Scotland

Health secretary’s aide hears plea for government clarity on community pharmacy’s future

The government needs to be clear on where community pharmacy will stand in five years’ time, representatives of community pharmacy have told Alex Chalk, parliamentary private secretary to health minister Matt Hancock.…

Pharmacist prescribing support releases GP capacity, Scottish project shows

Prescribing support from specialist pharmacy staff could free up GPs’ time and capacity, results from a pilot project in Scotland have shown.…

Scottish Pharmacy Board: 26 September 2018

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish Pharmacy Board held its autumn meeting on 26 September 2018 at the Society’s Edinburgh office.…

Rose Marie Parr: ‘We want to make pharmacies the first port of call’

The Scottish chief pharmaceutical officer, Rose Marie Parr, on Brexit, minor ailments schemes and 24-hour pharmacies.…

Antidepressant prescribing in Scotland rises by almost 3 million items per year over a decade

The number of antidepressants prescribed in Scotland has risen by almost 3 million items per year over the past decade, new figures show.…

Health board reviews NHS prescribing of 15 medicines

A Scottish health board has confirmed that it will stop providing co-proxamol for NHS patients under any circumstances from October 2018 and it is reviewing its prescribing of 14 other medicinal products.…

Shortage of enhanced flu vaccine for over 65s in Scotland

The adjuvanted trivalent flu vaccination Fluad will not be offered to people in Scotland aged 65–75 years, after problems with procurement of the drug by NHS Scotland.…

Two new members join Scottish Pharmacy Board

Two new members have joined the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish Pharmacy Board.…

Scottish government announces national minor ailments service for all

The Scottish government is to create a community pharmacy minor ailments scheme that is available to everyone across Scotland.…

Half of GP surgeries have pharmacy support, says Scottish health minister

Pharmacy services are taking a “crucial role” in Scotland, with half of GP surgeries now able to access a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician with advanced clinical skills, the Scottish health minister says.…