Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Continuing royal legacy: RPS appoints King Charles as new patron

Continuing royal legacy: RPS appoints King Charles as new patron

King Charles's patronage signals a new era of support for the RPS's mission to advance healthcare and patient-well being 

In a recent announcement, King Charles has agreed to become a patron of the society at Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) following the footsteps of the late Queen.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the news, marking the first anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen.


This prestigious appointment comes after a meticulous evaluation of over 1000 Patronages, previously held by The late Queen, The former Prince of Wales, and The former Duchess of Cornwall.

The decision underscores His Majesty's commitment to supporting organisations dedicated to advancing healthcare and patient well-being.

The RPS has a rich history of association with the Royal Family, notably with The late Queen, who served as patron from 1953 until her passing in 2022.

Additionally, her father, George VI, held the position of Patron from 1937 to 1952.

Now, with His Majesty The King as the new Patron, this tradition of royal patronage continues to flourish.

Expressing immense pride and gratitude, Professor Claire Anderson, President of RPS, remarked, "We are hugely proud that His Majesty The King has chosen to be our patron, following in the footsteps of The late Queen and her father, George VI."

"We are grateful to the Royal Family for their ongoing support."

Echoing this sentiment, RPS Chief Executive Paul Bennett stated, "It is an honour to have His Majesty The King as our new Royal Patron."

"We look forward to continuing our work to highlight the vital contribution pharmacy teams make to patient care across Great Britain with the patronage of His Majesty."

With His Majesty The King's patronage, the RPS is poised to embark on new initiatives and endeavors, further cementing its position as a leading advocate for pharmacy professionals and the patients they serve.

More For You

Pharmacist handing medicine to patient, NHS prescription cost freeze debate

Prescription charge will remain at £9.90

Pic credit: iStock

NPA calls for end to prescription charge after freeze announcement

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has asked for prescription charges to be completely removed despite the government announcing today that the charge will be frozen for the first time in three years.

Patients will continue paying £9.90 to collect their medication from a pharmacy.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS launches new prescribing development programme for pharmacists

From 2026, every newly qualified pharmacist will be an independent prescriber

gettyimages

RPS unveils new training programme to enhance pharmacists’ prescribing skills

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced the launch of a comprehensive new prescribing development programme to support pharmacists across all stages of their prescribing careers.

The initiative comes ahead of the NHS mandate that every newly qualified pharmacist will be an independent prescriber by 2026 — a change set to transform the future of pharmacy practice.

Keep ReadingShow less
Varenicline promotes nicotine vaping cessation in young people

Researchers warn that e-cigarette use can increase risk for nicotine addiction,uptake of combusted tobacco and other substance use.

gettyimages

Anti-smoking pill varenicline may help young people quit vaping, new study suggests

Varenicline — a daily pill already offered through NHS Stop Smoking Services — could also support young people in quitting vaping, new research has suggested.

The medication, proven to be more effective than nicotine replacement gums or patches for smoking cessation, was shown to significantly boost vaping abstinence when combined with behavioural counselling in adolescents and young adults.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relying on blue inhalers alone can worsen asthma symptoms, warns MHRA

Patients are advised to use their preventer inhaler regularly, even if their asthma feels under control.

Pic credit: gettyimages

Overuse of blue inhalers can increase risk of severe asthma attacks, warns MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reminding asthma patients to use their preventer (anti-inflammatory) inhalers regularly as prescribed, rather than relying solely on their blue inhalers, also referred to as reliever inhalers.

“Without regular use of a preventer inhaler, symptoms could worsen and increase the risk of severe asthma attacks,” the MHRA warned.

Keep ReadingShow less
13 pharmacists achieve RPS core advanced credential with record pass rate

The latest successful cohort includes pharmacists from both England and Scotland.

Pic credit: Getty Images

13 more pharmacists achieve RPS core advanced credential - Highest pass rate yet

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced that 13 more pharmacists have successfully completed Core Advanced Credentialling as part of the latest assessment cohort —achieving a remarkable 93% pass rate, the highest to date.

This brings the total number of pharmacists awarded the RPS core advanced credential to 113 since the launch of the Core Advanced Curriculum in 2023, with successful candidates from GP, secondary care and community settings.

Keep ReadingShow less