THE UCA-CPNI MERGER WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ‘ONE VOICE’ AND, WHILE WE ARE TAKING ONLY BABY STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION, NONETHELESS THEY ARE BEING TAKEN
Yes indeed, the Fighting Fund was an old idea and was why we fought three Judicial Reviews (JRs).
The last JR was lost, yet we - the members - never did find out what that bill was and - more importantly - and amazingly - no one got sacked. I had asked two questions and I was determined to be positive, so I backed off.
When the meeting was opened up for general questions, I realised that this was it; this was the reason why I had been calling for an AGM for years, but I felt deflated. Was this the democratic accountability I had been seeking?
An AGM must be different to other meetings and, to make a difference, the members must speak up - which is almost impossible if they fail to turn up.
With no rush to ask questions, I waded in again. Would it not be a good idea that the Vice-Chair of CPNI was appointed Chair of UCA-NI: the body that was the output of the merger last year?
The merger was based on the aspiration of ‘one voice’ for all contractors and that there must be seamless communication between the two entities.
This question was handed back to the CEO, but whose answer seemed to land somewhere close to what could have been a shorter answer, ie, ‘NO’. I got the distinct feeling I should be minding my own business, but I had bravely had planted the seed.
Others stepped forward. A question was asked on whether the Chair thought we had sufficient insight to new commissioning arrangements being planned for next year and which might impact on our funding.
The Chair felt nobody had, so he wasn’t worried. Another questioner asked about the implementation of electronic prescribing and we were told this would be at least three to five years off.
A final questioner, who also thanked the Board for all its hard work on our behalf, pleaded for
publication of a clear strategy. Umm, strategy? Strategy, in terms of trying to best place the pharmacy network in the future, was never a strength of CPNI but, to be fair to the Chair, we were promised a strategy in the summer.
With only 36 out of a possible 290 contractors turning up (or switching on their Zoom) it might be seen as an unnecessary disappointment.
Many participants, especially the current Board, sat behind blank screens with audio off: the electronic version of having their arms folded and a glum expression.
They were there to listen to the disgruntled and the complainers - not to contribute. But things have changed, utterly changed, and in a small way for the better.
The UCA-CPNI merger was designed to provide ‘one voice’ and, while we are taking only baby steps in that direction, nonetheless they are being taken.
There will be an AGM next year and there might be more ordinary members present, who can challenge what our representative body is doing with our money to forward our interests.
So long as they can tell us straight - and that their efforts are for the greater good - then they have little to worry about.
MANY PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY THE CURRENT BOARD, SAT BEHIND BLANK SCREENS WITH AUDIO OFF: THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF HAVING THEIR ARMS FOLDED AND A GLUM EXPRESSION
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