What is the vote?
In 2010 the Society will separate into two new organisations – the General Pharmaceutical Council, which will regulate the profession, and a new professional leadership body, which will focus on supporting the needs of members. To pave the way for these changes, members must first vote to amend the Society’s Royal Charter.
The proposed changes to the Charter must be confirmed by a Special Resolution of the Council, upon which every member of the Society is entitled to cast a vote. The vote will be a straightforward ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the proposed Charter changes, and represents the single most important step members can take to secure the future of their new professional leadership body.
What is changing?
The Charter amendments will deliver a new body for the profession; a body that will be organised in an entirely different way to the present Society. The three National Boards in England, Scotland and Wales will do the bulk of the work and will focus on the needs of pharmacists in their respective countries. They will be best placed – both strategically and physically – to understand the devolved healthcare agendas, the support you need to provide quality services to your patients and how best to deliver this locally.
An overarching Assembly will ‘connect’ with the boards, and provide a framework for good corporate governance. This Assembly will take a ‘light touch’ approach to defining the strategic direction of the professional body at the highest level – leaving the boards free to interpret, define and implement their own plans for their members.
The Charter amendments will also remove references to regulation, as the professional leadership body will have no regulatory functions, and also provide the means by which new membership categories can be created for the new body.
A two thirds majority of those voting is necessary to secure changes to the Society’s Charter in order for the new professional body to come into effect in 2010.
Download the 5 minute guide to Charter changes
Why do you need to vote?
Without your 'Yes' vote we can't make the changes the profession is asking for:
1
If you want a new professional leadership body which will provide you with the products and services you need to support your professional and career development - you need to vote 'Yes'.
2
If you want a body which will truly represent your interests, and effectively lobby those who can influence the future direction of the profession - you need to vote ‘yes’
3
If you want a body that will help you improve the quality of care for your patients - you need to vote ‘yes’
4
If you want a body which will work to ensure proportionate and appropriate regulation by the new regulator – you need to vote ‘yes’