Scottish Pharmacy Board plan for 2011

Our Vision for Pharmacy

The Scottish Pharmacy Board believes that all of our work must revolve around the Society’s Vision for Pharmacy. Our major activities (detailed below) will therefore always be underpinned by the values in this Vision, and are echoed in our Scottish Pharmacy Manifesto.

In particular, we feel that as the universally accessible frontline clinical provider of all aspects of pharmaceutical care, the pharmacist is uniquely placed to deliver high quality patient care. We want to ensure that our members are not only recognised for the quality of service they provide, but also enabled to continue improving and integrating the way they work with other healthcare professionals to ensure the highest level of patient care.

In 2011, we will establish partnership working in key activities both across pharmacy and other healthcare and patient stakeholders.  We will also continue to lobby government and work with other key stakeholders to address issues such as:

•  Medicines distribution

•  Prescribing of controlled drugs 

•  Decriminalisation of single dispensing errors

•  Medicines safety

•  Accessing the electronic patient record

•  Workplace pressures

It is our intention to utilise our Local Practice Forums to their fullest potential to help acheive these goals.

Decriminalisation of single dispensing errors

There is an out-dated blame-culture that surrounds dispensing errors that discourages learning from mistakes and therefore improving patient safety. Under current legislation a pharmacist is criminally liable for all dispensing errors, even if the error is a one-off and entirely non-malicious.  No other healthcare professional faces the same threat. The overwhelming majority of our members (97.7%) believe this is a major issue, and 81.3% believe that this is a major contributor to workforce pressures felt by pharmacists.

In 2011, we will engage with the Scottish Government, Members of the Scottish Parliament and external stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue and play a part in the final UK delivery of this objective.

Medicines safety

We want to establish the UK as the world’s safest place to take medicines, and it is our vision that pharmacists should play a key role in guarding patient safety and welfare.  In Scotland there is presently an NHS Scotland programme to improve patient safety, the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP).  For maximum impact and to avoid duplication of resources, it is our goal to work with SPSP in the implementation of any new Scottish initiatives and contributions to patient safety in the field of pharmacy. 

In 2011, multi-disciplinary working groups with SPB members and other experts from key stakeholders will develop plans around on Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions and Pharmaceutical Care in Care Homes (link to PCCH section of MS page), while ensuring that pharmacy is integrated into all aspects of the Scottish Patient Safety Program.

Workplace pressures

We have launched a new campaign to draw attention to the growing pressure pharmacists are under.  You have told us that the biggest issues facing pharmacists in Scotland today are decriminalisation of one off dispensing errors, the distribution of medicines, and lack of time and support for CPD.

In 2011, we will address these issues head on – consulting with stakeholders and lobbing government, along with other key partners to help identify solutions to the pressures felt by pharmacists every day.

Electronic healthcare records & IT strategy

Whilst additional clinical responsibilities have been given to pharmacists in recent years, access to patient records in community pharmacy has been withheld.  Most of our members (85.7%) believe this is a serious issue – it has resulted in pharmacists not having the information necessary to ensure patient safety.

In 2011, we will establish and deliver a lobbying and engagement strategy with a view to initially achieving access for all pharmacists to the electronic patient record and for pharmacists to be included ongoing as true practitioner partners in any integrated health care record in the future. We will also work with key stakeholders and partners to identify and resolve IT issues and promote best practice use of IT to progress and improve pharmacy service development.

Local Practice Forums

We feel that the Local Practice Forums (LPFs) in Scotland have a vital role to play. We want the LPFs to improve engagement with members, politicians and the public, as well as raising the profile of pharmacists in general. 

In 2011, we will work with Scottish LPFs towards the following goals:

•  Establishing two-way communication between the Scottish Pharmacy Board and members to help refine our work promoting the pharmacy profession in Scotland.

•  Utilising the extensive expertise of members to engage with MSPs and other key stakeholders – communicating not only the issues pharmacists face every day, but also highlighting the valuable role that pharmacists play in patient care.

•  Supporting members in Continuing Professional Development, as well as return to practice training.

•  Encouraging and establishing a process of informal support and mentoring.