OPERATIONAL PLAN

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The plan describes the operation of the NHS UK Group on Radiopharmacy. The Activities of the Group are:

Promoting the further development of Radiopharmacy by advancing current practices, setting standards, and supplying timely advice and information.

Co-ordinating educational programmes and the provision of an expert collective view on all matters pertinent to the science and practice of Radiopharmacy.

The Aims and Objectives of the Group involve:

1. Maintaining a communications network to enable the Group to provide a collective view on strategy for the future of Radiopharmacy services.
2. Meeting as a Group to provide authoritative advice.
3. Promoting, co-ordinating and facilitating developmental activities to avoid duplication and improve products and services.
4. Providing a point of contact for other concerned parties.
5. Influencing other providers (eg Industry) to the mutual benefit of our customers.
6. Developing programmes of education and training in response to the identified needs of customers.
7. Alerting professional and managerial staff to developments in products, practice and legislation to ensure safe, cost effective service delivery.
8. Providing leadership to improve standards in Radiopharmacy practice.
9. Gathering and disseminating pertinent information on product/service quality to optimise efficacy.
10. Maintaining awareness in changes in customers’ needs and responding appropriately.

OPERATIONAL PLAN

NAME:

UK Radiopharmacy Group

ACTIVITY:

To promote the further development of Radiopharmacy by advancing current practices, setting standards, and supplying timely advice and information.

To co-ordinate educational programmes and provide an expert collective view on all matters pertinent to the science and practice of Radiopharmacy.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Maintaining a communications network to enable the Group to provide a collective view on strategy for the future of Radiopharmacy services.
2. Meeting as a Group to provide authoritative advice.
3. Promoting, co-ordinating and facilitating developmental activities to avoid duplication and improve products and services.
4. Providing a point of contact for other concerned parties.
5. Influencing other providers (eg Industry) to the mutual benefit of our customers.
6. Developing programmes of education and training in response to the identified needs of customers.
7. Alerting professional and managerial staff to developments in products, practice and legislation to ensure safe, cost effective service delivery.
8. Providing leadership to improve standards in Radiopharmacy practice.
9. Gathering and disseminating pertinent information on product/service quality to optimise efficacy.
10. Maintaining awareness in changes in customers’ needs and responding appropriately.

MECHANISMS AND TIMESCALES

1. Maintaining a communications network to enable the Group to provide a collective view on strategy for the future of Radiopharmacy services.

1. Each representative will maintain his/her geographical network and distribute information to local level. Notes of meeting will be included in a regular Newsletter for circulation to customers of all Group members.
2. Formal minutes of Group meetings will be recorded and circulated within one working month.
3. A contacts list of Group members will be regularly updated by the Secretary of the Group. A list of UK Radiopharmacy contacts will be held centrally.
4. The two-way response of gathering and disseminating information to provide a rapid national response will be maintained.

2. Meeting as a Group to provide authoritative advice.

1. A relevant agenda will be produced for each meeting. Deadlines for agenda items will be included in the minutes.
2. Specific action will be taken on agenda items by named individuals or working groups.

3. Promoting, co-ordinating and facilitating developmental activities to avoid duplication and improve products and services.

1. Minuting discussions of problems found in practice will facilitate a co-ordinated approach to solutions.
2. Co-ordination on a geographically representative basis will reduce duplication of activities.

4. Providing a point of contact for other concerned parties.

1. The existence of a national Group will maintain the provision of a focus for Radiopharmacy.
2. Members of the Group will continue to provide points of contact for Radiopharmacy expertise.
3. The Chairman and Secretary will provide identifiable communication channels for other concerned parties.

5. Influencing other providers (eg Industry) to the mutual benefit of our customers.

1. Collation of information using the communication network will facilitate the provision of data.
2. Collective views are acknowledged and respected bycommercial entities and will be employed to influence change.

6. Developing programmes of education and training in response to the identified needs of customers.

1. Training needs will be identified by market research.
2. Programmes to fill these needs will be developed either within the Group or in conjunction with other groups/academia.
3. Continuing training procedures will be regularly reviewed.
4. Accreditation of courses will be actively pursued.

7. Alerting professional and managerial staff to developments in products, practice and legislation to ensure safe, cost effective service delivery.

1. The communication network will be utilised to gather data.
2. Guidance will be issued in the form of Group publications and joint publications with allied professions.
3. Up-to-date information on product availability and status will be provided.

8. Providing leadership to improve standards in Radiopharmacy practice.

1. The audit process will be further developed.
2. Audit procedures will be continually updated.
3. Informed and expert publications will be produced.

9. Gathering and disseminating pertinent information on product/service quality to optimise efficacy.

1. Communication network will enable a rapid, two-way response.
2. Co-ordination of unusual biodistributions and defective product reporting schemes will continue.

10. Maintaining awareness in changes in customers’ needs and responding appropriately.

1. Group meetings will continue to provide a focus for information and a forum for discussion.
2. Communication network enables rapid collation of information and dissemination of results.
3. Regular reviews of customer needs will continue.
4. A report of activities will be published in a suitable relevant journal.

GROUP STRUCTURE

1. The Group will consist of a minimum of eight NHS members (to represent practice in the UK) plus appropriate observers and a maximum of twenty.
2. The Group will meet on a quarterly basis.
3. A Chairperson and Secretary will be elected on a two year basis with the positions overlapping by one year.
4. A Newsletter Editor will be nominated.
5. Nominations for elections must be proposed and seconded.
6. Working groups will consist of a minimum of three members, and be task-specific.

SPECIFIC AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Two Year Plan

1. Providing appropriate input into standards of Radiopharmacy services for NHS purchasers.
2. Identifying the Group’s contact base for 2000/2001.
3. Reviewing Group input into the PTQA course at the University of Leeds.
4. Organising training workshops and short courses in Radiopharmacy.
5. Advising on the Radiopharmacy content of pre-registration pharmacist training for the RPhSGB.
6. Monitoring and influencing the input of Radiopharmacy in the four year MPharm.
7. Extending Radiopharmacy education and training to allied non-pharmacy Professions.
8. Maintaining and updating the Radiopharmacy Handbook.
9. Fully reviewing the aims and objectives of the Group.
10. Promulgating the profession at all relevant meetings.

Five Year Plan

1. Extending the educational expertise into Europe and Worldwide.
2. Continuing production of the Radiopharmacy Handbook.
3. Assessing fully all activities and achievements in accordance with short term strategy criteria.
4. Monitoring the impact of the MPharm on specialist Radiopharmacy postgraduate education demand.
5. Reviewing aims and objectives for long term strategy within the NHS framework.