Kieran Hand, FRPharmS
The personal view of an Expert Advisory Group member
“Royal colleges are really seen as important stakeholders that should be engaged with.”
What do you think the impact of these changes will be for public health?
I’ve noticed in the changes to the Charter a shift in emphasis from treating illness to preventing illness and safeguarding health, and I think that’s a really positive development. Many infections can be avoided, and the pharmacy professions play a crucial role in that.
What we’re doing with community pharmacy and the Pharmacy First service in England is a good example of where we’ve built a clinical pathway that includes checkpoints for giving advice about preventing future infection. There’s lots of potential for pharmacy professions to help people become more autonomous and less dependent on healthcare professions more generally.
How do you view the changes in light of your role as clinical lead for antibiotic prescribing?
Antibiotic resistance poses a serious risk to public health, leading to treatment failures, hospital admissions and sometimes death. The pharmacy professions act as gatekeepers of medicines, ensuring they are used effectively, safely and wisely. The expansion of prescribing rights and access to antibiotics through pharmacy is welcome because they are trusted stewards of antibiotics committed to safeguarding their efficacy for the future.
I’ve always been grateful to the RPS who have consistently advocated for good antibiotic stewardship, integrating it into their training and credentialing processes, which will gain even more credibility as a royal college.
Will becoming a royal college change the way RPS is seen within the system?
I’m particularly pleased to see the proposed changes emphasise patient and public needs. There is a danger that professional organisations can sometimes be perceived as prioritising their members’ interests, leading to them being treated with less respect in strategic decisions and policymaking.
Royal colleges are seen in a different light. They are seen as acting in the interests of patients, and they provide a valuable source of expertise to the government, such as warning about the unintended consequences of potential policy decisions or strategic plans. They are really seen as important stakeholders that should be engaged with.
I think RPS is seen as a learned society, which does not carry the same weight as a royal college. The difference will be subtle but important – there will be more invitations, more seats at the table, more consultation with a royal college.
The credibility and public trust associated with royal colleges will enhance the profession’s effectiveness in delivering its goals to improve patient care and patient outcomes. It will stand us in good stead for the future.
What would your message be to other members of the RPS community
I think every patient and every citizen deserves to benefit from the knowledge and skills of the pharmacy profession, and a royal college would be a powerful force representing pharmacy at the highest levels to ensure that the profession can fulfil its potential for patients.
Healthcare is constantly changing and adapting to new political and social environments. Pharmacy needs a united, strong, credible and respected voice to ensure that pharmacy professionals are not left behind in continuing to make our important contribution to society and maximising future opportunities.