you take advantage of members-only benefits
James Taylor, RPS marketing manager, describes the wealth of online resources available to Society members and explains how they can be accessed
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:623-624 (27 November 2010)

Supporting you in your professional practice
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s support team has been busy in October 2010 responding to member queries and producing practical guidance and support tools to support members in their practice. Ruth Wakeman, RPS head of professional support, provides a flavour of what has been going on
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:473 (23/30 October 2010) 

Next national pharmacy board elections in 2012
Royal Pharmaceutical Society national pharmacy board elections will next be held in 2012 and not 2011, as was envisaged when the Society’s functions were expected to separate in April 2010, the RPS Assembly decided at its meeting on 7 October 2010
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:474 (23/30 October 2010)

Reference guide for lung cancer awareness month
November 2010 is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. As part of this the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is working with a cohort of members to explore the effect of a lung cancer awareness campaign and the role of community pharmacy in raising awareness and early detection of lung cancer
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:474-476 (23/30 October 2010)

CPD — important information
Pharmacists are now required to use their General Pharmaceutical Council registration numbers to log into the continuing professional development website
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:474 (23/30 October 2010)

First official Assembly meeting
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Assembly met officially for the first time on 7 October 2010
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:474 (23/30 October 2010)

Answering your membership queries
Since 27 September 2010, a new membership team has been responsible for dealing with queries from members, In this article Victoria Bytel, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s membership manager, answers members’ top five queries
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:477 (23/30 October 2010)

Expert advisory panel creates a roadmap for pharmaceutical science
The RPS Expert Advisory Panel for Pharmaceutical Science consists of 19 panel members, chosen from nearly 50 applicants representing all sectors of pharmacy, whose expertise cuts across the pharmaceutical sciences. Mark Wehrly, RPS science and research project manager, describes its benefits
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:478 (23/30 October 2010)

New RPS will continue to be part of Qualified Person eligibility assessment
Qualified Persons are essential for the safe control of medicines. In this article,  Nigel Hodges, Catherine Duggan and Rachel Norton clarify the situation for QPs following the establishment of the new Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which remains part of the joint professional bodies’ scheme that assesses QP eligibilty
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:479 (23/30 October 2010)

Your five-minute guide to the proposed new RPS membership categories
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Assembly recently decided the ballot dates for new membership categories. In this article, the President, Martin Astbury, provides a quick guide to what is going on
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:480 (23/30 October 2010)

Delivering on its promise is the new Pharmaceutical Society’s top priority
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:337 (25 September 2010)

Liberating the NHS — Let’s have no decision about me without me!
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Pharmacy Board wants to engage in a dialogue with members about how pharmacy might develop in future, in the light of developments presaged in the White Paper “Liberating the NHS”. Heidi Wright, RPS English policy lead, sets the scene
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:338-340 (25 September 2010)

A bold and challenging vision that will unleash pharmacy’s full potential
This article, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, presents a new vision for pharmacy that is intended to put pharmacists at the heart of healthcare and take the profession forward into the 21st century
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:340-341 (25 September 2010)

“Engage with us and let us know what you think,” says Chief Executive
As the Royal Pharmaceutical Society takes its first steps into the new world of professional leadership, Nicola Cree talks to Helen Gordon about what the RPS will now do for pharmacists and pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:342 (25 September 2010)

What the new RPS can do for you
Ruth Wakeman, head of professional support at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, introduces herself and outlines the services that members can expect from the new professional body
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:343 (25 September 2010)

How an RPS campaign has encouraged MPs to support pharmacy issues
Charles Willis, head of public affairs at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, looks back at a successful English Pharmacy Board campaign aimed at politicians and invites members to get involved in future
Pharmaceutical Journal 2010;285:344 (25 September 2010)