Tase Oputu to represent pharmacy profession at NHS Assembly

She will officially join NHS Assembly when it meets on 11 September

Tase Oputu, Chair of the RPS England Pharmacy Board, has been appointed to the NHS Assembly, to represent the pharmacy profession.

The NHS Assembly is a national forum that brings together stakeholders from across the health and care sectors to advise the NHS England board on implementing the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP).

Members include national and frontline clinical leaders, patient leaders, staff representatives, health and care system leaders and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector leaders.

The NHS Assembly meets four to five times a year. Tase will officially join the Assembly during its meeting on 11 September.

Tase highlighted the crucial role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in the healthcare system while expressing her anticipation of representing the pharmacy profession at the NHS Assembly.

She said: “This is a valuable opportunity for me to contribute to the discussions that will shape the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan, ensuring the voices of pharmacy are heard and play an integral part in the plan’s delivery.”

In addition to her new role, Tase is the Associate Director of Medicines Optimisation and High Cost Drugs at NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board and the Lead Pharmacist for Medicines Commissioning and Pathways at Barts Health NHS Trust.

With over 25 years of experience in the NHS and hospital pharmacy, Tase is deeply committed to promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the pharmacy practise.

She is also dedicated to sustainability in healthcare and optimising medicine use to minimise their environmental impact.

In a recent discussion with Pharmacy Business, Tase highlighted both the challenges and opportunities within community pharmacy.

Tase emphasised the importance of cultural competence among community pharmacy supervisors to support trainee pharmacists.

She noted that while NHS hospitals provide extensive training and promotion on inclusion, community pharmacies are often neglected.

She also highlighted the blurring boundaries between community, GP, and hospital pharmacists, underscoring the need for enhanced clinical support and knowledge transfer across the sector.

Furthermore, she underscored the importance of independent prescribing qualifications and the need for designated support for pharmacists undergoing this training.

She also expressed a strong commitment to addressing inequities faced by Black pharmacists, including issues with poor exam results, degrees, and registration exams.