NEWS GAIL CALDWELL RECEIVES RPS CHARTER AWARD 2025
Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC’s) and Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has been named the latest recipient of the esteemed RPS Charter Award - one of the Society’s highest honours.
The award celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions ‘for the Society and the wider profession’, promoting the advancement and recognition of pharmacy across the UK. Since its inception in 1963, the Charter Award has been reserved for those who have made a significant and lasting impact on the profession.
With over three decades of leadership in pharmacy, Gail Caldwell has been a transformational figure in the sector - leading service and workforce development, shaping medicines policy and setting professional standards across Scotland. Widely recognised as a modernizer of pharmacy, her strategic leadership has helped position pharmacy at the forefront of patient care delivery.
Caldwell has spearheaded several major national initiatives, including the national evaluation and rollout of the Pharmacy First service and played a pivotal role in securing funding for the implementation of Hospital Electronic
Prescribing and Medicines Administration across Scottish health boards. She also led NHS GGC’s pharmacy response during the COVID-19 pandemic, served as Vice Chair of the Scottish Medicines Consortium and was instrumental in establishing Scotland’s first Consultant Pharmacist.
Beyond policy and practice, Gail has made a profound contribution to education and mentorship, inspiring countless pharmacy professionals across Scotland to advance their practice and embrace leadership roles within the profession.
Reflecting on the award Caldwell said, “I am honoured and delighted to receive the RPS Charter Award. Throughout my career I have endeavoured to advance practice, creating the conditions for the pharmacy workforce to maximise their contribution to patient care and in doing so deliver much needed additional healthcare capacity.
"I would like to pay tribute to the dedication and professionalism of all the pharmacy teams across Scotland and thank my family and my colleagues for all their care and support throughout my career. As a lifelong member of the RPS, I have always been committed to supporting members and the leadership of the wider profession.”
Gail Caldwell
Congratulating Caldwell on her award, Paul Bennett, Chief Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said, “Gail's career is an excellent example of leadership, innovation, and dedication to improving pharmacy services. Her contributions have had a profound impact on patient care and the profession, with her unwavering commitment to service improvement, patient safety and education leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and shape the future of pharmacy for many years to come."
PHS URGES CAUTION AFTER INCREASE IN SUDDEN OVERDOSES IN SCOTLAND
Public Health Scotland (PHS) is urging caution, following a recent spike in sudden and in some cases, fatal overdoses among people using heroin across multiple regions of Scotland.
The overdoses have been linked to the presence of nitazene-type opioids - a class of highly potent synthetic drugs that may be many times stronger than heroin or morphine.
Some overdoses have been characterised by sudden and rapid collapse, often requiring multiple doses of naloxone to reverse the effects.
Care and support for people at risk and those affected is being managed locally by multi- agency partners. Services across the country have been alerted to ensure appropriate action and support.
and unpredictable,” putting individuals at greater risk of harm.
Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at PHS said, “We are very concerned about the presence of synthetic drugs like nitazenes within the unregulated drugs market across Scotland.
"Nitazenes are potent opioid drugs, which can be many times stronger than heroin and other common opioids such as morphine. This means even a small amount poses an increased risk of overdose or death. There are ways to reduce the risk of overdose when taking drugs, but there is no safe way to take nitazenes.”
The quarterly RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response) report from PHS warned that the drug supply in Scotland remains “highly toxic
The presence of nitazenes in Scotland’s unregulated drug supply has raised alarm among public health professionals and harm reduction advocates.
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