The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's national pharmacy board elections mark an important new era for pharmacy. National Pharmacy Boards for England, Scotland and Wales will form the backbone of the new professional body, so there is no Council election this year.

The boards were formed in 2007 to recognise that health policy is different in each country, and the extended role and power of the national boards in 2010 reflects this changing picture. All the elected places for each pharmacy board were vacant in this first election.

Board members were directly elected with some seats allocated by sector of practice. Each board has a different composition in line with devolution and the needs of each country. The English and Welsh Boards have 11 places each and the Scottish Board has 12 places. As the separation of the Society is scheduled for sometime after 1 April 2010, Parliamentary timetable permitting, the elections took place earlier than in previous years to allow time for the induction of new board members.

Assembly

Although there will be no Council in the new professional body, there will be an Assembly. It will meet less often than the boards and will maintain overall strategic direction on Great Britain issues as well as maintaining responsibility for the overall financial and governance aspects of the organisation. The Assembly will be made up of members from the English, Scottish and Welsh boards plus a pharmaceutical scientist, an academic and a lay member to provide an external perspective.