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Review of the Special Meeting |
The British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA) held a special meeting on 19th July 2008 at the London School of Pharmacy. This meeting brought together the BPSA executive, BPSA members, BPSA Honorary Life members (HLMs), sponsors and members of the RPSGB, to discuss the future of the BPSA.
Speakers included James Davies, BPSA president, who discussed the future of the BPSA. David Pruce, Director of Policy and Communications at the RPSGB, who spoke about the role of students within the RPSGB.
BPSA executive members Niall Byrne, BPSA Membership Officer, and Charlotte Mawson, BPSA Vice President, discussed the current BPSA services. Jodie Taylor, BPSA Secretary General, discussed the current changes to the profession and implications of the White paper.
The meeting was a great success as it allowed many members to give their views and express their opinions. There were not as many members in attendance as planned due to the problems with the trains, however, the members who were there were very vocal.
The executive has been given lots of ideas on how to develop the BPSA in its work with the new professional body. There was some active debate around issues such as paid positions on the executive, and membership for 1st year qualified pharmacists.
There was also lots of positive feedback about the work the BPSA is currently doing and the way the BPSA should move forward in the future. This is a time of great opportunity for the pharmacy profession, and students have an opportunity to ensure that they are a key component of the new professional body.
The feedback sessions allowed debate and discussion on where students should sit in the future. In attendance at the event was Martin Astbury, RPSGB Vice President, who is also a member of the transitional committee. Other attendees included Mark Kozial and John D’Arcy, both BPSA HLMs.
James Davies, BPSA President, stated that “The meeting has been a great Success. As a membership organisation it is important that we listen to what our members want. It is important that the student voice remains and the Students' Association continues whatever the future structure of pharmacy”
“This was recognised by Nigel Clarke as the Clarke Inquiry agrees on the BPSA becoming ‘an integral element of the new Professional body,’ but this meeting allowed us to confirm what our members want” |
