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02 Dec 2010

NPA joins forces with CCA and AIMp to create new organisation

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Company Chemists' Association (CCA) and Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp) have joined forces to create an additional pharmacy organisation called Pharmacy Voice.

Pharmacy Voice is led by representatives from all three groups and will represent members with a stronger, unified voice, the associations say.

The change will only affect the representation functions of the three organisations, such as lobbying and responding to government consultations, with all other services - including training and support, representation on LPCs and sharing best practice - continuing and remaining independent.

Ian Facer, chair of the NPA, will be chairman of Pharmacy Voice, with Rob Darracott, CCA chief executive, its chief executive.

The board comprises two members from each partner organisation - Liz Colling, from the Co-Operative Pharmacy and Bruce Pimlott, from Morrisons, representing the CCA; Peter Cattee, of PCT Healthcare, and Kirit Patel, from Day Lewis, representing AIMp; and Hiten Patel and Ian Facer from the NPA.             

Pharmacy Voice will launch formally in the New Year.

Read exclusive interviews with Rob Darracott and Ian Facer in C+D on December 11.

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Philip Howard, Locum pharmacist
Posted on 2 December 2010.
This is excellent news. The fewer organisations representing pharmacy the better. One louder voice rather than many quieter ones! Good luck to Pharmacy Voice in the New Year.
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Veronica Wray, Superintendent
Posted on 2 December 2010.
Halleluja! About time that common-sense prevailed....
For years - all of us working in communications have said that there needed to one strong voice representing pharmacy. Let's hope this will be it.
You'll have some good people on board.... so you've got a good chance of successfully raising your profile and being rewarded for your expertise.

Good luck to all.

Veronica Wray
info@veronicawray.com
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Sultan Dajani, Community pharmacist
Posted on 3 December 2010.
Feel like the guy who just burst the only balloon at a kids party but I think this is bad news - why? Pharmacy is not just a Community sector - it's hospital, academia, scientists, industry and it's not only a contractor profession - it's employees, locums, part-timers, etc. So to call it Pharmacy Voice is akin to saying there is only one team in the World cup!
Moreover workload stress is caused by multiples mainly who support store managers over the professionalism of their pharmacists. The interest of employers is different from the interests of employees - if this is truly one voice it is unrepresentative and we still need a voice for Pharmacists!
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Raymond Lee, Community pharmacist
Posted on 3 December 2010.
It is important that we have a unified "Pharmacy Voice". GPs and Nurses have strong lobby groups, it is vital that Pharmacy should be strong also.

The old chestnut of multiples and independents have long gone. There should be an end to internal politics, otherwise it will be "If you keep doing the same thing, you'll get the same results!"

Well done for being brave and doing something different.

There will be a time for hospital, academia etc as Sid has mentioned. Perhaps developing the LPFs may be the first steps.....
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David Sharp, Community pharmacist
Posted on 3 December 2010.
what representaion do cca and aimp have on the npa board ,if any does this pose an inbalalance of represntation
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Mike O'Donnell, Other pharmacist
Posted on 4 December 2010.
This feels like a further fragmentation of the representative power of the profession rather than a consolidation.

From Government's point of view, it will sound like just another TLA along with RPS, PDA, etc purporting to represent pharmacy
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Judy Viitanen, Other healthcare professional
Posted on 7 December 2010.
In my view this is good news for all community pharmacy owners - and just what is needed to effectively set out their agenda to Westminster and Whitehall! I'm looking forward to seeing Pharmacy Voice really leading from the front to robustly promote CP’s potential. At long last this inclusive and unified representational remit will mean no more fragmented messaging, which in the past has been confusing to external opinion formers.

I am sure that the complimentary skills and experience of the board members will be a great asset - but member engagement will be vital to ensure the new body can effectively meet the challenges ahead and maximise the many future opportunities in the new NHS landscape.
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