Chief pharmacist appointed as National Chairman

Dennis Lauder, Chief Pharmacist at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed as Chairman of the National Pharmaceutical Market Supply Group (PMSG).

PMSG is a national committee, accountable to the Department of Health, whose aim is to provide strategic advice and develop national medicines strategy to ensure that patients have access to medicines of acceptable quality at a sustainable price, at all times.

The group is integral to the provision of medicines on a national level, informing the decision-making process for contracts for pharmaceuticals so that the long term interests of patients, providers of secondary care and other stakeholders are taken into account. Key discussions between the group and stakeholders in the supply chain shape the development of products, implement changes and influence pack design and product presentation, so that in the interest of patient care, efficiency and the enhancement of patient safety is maximised.

Dennis, who has been Chief Pharmacist at Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospitals for 12 years, was selected as Chairman of the group after recognition of his role at the Trust and extensive experience in hospital pharmacy and pharmaceutical procurement. On his appointment, Dennis said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to chair PMSG, and very much look forward to working closely with Andy Alldred, Chair of the National Pharmaceutical Supplies Group (NPSG), colleagues from the NHS, the DH and Commercial Medicines Unit (CMU) in continuing the important role of this group. “

Another role of the group is to advise the Department of Health on how to manage the discontinuation of a product or shortages so that strategies are implemented quickly at local level to minimise disruption to patient care.

As chairman, Dennis represents the interests of the Strategic Health Authority and chief pharmacists from national Trusts and works alongside the rest of the group which has access to a range of expertise drawn from the NHS, the Department of Health and CMU.