Northumbrian Branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) leads the profession of pharmacy to improve the public’s health and wellbeing. The RPS is the professional membership body for pharmacists and pharmacy in Great Britain and an internationally renowned publisher of medicines information. The society is responsible to advance the profession of pharmacy for public and patient benefit, to improve the health of the public and to secure the future of our members. The society supports its members and customers to improve health outcomes for society. It delivers this through professional development and support; the provision of quality medicines information and advice. The Society’s founding aims were to unite the profession into one body, to protect its members' interests and to advance scientific knowledge. The Society published a list of the founder members, in its Pharmaceutical Journal, on January 1st 1842. There were 23 honorary members, 665 full members, and 263 non-voting associate members, assistants and apprentices. 30% of members and 40% of associates were based in London.  Despite an initial surge, and the establishment of 29 local associations, further recruitment of members was slow. Services offered by the Northumbrian Branch of Royal pharmaceutical Society include providing support for career development, professional support, developing knowledge and skills and providing networking opportunities. The society can draw on the wealth of experience and expertise of members from all areas of pharmaceutical practice. New regulations recently laid before parliament and in development have the potential to change how pharmaceutical services are commissioned and delivered. Membership of the society allows training needs to be represented both locally and nationally and the professional body. The society wants to ensure that education and development is relevant to the needs of the membership as services develop and is available in a timely manner. Pharmacy can seem like a solitary profession, particularly when working in the community. The member’s area of the web-site and its interest groups allows pharmacists to network with others who have the same interests and problems. The library section of the website holds a range of documents and links to best practice guidance. There is also a section for members to submit their own examples of good practice to share with all.