More powers for pharmacists 'can improve out-of-hours care'

Access to healthcare outside of normal hours would be boosted by giving pharmacists more responsibilities, according to Scotland’s three pharmacy bodies.

In a joint submission to a government review on out-of-hours care, Community Pharmacy Scotland - which represents contractors; the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland - the professional body; and the Directors of Pharmacy on NHS Boards have called for the role of pharmacists to be “significantly strengthened.”

They suggest the Minor Ailment Service, which allows pharmacists to give out medicines on the NHS, should be extended and promoted more.

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Community pharmacies should also have electronic access to summaries of patient records from doctors, which they currently don’t, they said.

Harry McQuillan, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Scotland, said: “All parties agreed that the community pharmacy network could build on what it currently does to support patient care, through further enhancing its role in the context of this review.

“I would encourage the review to positively consider this joint submission of the pharmacy stakeholder organisations and recommend the pharmacy role be significantly strengthened within the primary care team going forward.”

 The Scottish Government launched its National Primary Care Out-of-Hours Review earlier this year to consider how best to deliver urgent primary medical services outwith normal GP surgery hours.

 It forms part of the response to the challenges of Scotland’s ageing population, and as health and social care services are integrated.

Alex MacKinnon, Director for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland, said he felt it was important the bodies provided a collective response.

“I hope that pharmacy’s input into the review will be embraced by the Scottish Government and that community pharmacists’ well recognised contribution will be maximised further and appropriately resourced to help alleviate some of the pressures in the NHS,” he said.