Society head leaves for NHS trust post

Gemma O'Reilly 09-Sep-08

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is losing its longstanding top PRO to one of the country's biggest NHS Trust hospitals.

Jean-Pierre Moser is leaving after nine years as head of corporate communications and membership.

He will join St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in the newly created director of communications role later this month.

Moser will report to chief executive David Astley and will oversee a team of five.

The hospital is currently working towards foundation status and supporting the move will be part of Moser’s remit in his new role. He will also oversee all external and internal PR activity.

‘As choice becomes an increasingly important factor in the NHS, so one of the main challenges at St George’s will be to build awareness about the work of the trust among patients and the wider public,’ said Moser. ‘A priority will be to review how the trust uses its website to communicate with target audiences.’

The RPSGB, the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales, is set to start recruiting soon for his replacement. Director of policy and communications David Pruce is overseeing the process.

The RPSGB is currently going through a demerger, which will see a split in its current joint professional and regulatory roles. A new pharmacy regulator, The General Pharmaceutical Council, and a new still to be named professional body will be established in 2010.

‘The world of pharmacy is changing and it’s a very exciting time,’ said Moser.

‘There was a recent white paper in April that will determine pharmacy’s role going forward. One of the challenges will be to raise public awareness of the role pharmacy plays in primary and secondary care.

There is also the demerger of the RPSGB. This will include an external drive with the public, and an internal drive with its 48,000 members.’

The RPSGB appointed Fleishman-Hillard this spring following a long-running pitch process (PRWeek, 18 April).

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