The Government's White Paper on the future of healthcare professional regulation, Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, was published on 21 February 2007. The White Paper sets out the Government's intention to remove regulation from the RPSGB and give it to a newly-created General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The Government also wishes to see what it describes as a "body akin to a Royal College" to provide leadership for the profession.
For the White Paper, click on the link below:
In March 2007 the Department of Health set up a working party on professional regulation and leadership in pharmacy, led by Lord Carter of Coles, to further these proposals. The working party reported to ministers on 16 May 2007.
For the Carter Working Party report, click on the link below:
Following recommendations made in the Carter Working Party (CWP) report, the Department of Health announced on 13 July the establishment of the Professional Regulation and Leadership Oversight Group (PRLOG). This group, which met for the first time on 7 August, is advising and working with Health Ministers on the complex programme of work to establish the GPhC, and on helping to identify how leadership in the pharmacy profession can best support the GPhC, for example in relation to assessment and accreditation functions and determining standards.
For information about PRLOG, click on the links below
In August 2007 the RPSGB commissioned an independent analysis of the principles, functions and structure of a future professional body, to be chaired by Mr Nigel Clarke.
The consultation paper of the Independent Inquiry into a Professional Body for Pharmacy was published on 1 November 2007. The report of the inquiry will be published in May 2008.
For the consultation paper and further information about the Clarke Inquiry, click on the link below:
For information about the RPSGB submission to the Clarke Inquiry, click here
The Health and Social Care Bill, which sets the framework for creating the General Pharmaceutical Council, had its First Reading in Parliament on 15 November 2007.
For information about the Health and Social Care Bill, click on the link below:
For reports, briefings and press releases issued by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, click on the links below:
Consultation For information about the 2006 Department of Health consultation on the regulation of non-medical healthcare professions (the Foster report) and on medical regulation (the Donaldson report), click here.
Contacts:
Development of future professional body