12 February 2010
Deputy First Minister opens new RPSGB Scottish Office
Pictured: (From left to right) Lyndon Braddick, Director for
Scotland; Nicola Sturgeon MSP; and Sandra Melville, Chairman,
Scottish Pharmacy Board.
The Scottish Office of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
celebrated the opening of its new premises in Edinburgh at an
official ceremony (Tuesday 9 February) with the Deputy First
Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola
Sturgeon.
Located next to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh city centre
the office move represents a new start for the Society as it gears
up to becoming the new Professional Leadership Body (PLB) for
pharmacy in Scotland later this year. Under the
leadership of the newly elected Scottish Pharmacy Board the PLB
promises to be a member focussed organisation which is committed to
driving pharmacy forward in Scotland's health policy agenda.
Ms Sturgeon joined members of the Scottish Pharmacy Board, staff
from the Society and guests including pharmacy leaders, past and
present, and representatives of other health professional bodies at
a special evening reception. Welcomed by Lyndon Braddick,
Director for Scotland, Ms Sturgeon officially marked the opening of
the office by unveiling a commemorative plaque.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Pharmacists play a leading role at the front line of health
care in Scotland and deliver many services people rely on in the
heart of the community.
"I congratulate the Society on their move to new offices -
premises fit for a twenty-first century profession which plays a
key role in the safe and effective use of medicines in the NHS in
Scotland."
Ms Sturgeon met with guests and toured the office with Sandra
Melville who thanked her, on behalf of the Board, for her time and
support.
A key feature of the new office is the Victorian pharmacy which
showcases many of the items originally housed in the museum at York
Place. Its prominent location in the main front office means
it can now be enjoyed not only by visitors to the Society but by
passers-by from the street.
The new modern office provides a range of facilities for Society
members and other professional bodies. It provides full
disabled access and has a number of flexible meeting rooms with
video conferencing facilities. An information centre is open
to members throughout the working day and there is also access to a
wide range of electronic and printed information sources.
For more information about using the facilities please call the
Scottish Office on 0131 556 4386.