The National Pharmacy Association’s Annual General Meeting took place on 7th September in Cardiff
The Directors’ report, the Independent Auditor’s Report and the Financial Statements for the Company and the Group for the year ending 31 December 2020 were approved.
The meeting approved the motion on the agenda to hold the next Board elections previously scheduled for 2022 in early 2023. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has created considerable extra work to support members on the frontline, the additional year will provide more time for the current Board to complete work streams and be in the best position to handover to the new Board.
Current work streams include:
- Addressing workforce shortages - the Board is acutely aware of the critical shortage of pharmacists in the community sector. Many contractors have reported shortages, leading to some isolated temporary closures. Rural areas are feeling the shortages acutely, but even city based pharmacies have reported issues. There is a concern that this could get worse before it gets better and the board agreed that the sector need to work together and make the profession attractive to those entering the pharmacy profession.
- consolidating political support for a properly funded clinical role - The NPA will continue to press government and NHS on providing further investment to underpin viability, change and improvement in our sector.
- ensuring our members in NI are not left stranded by Brexit – The board has been deeply concerned about the future of medicine supply into Northern Ireland. We have been urging the EU and the UK to address this issue urgently and not leave it for patients, carers, pharmacists and GPs to pick up the problem further down the line.
- offering a best in class Learning and Development offer for members – Over recent years there have been considerable advances in the NPA’s portfolio of training programmes. But we are not complacent and the board recognises that this is a core sphere for the NPA, to equip the pharmacy workforce for delivering excellent patient care now and into the future.
Want to be a NPA Board member?
The NPA board sets the policy, strategic direction and objectives for the association and it’s never too early to express an interest in joining the board.
Board members are expected to contribute to debate in sharing ideas and deliver fresh thinking throughout the period of their service.
In addition to board meetings, board members also participate in standing committees and/or working groups of the board.
Overall, the remit is to ensure that the NPA is advancing the interests of independent community pharmacy owners, to the benefit ultimately of patients and communities.
For more information about becoming an NPA board member, contact the Director of External & Corporate Affairs Gareth Jones at [email protected]