Our advocacy work in Scotland

Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland is advocating on behalf of pharmacists every day.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee: Scottish Parliament

RPS in Scotland engages regularly with the Committee, who scrutinise Scottish Govenment policy on healthcare.

Inquiry into Remote and Rural Healthcare

In 2023, the Committee held an inquiry into 'Healthcare in Remote and Rural Areas'.

On 19 December 2023, the Committee took evidence from Director for Scotland at RPS, Laura Wilson.

  • You can watch the oral evidence session, here.
  • You can watch clips of Laura's oral evidence, here.
  • You can read our written evidence to the inquiry, here.
  • You can read our full news story, here.

Inquiry into Alternative Pathways into Primary Care

In 2022, the Committee held an inquiry into 'Alternative Pathways into Primary Care'.

On 15 March 2022, the Committee took evidence from Director for Scotland at RPS, Clare Morrison.

  • You can watch the oral evidence session, here.
  • You can read our written evidence to the inquiry, here.
  • You can read our full news story, here.

Pharmacy 2030

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Pharmacy 2030 is our brand-new professional vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland.

Pharmacy 2030 outlines an exciting future in which pharmacy teams will work together, using their expertise to make the best use of medicines. It is about taking a person-centred approach, providing care holistically rather than by clinical condition.

The vision was launched in February 2022, and RPS Scotland is now raising awareness of the vision with key stakeholders and discussing how we can achieve the key enablers, so our vision can be delivered.

Read the Scottish Parliamentary Motion on Pharmacy 2030 here.

In March, RPS Scotland met with MSPs on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to discuss Pharmacy 2030, which was a great opportunity to raise awareness of our new vision.

On 8 June 2022, RPS Scotland hosted a Scottish Parliamentary Reception to  raise awareness of Pharmacy 2030 amongst MSPs. The event was sponsored by the Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Gillian Martin MSP. The Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport spoke at the event. You can read our news story all about the Reception here.

On 7 November 2022, RPS Scotland and National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland wrote a joint letter to the Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership about our positive collaboration to co-produce the Pharmacy 2030 vision.

Pharmacy workforce

RPS Scotland wants to see proper workforce planning for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, on the same basis as for doctors and nurses.

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In 2021, RPS Scotland published a pharmacy workforce briefing, covering the whole pharmacy workforce, which can be read here.

In November 2021, Director for Scotland at RPS, Clare Morrison met with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP, to discuss workforce issues for pharmacy. You can watch the meeting here.

Clare Morrison has written two columns recently for Holyrood Magazine about how the pharmacy workforce can be supported, which can be read online:

On 20 September 2022, RPS Scotland wrote an open letter to MSPs, 'Pharmacy Workforce Pressures and Closures,' which can be read here.  Humza Yousaf MSP responded to this letter, which can be read here.

In November 2022, Director for Scotland at RPS, Clare Morrison appeared on a panel at the SNP conference and met with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP, to discuss the pharmacy workforce.

Pharmacy's role in reducing harm and preventing drugs deaths

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland has published a policy on the role of pharmacy in reducing harm and preventing drugs deaths.

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In February 2022, this policy was circulated by Audrey Nicoll MSP the Convener of the Joint Committee into Reducing Drugs Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use to all MSPs on the Joint Committee, to inform their work.

In advance of the Joint Committee meeting, RPS Scotland met with MSPs on the Committee to discuss our policy in detail.

In May 2023, RPS Scotland met with Elena Whitham MSP, the Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy.  Following the meeting, we sent the Minister this letter.

Scottish Parliament Debate on Antimicrobial Resistance

On 22 April, MSPs debated 'The Scottish Approach to Managing the Global Risk of Antiomicrobial Resistance'. You can read the full motion here.

Ahead of the debate, RPS Scotland issued a news release on pharmacy's role in reducing harms and deaths from antimicrobial resistance, which can be read here.

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This highlights four ways that pharmacists can help reduce antimicrobial resistance:

  • Providing information to the public about how to manage common self-limiting infections which do not require an antibiotic, about when to seek further help if the condition does not resolve and about when antibiotics are needed. This will help reduce inappropriate, harmful and unnecessary use of antibiotics.
  • Developing guidelines to ensure infections are treated with the most appropriate antibiotics, at the right dose and for the correct length of time.
  • Prescribing antibiotics according to guidelines and giving advice to patients about how to take antibiotics safely.
  • Encouraging the public to return any unused medicines, including antibiotics, to pharmacies for safe disposal.