Chief pharmacist for England answers questions on professional leadership commission

Chief pharmacist for England and a co-chair on the professional leadership commission has responded to the questions raised by Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) members on professional leadership.

In early September, the PDA wrote to the UK’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officers to increase transparency and confidence in the process by asking for clarification of some of the commission’s thinking, assumptions, and scope.

On behalf of all four CPhOs, chief pharmacist for England, David Webb, provided his feedback, saying: “The Commission has two independent co-chairs and members have agreed to abide by the seven principles for the conduct of public life as recommended by the Nolan Commission which forms part of the Terms of Reference.

"Commission members have been appointed on behalf of all pharmacy professionals to contribute their expertise in and knowledge of professional leadership and are not appointed to represent their particular countries, organisations, sectors or roles.

“The CPhOs act as advisors to the Commission and the final report will be authored by the co-chairs in consultation with Commission members. A Call for Evidence survey analysis and report writing is being conducted by an independent external organisation.

He said the survey was not intended to focus on any specific professional leadership body but that were were many such bodies that relate to pharmacy professionals across the UK.

“The work is being funded by the Offices of the four UK chief pharmaceutical officers.”

Later, the commission also shared a response on PDA’s members question on what was meant by “pharmacy professionals”? What prompted the formation of the commission and what expertise do individual members of the commission have?

Their response stated:

• “The Commission was set up by the CPhOs with the broad aim to support and strengthen pharmacy professional leadership to enable excellence in patient care. There are significant changes occurring – and which will continue to evolve – which impact on the pharmacist and pharmacy technician professions and we need to ensure that they are well equipped with a voice to help shape the future, and enabled to develop through determining best practice, sharing and learning from it.  Strong, effective and well-respected professional leadership, which represents the clinical voice of pharmacy professionals, is required to guide, support and enable these transformational changes so they benefit patients and professionals. The final recommendations of the Report of the Commission are a matter for the Co-Chairs.”
• “It is an independent Commission, co-chaired by independent non pharmacy professionals, with significant expertise and experience in professional regulation and leadership.”
•  “The Commission members have been invited to participate based on their knowledge and expertise in professional leadership in its various guises.”
• “All pharmacy professional leadership bodies are included – the RPS, APTUK and PSNI; to this should be added all those groupings who represent pharmacists in particular areas of practice, such as the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, and the UKCPA, for example.”
•  “Pharmacy professionals are registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.”

However, the response came in too late to be shared, just a few hours before the midnight deadline for submissions.

Details of the full range of questions asked by PDA members and the rationale can be found here.