The UK’s four chief pharmaceutical officers have revealed the nine individuals appointed as ‘independent expert members’ of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board.

The board, which is aimed at fostering greater collaboration within the sector to help address “a wide range of professional issues” like independent prescribing and the expanding role of pharmacy technicians, will meet for the first time on April 23. 

Among the nine independent members there are three currently working in the community pharmacy sector: Raymond Anderson, a pharmacy owner in Northern Ireland with over 40 years’ experience; Berwyn Owen, a contractor and prescribing pharmacist in North Wales; and Shilpa Shah, a pharmacist and chief executive of Community Pharmacy North East London. 

Ms Shah said it is “imperative” for professional bodies in the sector to work together “so that we have effective leadership that speaks with one voice,” while Mr Owen called for a “strong, inclusive voice that will reinforce the importance of [pharmacy teams’] crucial contribution to deliver the best care for patients and the public”.

Mr Anderson said that in light of the sector’s rising profile it is “extremely important to ensure the advances we have made are built upon and the voice of the profession is heard across all sectors of healthcare”.

The other appointees are:

• Laura Angus, chief pharmacy officer at Humber & North Yorkshire Integrated Care Bord (ICB)
• Rebecca Chamberlain, a pharmacy technician with a portfolio of advisory roles with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC0 and General Optical Council (GOC)
• Mildred Johnson, a hospital pharmacist and clinical director of pharmacy at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
• Professor Mahendra Patel, a pharmacist and founding member and director of the centre for research equity at the University of Oxford
• Panayiotis Sphikas, a pharmacy technician and pharmacy operations manager at University College London Hospital
• Ellen Williams, a pharmacy technician and director of regional pharmacy training in the South West of England.

While the board was established by the Department of Health and Social Care, it says it will operate as an independent public body and “will set its own agendas and provide advice” to pharmacy professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups in the sector.

Independent chair Hugh Taylor, who is also chair of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Pharmacy is an integral and vital part of our health system. The aim of this Board is to lead and support collaboration across the professions in the UK, so that they can look to the future with ambition and confidence and realise their full potential. That is a hugely exciting mission - and one I very much look forward to supporting.”

English CPhO David Webb commented: “Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise, [the board] will play a pivotal role in the board’s work to deliver an exciting vision through supporting a new and dynamic phase of collaboration.”