In Profession

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

With the transition to royal college status now complete, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society becomes the Royal College of Pharmacy today (April 15).

The change follows a series of legal and governance processes which have culminated in the establishment of the new profession‑led leadership body. Three national pharmacy advisory councils have been elected, along with a senate and a president, as well as the appointment of a chair of trustees and the recruitment of lay trustees.

The stated commitments of the new royal college are to create a strong and unified voice for pharmacy, to support pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists to advance the safe and effective use of medicines, and drive excellence in practice for the benefit of patients and the public.

The Royal College of Pharmacy has plans to progress its credentialing programme, develop new learning resources and deliver enhanced support for members.

A new logo links the historic coat of arms with the new organisation’s name. A new website at www.rcpharm.org hosts new content and updated resources.

Looking ahead, the College says it will work closely with Members, Fellows, the wider pharmacy community and patients to shape its long-term strategy. This will involve a period of evidence-gathering informed by member feedback, consideration of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board's recommendations and a core focus on the College’s ‘Commitments’, before the final strategy is established.

“Becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy gives us a stronger platform to develop a louder and more influential voice, and a renewed purpose to champion pharmacy and drive excellence in practice,” said the College’s new president, Tase Oputu.

Inaugural chair of trustees, Joe Irvin OBE, commented: “Over the coming months the College will be delivering against a transition strategy drawn from our five Commitments, while we develop our long-term strategy. We will continue to work with members and partners to ensure the College’s direction is shaped by member insight, evidence and the needs of patients, and reflects the skill, passion and potential of the pharmacy community.”

The Royal College of Pharmacy post‑nominals are MRCPharm (members), FRCPharm (Fellows), SRCPharm (Pharmaceutical Scientists) and ARCPharm (associate members). For those who are RPS faculty members, faculty post‑nominals have not changed and may continue to be used alongside the new RCPharm post‑nominal.

The new Royal College of Pharmacy website is at www.rcpharm.org. As it is a completely new site, members will need to log in and change their password to access their account. Support is available via support@rcpharm.org.