Campaign Letter Research Articles

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Erutase Oputu on engaging with the membership

The landscape for pharmacy is changing rapidly, affecting all sectors — from new NHS structures, new remits for pharmacists, pharmacogenomics, ‘Amazon Pharmacy’, new education and training standards, to name a few. The past year of COVID-19 has left pharmacists exhausted and overwhelmed. In community, pharmacists have been under intense pressure financially, emotionally and physically, and have […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Elanor Thomas on when two tribes go to war

Since deciding to stand for the RPS Welsh pharmacy board, I have been reflecting on how we continue to be an under-recognised profession and why. I feel there are two main issues, one to paraphrase Blackadder: “We don’t even let people know we have a trumpet, let alone blow it,” and the second that as […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Mary Evans on a profession with a unity of purpose

The current Royal Charter effectively establishes the RPS as the professional body for pharmacists. The RPS website describes the Society as having championed the profession since 1841 and their role in promoting pharmacy in the media and to government. However, there is a tension in these objectives as there is effectively an underlying assumption that […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Claire Anderson on inclusion and diversity

Dear Editor, The pandemic has provided us all with an opportunity to look differently at the world. It has allowed me time to reflect on my journey as a leader. How we choose to engage with others in our professional and personal lives is so important. Kindness, consideration and acceptance all matter greatly. I have […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Thorrun Govind on leadership

We are pharmacy, together. Inclusive and authentic leadership, to me, means a continued commitment through the difficult conversations and the celebrations. It’s going through the highs and the lows with your colleagues. As a profession, there are going to be challenges to the very core of our beliefs. I will help ensure that a balanced […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Brendon Jiang on a sense of belonging in pharmacy

What’s in a name? I’m incredibly proud of, and care deeply about, the RPS’ inclusion and diversity work. It started well before I joined the board and now the RPS leads: across the pharmacy profession, among the royal colleges, and other healthcare professions. It is close to my heart and I hope this letter shows […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Howard Duff on first contact pharmacist

In primary care in England, there are many new roles that receive full funding from NHS England to be employed by primary care networks to work with GP practices under the ‘Network DES’. Among them, and probably some of the most well established, are GP pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. These are the 26,000 extra primary […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Erutase Oputu on being the change we want to see

I am proud that I have been an RPS member for over 25 years but, like so many others lately, I have felt disaffected. Pharmacy as a profession is sidelined with little respect from the public; pharmacists face harsh working conditions and little is said about discrimination. However, there are some green shoots. An increase in resources that […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Rizwan Din on championing the role of pharmacists and technicians

I am passionate about developing and championing the role of pharmacists and technicians. With a background in community pharmacy and primary care, I believe I will be able to provide a unique insight to the board if elected. Previous RPS boards have made good progress and this needs to be continued and re-aligned with what […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Alisha Sodhi on closing the gender pay gap

In the UK, female pharmacists earn 6.5% less than males. In the 21st century within Great Britain, I believe this is unacceptable. I want to empower our female pharmacists to fearlessly get what they deserve and close the pharmacy gender pay gap once and for all. In 2017, the General Pharmaceutical Council disclosed their median […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Shirley Walker on strength in diversity

Now is the time for actions not words. Elect me as an English Pharmacy Board member and the Society can demonstrate a genuinely inclusive culture. I am a black British African woman, originally from Ghana, but in my 20-year membership with the RPS, I cannot remember any black female English Pharmacy Board members. Pharmacy gains […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Ciara Marie Duffy on calling for quality in pharmacy

With a background in community, hospital, technical and regulatory pharmacy, I am standing for election as I will bring multivariate experience to the English Pharmacy Board. As a quality assurance pharmacist and an eligible Qualified Person, I have developed a range of skills which has enabled me to gain detailed and current knowledge of regulatory […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Claire Anderson on new models of care

Dear Editor, The COVID-19 vaccination programme is an enormous success and pharmacy has been involved at so many levels, not only in administering the vaccine, but in oversight and operational delivery. The programme is an example of national design with local delivery, and collaboration among local health care professionals along with local community – which […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Farzana Haq on boosting pharmacists with advanced skills

I am passionate that our profession has rewarding career pathways for pharmacists in increasingly clinical roles, and that practice-based pharmacists with advanced clinical skills are able to practice in a patient-facing role. The pharmacotherapy service (PTS), as described in the 2018 General Medical Services (GMS) contract in Scotland, was unexpected for many of us. Once […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Ciara Marie Duffy on wellbeing for pharmacists

If you grow a fruit plant and it starts to wither, what do you do? You hydrate it, increase its nutrients, change the soil, observe it more frequently, move it to a different area and put it in a different pot. Ultimately, the fruit the plant yields is only as good as the effort we […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Omolola Dabiri on an exodus of early careers pharmacists

In recent years, I have seen and heard of a gradual exodus of early careers pharmacists from the pharmacy profession. In fact, in the past two years, at least ten newly qualified pharmacists who are among personal contacts have left the profession. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the ‘abdicators’. “Why were they leaving?” […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Alisha Sodhi on mentorship for pharmacists

I am standing in these elections to ensure that every pharmacist has access to inspiring mentors and coaches. Why is this so important to me? Because it was through the kindness of others and their willingness to support my career that I was able to see just how high pharmacists can soar. A true mentor/coach […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Sarah Sawieres on remunerating hospital pharmacists

My name is Sarah Sawieres and I am standing for election for the RPS English Pharmacy Board. Although I was born in England, my background is Egyptian. As a female working in secondary care, I have always endeavoured to ensure my role and the opportunities I have been given are directly proportional to how hard […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Min Na Eii on advancing pharmacy and working together

Working full time in hospital pharmacy and part time in community pharmacy as well as for NHS 111, I empathise with both new and reoccurring issues (e.g. increasing RPS membership, diversity on Board for fairer representation) brought to the table by our RPS Members as well as non-members. If elected, I am keen to explore […]

Campaign letter for RPS elections 2021: Jay Badenhorst on workforce anonymous

I note with interest that the inclusion of pharmacists on the Home Office’s shortage occupation list (SOL) in March 2021 has prompted renewed questions about the future of the workforce. This topic was explored in an article by The Pharmaceutical Journal (9 April 2021). I am sure that many will realise that adding pharmacists to […]