The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in Scotland today welcomes the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry into alternative pathways into primary care.
Pharmacists provide face to face healthcare services to people across Scotland every day and are embedded in every community, working within community pharmacies, GP practices, NHS24 and hospitals.
Pharmacists provide specialist advice on medicines use and management, as well as providing advice and treatment for various minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.
The NHS Pharmacy First service means that anyone registered with a GP practice in Scotland can visit a community pharmacy for advice and support, usually without an appointment. Pharmacists will have a consultation with the patient, and will then provide self-care advice, treatment and/or onward referral as appropriate.
Commenting on the launch of the inquiry, Clare Morrison, Director of RPS Scotland, said: “I strongly welcome the launch of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry into alternative pathways into primary care.
"Pharmacy already provides an entry route to primary care for thousands of people living in Scotland, but we know there is a lot more to do to ensure everyone is aware of the full range of services that pharmacists can provide, and various settings in which pharmacists work.
"RPS Scotland looks forward to engaging with the Committee, and other partners, as we work together to raise awareness of the role of pharmacists as first point of contact practitioners and identify ways that we can strengthen the existing system to provide even better patient experience, whilst adding capacity across health and social care.”
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