History of the UKPPG
Additional Bits of History
From Margaret Benfield:
It is important to remember that before the 1960’s, most psychiatric hospitals were in Hospital Management Groups of their own. Even though there have been a number of incorporations into general groups over the 1970’s and 1980’s, the amalgamations have rarely bought the psychiatric hospital [which usually only had one pharmacist, who therefore had little or no regular contact with other pharmacists] into much closer contact with other hospitals in the group. Yet, at the NHS reorganisation in 1974, 17% of the 500 hospital groups were still for psychiatric treatment only, and of the 800 hospitals that had a pharmacy, 20% were in psychiatric hospitals. Probably few administrators, to say nothing of suppliers and educators, realised that one fifth of all hospital pharmacy departments were in this field.
By the early 1970’s, there were virtually no psychiatric hospitals in London, these hospitals having been built in Victorian times in two country areas, near Epsom in the south and round St. Albans in the north. When I was appointed Group Pharmacist at Leavesden Hospital in 1970, I soon realised how isolated we were, but how close we were to three other psychiatric departments. Subsequently, I arranged for a Saturday study meeting. From that we went on to hold UK-wide occasional meetings in one or other of the large psychiatric hospitals in places like Birmingham, Ilkley and Edinburgh. As the first proceedings pointed out, "it was obvious how little study had been done in the field of psychiatric pharmacy, and how essential it was for these pharmacists to meet and work together from time to time."
Janssen Pharmaceuticals were the first company to meet the challenge we undoubtedly presented and, although it was not long before other companies began to take part, it is Janssen we must thank for the first four or five conferences.
Margaret Benfield, Hemel Hempstead
Former Group Pharmacist, Leavesden Hospital and first Chairperson of the PPG.
These are a pretty random selection, mainly "firsts" and appointments. I am sure you can all add a few events to the above (particularly as regards your particular rôle in history! e-mail comments to sbazire@ukppg.org.uk here!
Last update 31.10.05
First compiled by Stephen Bazire in October 1998, additional details from many people, particularly Margaret Benfield (December 1998, March 1999, especially early data), Celia Feetam and Morag Martin (February 1999, additional detail and missing names).