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As I listened to delegates at Sigma Pharmaceutical’s conference in Baku groan that contractors were being unfairly denied the chance to know how Community Pharmacy England committee members vote on their behalf, I thought ‘CPE is in good company when it comes to the problematic nature of confidentiality’.

It took me back to January 2022 when Dr Clare Sieber resigned from the British Medical Association’s GP committee having been referred under the BMA’s code of conduct for sharing a report with her “constituents” revealing there had been no progress on industrial action. 

Dr Sieber, who originally proposed the measure in October 2021, accused the BMA of trying to silence her. Having also ended her BMA membership, she fell on her sword on a point of principle; she was no longer able to fulfil her role on the committee if the BMA restricted what she shared with constituents.

I agreed with Dr Sieber. GPs had a right to be kept in the loop. I’d argue the same about pharmacy contractors, who have been constantly reminded that certain things must remain confidential.

That shouldn’t apply to how CPE committee members vote. CPE is accountable to LPCs and LPCs are accountable to contractors. And so, the contractor base is god.

It was heartening to hear Prakash Patel, one of 10 regional representatives on CPE’s committee who are elected by pharmacy owners, agree that members’ votes should be disclosed.

“That's what happens at the cabinet in 10 Downing Street,” he mused. Others were more pugnacious. Former North-East London LPC secretary Hemant Patel claimed there was a “secret cabal" within CPE.

"They are a union. Can you imagine a union going back to the constituency and saying ‘I can't tell you how I voted’. It is nonsense. It needs a review,” he exclaimed.

Others in the room concurred. Then, hopes were raised. Prakash Patel said “if the grassroots want that secret ballot to be revealed”, he would ask the committee to consider it for discussion.

But is he prepared to fall on his sword as Dr Sieber did in the name of transparency?

Neil Trainis is the editor of Independent Community Pharmacist.