31 December 2024
With a wealth of experience as a General Practitioner and lecturer, Dr Rob Bracchi joined the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre (AWTTC) as Medical Advisor in 2011.
Having worked for over 30 years as a GP, for a time at Tudor Gate Surgery in Abergavenny alongside his father Dr Alfred Bracchi. Rob was appointed Course Organiser for the Cardiff University Diploma/ Master’s programme in Therapeutics, a course he gained a distinction in a year before in 1993.
When Rob started at AWTTC, he led a successful educational initiative to increase reporting by GP’s and pharmacists of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) through the UK Yellow Card Scheme.
Keen for innovation it was Rob’s ideas which lead to the development of a national reporting indicator benchmark which further enhanced ADR reporting by primary care practitioners in Wales.
Rob also chaired AWTTC’s Research Group, encouraging staff to scientifically evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and has acted as a mentor to colleagues and students who were beginning to conduct research projects.
During his time at AWTTC, Rob played a crucial role in steering the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group’s (AWMSG’s) 5-year strategies through the consultation process, was the Chair of the New Medicines Group for five years, and served on the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) committees. Rob is also a Trustee of St David’s Hospice Care in Newport.
At the staff Away Day in December, AWTTC’s former Clinical Director, Professor Philip Routledge, said: “Rob has always believed in collaboration and worked closely with other agencies to achieve important objectives. He also ensured that the patient’s voice was clearly heard, chairing the Clinician and Patient involvement group of AWMSG.
“In all of these ways, Rob has made important contributions to improve access to medicines for patients, and also to safe and effective prescribing in Wales.
“We wish him and his family well as he moves into (what we suspect will be an equally busy) retirement and will always be grateful for his friendly, reassuring presence and the calm judgement he brought to the work of AWTTC.”