National Pharmacy Association chief executive Paul Rees has announced he will depart for an interim role with the nursing regulator in the new year.

Mr Rees, who joined the NPA from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in November 2023, will take up the position of interim chief executive and registrar with the Nursing and Midwifery Council from January 20, 2025. 

His brief tenure at the NPA has been marked by an emphasis on national media engagement to raise awareness of the community pharmacy sector’s ongoing funding shortfall and rising numbers of local pharmacy closures.

A ballot on work to rule measures, which was voted through last week by NPA member pharmacies, has been the most high profile moment for the organisation since he joined, generating widespread coverage and attracting the attention of Labour ministers.

The NMC said Mr Rees, who was awarded an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in 2022, will be tasked with turning around the organisation’s culture following a report that highlighted safeguarding concerns as well as racism and bullying.

In a statement on the NMC website, Mr Rees said: “I am looking forward enormously to joining the brilliant team at the NMC and helping them deliver the culture change that they need to thrive in their roles.

“In turn, this will enable them to deliver their best work for the public who rely on high standards of nursing and midwifery care.

“Together, we will work to substantially improve the experiences and outcomes for everyone impacted by the NMC’s important role and work as a regulator.”

In a statement to members, NPA chair Nick Kaye said: “We’re sorry to see Paul leave us but that doesn’t detract from the amazing work the NPA team has done over the past months.

“The NPA board and the NPA team will not lose any of the momentum we’ve gained together.

“As we saw last week, the phenomenal NPA ballot result has shifted the dial again. A year ago, I didn’t think that pharmacy would be spoken about in the same sentence as hospital and GPs. Today, no one can ignore us.

“The campaigning path that Paul has helped set us on will not change with his departure. There will be no turning back. The new, modernised NPA is here to stay.”