THE Scottish government has published a new nine-point plan which aims to transform pharmacy and primary care in Scotland.
Titled 'Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care: A Strategy for Scotland', the initiative will achieve "world class pharmaceutical care," said Scotland's chief pharmaceutical officer Rose Marie Parr.
"The commitments and actions in this strategy will help the public and professions alike realise the true value that pharmacy can bring to our communities and daily lives," Parr said.
She said the government wanted more people to use their community pharmacy as a first port of call, ensuring that minor ailment and chronic medication programs are being delivered to their full potential.
"It is through making full use of the clinical capacity in community pharmacy that real gains in clinical care can be made.
"It is also where the community pharmacist's contribution to multidisciplinary team working takes its place to open up access to primary care for everyone and reduce workload at GP practices and other local healthcare services," the report says.
A range of actions are proposed including targeting resources to expand the number of community pharmacists undertaking independent prescribing and advanced clinical skills training.
Work on hospital discharge processes, closer collaboration with general practices, and "serial prescribing and dispensing" are also proposed as part of the plan.
See www.gov.scot for the report.
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