BOPA, British Oncology Pharmacy Association

Lead Pharmacist
Yorkshire Cancer Network
Arthington House
Cookridge Hospital
Cookridge
Leeds LS16 6QB
Tel: 0113 392 4129
Fax: 0113 392 4131
Email:David.Thomson@ycn.nhs.uk

My current role is that of Lead Pharmacist for the Yorkshire Cancer Network, where I have worked full time since October 2004.

I graduated from Strathclyde University in 1996 and my first job was as a resident pharmacist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. My interest in oncology/haematology grew from my second post at the Western General Infirmary in Edinburgh as a rotational C grade clinical pharmacist. During this time I rotated through the posts of oncology/haematology outpatient and also breast services pharmacist.

In 2001 I moved to Leeds and took up the role of Lead Pharmacist for Haematology at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. I was elected Chair of the Cancer Network Pharmacists Forum (CNPF) in October 2005 and my main area of interest is to ensure that BOPA and the CNPF work together to help to ensure the continued high profile of oncology pharmacy services within the NHS cancer services.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
2. Research Grants: Nil
3. Source of honoraria or fees (2005)

AstraZeneca (ASCO, Orlando, May 2005)

Teva (BOPA, Glasgow, October 2005)

Pharmion (Risk Management Meeting, Rome, April 2005)

Consultancy on an ad hoc basis for Westaway Gillis and TBA)

BOPA Vice Chair

Netty Wood MPharm, Dip Pharm Pract, MRPharmS (IPresc)

Essex Cancer Network Pharmacist
Tel: 07983085748
Email:nettywood@nhs.net

My current role is that of Lead Pharmacist for the Essex Cancer Network where I have worked full time since September 2008.

I graduated from The School of Pharmacy, University of London in 2001 and my first job was a rotational pharmacist in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford where my interest in oncology and haematology was born.

In 2004 I took up the role of Senior Cancer Pharmacist at Colchester Hospital, where I gained experience in web design and mangement, project mangement and clinical oncology. It was in early 2006, that I was enlisted to project manage the re-design of the BOPA website by the committee.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer- Essex Cancer Network
2. Research grants: nil
3. Sources of honoraria or fees totally more than £500 in last two years: Celgene (ad board and consultancy fee)

BOPA Treasurer

Michelle Rowe

Chief Technician-clinical services
Christie Hospital NHS Trust
Wilmslow Road
Manchester
M20 4BX
Tel: 0161 446 8296
Fax:0161 446 8296
Email: michelle.rowe@christie-tr.nwest.nhs.uk

Michelle started her student pharmacy career at Boots the Chemist and qualified with Apothecary Hall in 1985 whilst at The Christie.

She has enjoyed a variety of roles within the same pharmacy department. From student, senior technician- cytotoxic service, chief technician, dispensary manager, chief technician- clinical services, to education, training and clinical audit facilitator.

In 1997 she was asked to take on the role of infusor co-ordinator for the Trust. This was unusual for a technician to have a role with a great deal of patient contact.. Her clinical role is currently with the outpatient gastrointestinal team, where she still enjoys regular patient contact.

She has a wealth of oncology experience in particular with the use of ambulatory chemotherapy.

She is a member of the MARC (Management and Risks of Cytotoxic handling) panel and has been a BOPA member since its inauguration in 1997.

Her latest role is as NVQ assessor and is responsible for the education and training of all the technical staff.

She lectures on the regional DAC course twice a year.

Over the last few years she has been secretary for the BOPA education and training sub committee and is keen to develop more courses both as study days and a recognised oncology course for technicians.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer- Christie Hospital NHS Trust
2. Research grants:
3. Sources of honoraria or fees totally more than £500 in last two years:

Conferences BOPA 2005

Annual World Congress of GI Cancers

Honorarium- Mayne Pharma

Lecturing fees- Preston College

BOPA Executive Committee Member

Dean Bradley

Quality Manager HSC Transplant Service
Specialist Haematology
Ward 6B
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
Tel: 0191 2825140
Dect: 0191 2821642
E-mail:dean.bradley@nuth.nhs.uk

I am the senior technician in the Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment based in Newcastle, a post which I have held since 1997. I trained in York District hospital where my interest in oncology and haematology began. I later moved to Harrogate District to set up a CIVA/Chemo/TPN service, eventually moving to Newcastle to concentrate on oncology and haematology.

In my present post I have developed my role as a manger with a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute. More recently I have completed a postgraduate award in clinical oncology from Warwick University, with this and previous experience I hope to develop my role as a clinical oncology technician.

In the next 12 months a new purpose built cancer centre will open at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle and this will be a great opportunity to further develop cancer services in Newcastle.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1 Employer: Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2 Research grants: nil
3 Source of honoraria or fees totalling more than £500 in the last 2 years: nil

Chair of the Cancer Network Pharmacist's Forum

Anne Hines

Newsletter Editor

Jeff Koundakjian

Network Lead Pharmacist
North Wales Cancer Network
Preswylfa
Hendy Road
Mold
Flintshire CH7 1PZ
email:bopawebsite@hotmail.com

Committee membership: October 2005 -date

My current position is that of Network Lead Pharmacist for the North Wales Cancer Network, where I have worked since October 2005.

Prior to my current position, I was Commercial Development Manager for Medac GmbH, for three years, a company specializing in oncology treatment and diagnostic products, and prior to this post I was the Chief Pharmacist at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology for 14 years.

I graduated from Sydney University and registered as a pharmacist in New South Wales in 1965. Since then I have worked in various hospitals in Australia (NSW & SA), Canada (Toronto) and in the UK. Among my positions in the UK, I have been principal pharmacist in MI, and production.

My main area of interest is in adult solid tumours and aseptic production.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer:North Wales Cancer Network
2. Research grants:nil
3. Honoraria or fees totalling more than £500 over the past 2 years: nil

BOPA Executive Committee Member Secretary

Harriet Launders

BOPA Executive Committee Member

Joanne Robinson

Pharmacy Department
Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary
Majors Loan
Falkirk
FK1 5QE
Tel: 01324 624000 ext 5945

I am the senior pharmacist for oncology in NHS Forth Valley in central Scotland, a post which I have held since 2000. I graduated from The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in 1994 and did my pre-reg at Leeds General Infirmary. My interest in oncology started during my pre-reg placement at the Cookridge Cancer Centre. After B grade jobs in Dundee and Aberdeen I started work in aseptic services in Stirling Royal Infirmary and was promoted to my current post which is in a cancer unit based in Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary.

In my current post I have developed pharmacist-led review of patients receiving chemotherapy and I am a practicing supplementary prescriber. I have a keen interest in education and training and currently chair the BOPA Study Days Workstream and help organise the annual Scottish Oncology Pharmacy Practice Group (SOPPG)conference. I hope to provide a link between BOPA and the SOPPG to encourage collaborative working.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1 Employer: NHS Forth Valley
2 Research grants: nil
3 Source of honoraria or fees totalling more than £500 in the last 2 years: nil

BOPA Executive Committee Member

Calum Polwart

Calum Polwart is clinical Team Manager for Cancer and Aseptic Services at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. He is also Network Pharmacist for the North of England Cancer Network. Calum describes himself as an ‘IT geek’. Calum attained his degree from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, before crossing the border to do his pre-registration training in Carlisle. He then moved east to be a resident pharmacist near Newcastle. Calum has been working in oncology since 2000, and completed his MSc in 2004—of course being an ‘IT geek’ his research project focused on information needs.

BOPA Executive Committee Member

Steve Williamson

Steve Williamson is the Consultant Pharmacist for Cancer Services—a joint role with Northumbria Healthcare Trust and the North of England Cancer Network. Within the Trust, Steve provides leadership and strategic direction to the development and delivery of chemotherapy services. He is also the Professional Secretary to the North of England Cancer Drugs Approval Group (NECDAG). Steve has undertaken research into capacity planning in chemotherapy services and has worked with the Department of Health in the development of its capacity planning tools. His current area of interest is extending the clinical pharmacist role in supporting patients on oral chemotherapy.

BOPA Executive Committee Member

Gemma Bruce

Chair of the Faculty of Cancer Pharmacy

Geoff Saunders BPharm, MRPharmS, Dip Clin Pharm, MCPP, BCOP

Anti-infectives and Medicines Management Pharmacist
Christie Hospital

Macmillan Cancer Network Pharmacist
Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network
Gateway House, Piccadilly South
Manchester M60 7LP
Tel:0161 237 2354
Mobile: 07817087377
e-mail:geoff@nhs.net

Current committee membership October 2002-date

My current position is that of Macmillan Cancer Network Pharmacist for the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network, where I have worked full time since September 2003.

I graduated from Bradford University in 1982 and my interest in oncology grew from my first job as a basic grade pharmacist on a radiotherapy ward at Kings College Hospital. Since then I have worked as an Oncology pharmacist in the North East of England and from 1988 in Manchester at The Christie Hospital.

My main area of interest is in adult solid tumours and in the development of the clinical role of pharmacists and technicians within oncology.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer: Greater Manchester and Chesire Cancer Networks
2. Research grants: None
3. Sources of honoraria or fees totally more than £500 in last two years:

Occasional consultancy, Astrazeneca ASCO 2006

Pfizer ASCO 2007

Astra Zeneca (ASCO New Orleans: June 2004)

POP representative

Julie Mycroft

Principal Pharmacist -Paediatric Oncology
Royal Marsden NHS Trust
Downs Road
Sutton
Surrey SM2 5PT
Tel: 0208 661 3042 (direct)
Fax: 0208 661 3537
E-mail:Julie.mycroft@rmh.nhs.uk

I recently joined the BOPA committee to represent the views of paediatric oncology pharmacists, having been a steering group committee member of the POP (paediatric oncology pharmacists) group since it's formation in 1996.

I am Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services at the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, based at Sutton but with cross site responsibilities at RMH Chelsea. The Royal Marsden NHS Trust is part of the SW London Network.

I graduated from the Leicester School of Pharmacy in 1979. After completing my pre-reg at Kings College Hospital, and basic grade pharmacist posts at Westminster and National Heart/Brompton Hospitals, I joined the Royal Marsden in 1983, gaining promotion into my present post in 1989.

One of my main responsibilities is developing Education and Training for pharmacists throughout the Trust. I am an accredited tutor for the Univ. London SOP Diploma/MSc Pharmacy Practice and the Univ. Portsmouth Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy. I was a module leader for the Univ. London SOP oncology module from 1993-99.

My main oncology interests are in paediatric oncology and palliative care. I have been the lead pharmacist for the paediatric oncology directorate at RMH since 1992. It has proved to be an exciting and challenging move and personally very rewarding.

There are key differences in the way cancer treatment is organised within paediatrics, not least the development of national protocols for all paediatric tumours by the UKCCSG (United Kingdom Childrens' Cancer Study Group). Having been one of the first pharmacists to join a UKCCSG working group (Chemotherapy Standardisation) it is a source of pride that nearly all such working groups now have pharmacist representation.

Declaration of financial and other interests:
1. Employer: The Royal Marsden NHS Trust
2. Research grants: None
3. Sources of honoraria or fees totally more than £500 in last two years: None