NEWS
RPS RECOGNITION FOR RGU PHARMACY EXPERTS
Two leading pharmacy experts at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have been recognised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for their work to advance the field.
Professor Donald Cairns and Professor Derek Stewart from RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences have both been designated as Fellows of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Fellowship is the highest recognition the organisation can bestow on its members and is awarded to those who have made an outstanding original contribution to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge or attained distinction in the science, practice, profession or history of pharmacy.
Professor Cairns, who is the head of RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, has been recognised for his contribution to science and Professor Stewart has been recognised for his contribution to the practice of pharmacy.
‘I am delighted and flattered to receive this recognition from my own Society,’ Professor Cairns said. ‘I have been a pharmacist for more than 30 years and to be recognised by my peers, for the award of Fellow, is very pleasing.’
Professor Stewart registered as a pharmacist in 1988 and is currently professor of pharmacy practice and lead for health and social care practice research at Robert Gordon University.
‘I’m very proud that my work has been recognised in this way by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society,’ Professor Stewart said, ‘and I am indebted to all those who have worked alongside and guided me throughout my career.’
6 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
MAS DIRECTIONS AND SERVICE SPECIFICATION UPDATED
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has encouraged all pharmacies to revisit their practice around Minor Ailment Service following the Scottish Government’s updating of the Directions that legally underpin the service.
Alongside the updated Directions, the Scottish Government has also produced a set of principles to support best practice and clarify intentions around the service.
‘The background to these principles and updated directions comes from a small number of incidents from a minority of contractors which led to investigations by Health Boards and NHS Counter Fraud Services (CFS),’ CPS said in a statement.
‘The CPS Board was offered the opportunity to feedback on the proposed changes and principles which were developed by Scottish Government in conjunction with their Central Legal Office (CLO). While some of the suggested changes were accepted, others were not. CPS has called for anonymised examples and/ or themes to be shared with the organisation so we can support the intent behind the subsequent changes to the Directions and principles that have resulted from these investigations.
‘CPS would encourage all pharmacies to revisit their practice around MAS and ensure it fits with the Directions and intentions of the service. The
RPS ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT
all these areas. I will champion the value of all pharmacists, supporting my colleagues across Great Britain, ensuring we provide a bright future for the profession.
Martin Astbury, FRPharmS, has been elected President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, succeeding Ash Soni, who had held the position for two years.
‘There are profound technological, financial and legal changes on the horizon for pharmacists practising in all three nations of Great Britain,’ Martin Astbury said following his election. ‘Over the coming years, our three national RPS pharmacy boards will provide leadership in
‘I recognise my responsibility in pulling the profession together to ensure our broad church feels part of a bigger picture. I have an important role to play facilitating work between the Boards, the Assembly, colleagues in the three countries and overseas ensuring we make the whole of the Society greater than the sum of our parts.
‘I will work tirelessly to support the profession making sure our development programmes, such as the RPS Faculty and RPS Foundation, help our members achieve their professional ambitions and become the very best practitioners they can be.
STUDY INTO DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY Researchers from NHS Dumfries and Galloway and the University of Edinburgh are seeking older adults to take part in a new psychological study of depression.
The study will be run by psychologists based at Crichton Hall and aims to examine the effects of personality, mood and social factors on low mood.
‘We are inviting people from across Dumfries and Galloway, who are aged
First Minister recently announced that the Scottish Government would consider a potential expansion of MAS. This supports the CPS belief that the Scottish Government, and more importantly the eligible public who access MAS, value the service and it will continue to have a significant role to play in relieving primary care pressures and ensuring appropriate individuals are treated in an accessible community pharmacy setting. CPS will continue to press for appropriate evolution of the service to support the needs of the public and the wider NHS.’
For more information on the new key principles, see the SG Circular PCA(P)(2016)12.
‘I would like to pay tribute to Ash Soni, RPS immediate past President, who has set a very high standard by engaging with members at all stages of their careers, from the British Pharmaceutical Students Association to the Fellowship of the Society. The future of the Society as the profession’s Royal College is a vision we both share, and I will play my part in full in making this a reality.’
‘As I hand over to a new President, I do so with a sense of pride borne from the Society’s achievements over the last two years,’ said Ash Soni OBE, FFRPS, FRPharmS. ‘With a new five-year strategy published this year and a fabulous new home for the profession, we are at the beginning of a new chapter of the Society’s development. I would also like to thank the many pharmacists who have expressed their good wishes to me in recent weeks, I am humbled and touched by your kind words.’
over 65 to complete four tick-box questionnaires which cover personality type, mood, social relationships and beliefs,’ said trainee psychologist, Shri Cameron. ‘The questions are designed to gather data about a wide range of experiences and their potential to affect mood.
‘Depression is acknowledged as a common occurrence in older adults but it is certainly not a normal part of aging. There are a number of reasons
why older people may experience depression including ill health and loneliness. We hope the results of this study will help our understanding of how often and why older adults experience low moods which can cause a great deal of distress.’
Pharmacists in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway can signpost patients, who may be suitable for this study to Shri Cameron on 01387 244 495 or by email at
shri.cameron@
nhs.net
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