We’re more than half way through the year and I am now more than half way through my presidency.

April is always a busy month for GHP and this year was no exception, even without there being a joint conference this spring. Once again we had a stand at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress and I was ably assisted once again this year by ex NOPC member Peter Leslie and this year we were also joined by Waz Baqir and Ewan Maule. It is so good to meet so many of you at the Guild Stand, at some points we were overwhelmed by the numbers wanting to talk to us. It was interesting to hear about your career development and your concerns. Many of you wished to talk to us about your extended roles and your liability arrangements. Unite’s Contingent Medical Malpractice will cover any extended roles you take on, including independent prescribing, as long as you are working within your job description and your employer has primary cover. All NHS trusts and CCGs should have this cover but most GP practices do not and therefore the CMM will not be appropriate.

One of the items we always have on the GHP stand for the CPC is our Annual Report. The report can be found at http://www.ghp.org.uk/ContentFiles/ghpannrep15.pdf and I urge you to have a look and see all the work that GHP does during the year.

GHP has been involved in a number of important consultations during the past few months. We were able to view the proposed metrics for the Hospital Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation review proposed in the Lord Carter Report and comment on them. We are now waiting for the final metrics to be published. This is an important audit of hospital pharmacy services and could affect out direction of work for years to come so do look out for them when they are published. Many of the proposals could lead to further outsourcing of hospital pharmacy services so it is important that you engage locally in what is happening so that you can have your say. We will be sure to tweet any links.

The GPhC consultation on their new proposed standards were out for consultation and GHP’s response can be viewed at http://www.ghp.org.uk/ContentFiles/ghpconres1606.pdf We frequently ask for comments to responses via Twitter so follow us on @GHPPharmacy and have your say.

Many of you will know that I work in a Mental Health trust in Kent. In May I was invited by the local LPF to take part in ‘Kent’s Got Talent’, an opportunity for pre-registration and early years pharmacists to talk to their senior colleagues working in specialist areas. I was also joined by another NOPC member, Heather Weaver, who works in Specialist Commissioning for NHS England. I was able to talk about working in Mental Health and the work I do with GHP, ten minutes per group

just wasn’t enough. For those of you staring out in your career have you seen the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s’ Foundation Programme http://www.rpharms.com/development/foundation-practice.asp?

Two members of the NOPC Graeme Richardson and Anthony Sinclair attended the European Association of Hospital Pharmacy General Assembly in Prague this year. This was Graeme’s first assembly and he came back full of enthusiasm for the work of the organisation and how the UK could become more involved. This meeting was mid-June so before the referendum results! However, the EAHP membership goes beyond the membership of the EU and we will continue with our membership after Brexit. We have also offered to host the General Assembly in the UK in the next few years, probably in Edinburgh.

At the end of June we had our annual Strategy Meeting at Esher Place. Strategy meetings are always hard work but it is a pleasure to work in these lovely surroundings. It is possible for members to stay at Esher Place so go and look at the Unite website, www.unitetheuniorn.org for details.

Following on from the referendum we were joined at Esher by ex-President Tony West who is currently working with EAHP on the implementation of their statements on hospital pharmacy. Tony took us through the implications for pharmacy from Brexit. These have been collated by Colin Rodden and can be viewed at http://www.ghp.org.uk/ContentFiles/ghp1607brexit.pdf

At the strategy day we also said goodbye to Barrie Brown. Barrie was one of Unite’s Officers for Health for many years and has worked with GHP on Pay Review Body submissions and Agenda for Change. NHS Employees in the UK owes Barrie a great deal as he has worked tirelessly for the best possible deal for all staff working under those terms and conditions. Barrie’s post has been filled by Sarah Carpenter who I know very well from her work in Kent. We are all looking forward to working with Sarah in the years ahead.

It was good to see that the Pre-Registration pass rate has increased this year to 95%. This is excellent and I wish all newly qualified pharmacists every success in their careers ahead. Remember, this is just the beginning. Continue to develop and always keep the patient at the heart of all you do whether your work is directly or indirectly patient focussed. GHP is committed to developing the profession and works with many organisations to ensure you get the best education, training and development opportunities.

Vilma Gilis July 2016