Paul Bennett: Leadership, the RPS, and the Future of Pharmacists

In this episode of the Pharmacy in Practice Podcast, host Johnathan Laird and guest Chief Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Paul Bennett discuss leadership challenges, the evolution of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), and the future of pharmacists.

Key Discussion Points:

• Discussion and acknowledgement of leadership challenges, particularly in balancing diverse organisational interests.
• Discussion on the RPS and its evolving relevance to pharmacists.
• Bennett provides insights into the RPS's transformation since 2010, including membership decline and efforts to demonstrate value.
• Debate over whether the RPS prioritises organisational survival over representing pharmacists' interests.
• Exploration of the potential establishment of a Royal College of Pharmacy and its implications for the profession.
• Discussion on maintaining independence while ensuring organisational sustainability.
• Explanation of the upcoming Special Resolution Vote on RPS’s Royal Charter changes.
• Key questions about the RPS’s mission, independence, and expected changes for pharmacists were raised.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on leadership, governance, and the evolving landscape of pharmacy.