Statement from the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board: Royal College to catalyse collaboration across pharmacy professional leadership and strengthen the voice of pharmacy

The proposal to establish a Royal College of Pharmacy is an historic opportunity to raise the profile of pharmacy in the UK for the long-term. This would help to fulfil the aspirations of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and all in the UK who wish to see pharmacy realise its potential in healthcare.

It has the potential to catalyse, deepen and focus collaboration across pharmacy professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups as we work collectively towards a sustainable model of professional leadership (which a royal college could represent if we get this right). That is one of the key missions of our Board – which includes pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and patient and public representation – which we have been working towards since establishment in April 2024. We therefore welcome the commitment of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to work closely with the Board in the co-creation of the royal college if its members support this proposal.

A positive vote is important to establish the royal college as the starting point for:

  • Open discussions to support a more effective and collaborative approach to pharmacy professional leadership.
  • A stronger voice for pharmacy
  • More proactive and systematic engagement with patients and the public
  • Enabling a step change in the collective support, development and engagement for individual professionals and the wider pharmacy team towards improved career progression and greater professional satisfaction.

The outcome of this vote matters to all professionals working in pharmacy and to the whole pharmacy team. Greater unity would ultimately deliver the stronger professional leadership voice, recognition, representation and strategic direction that we believe is needed and ultimately bring an end to division and fragmentation.

To contact the Secretariat to the UK PPL Advisory Board please email: england.ukpplboard@nhs.net