The professional body for pharmacists in Scotland has unveiled a series of requests for MSPs ahead of the next Scottish Parliament elections, including more joined-up IT systems and an expanded role in vaccinations.

The profession is calling for improving IT systems so they link up health and social care, as well as giving high street pharmacy staff read and write access to patient emergency records instead of just being able to read them.

The manifesto produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland adds there is “huge potential” for community pharmacies to provide more healthcare and public health services.

Earlier this year the NHS Pharmacy First scheme launched in a bid to make high street pharmacies health hubs and the first port of call for minor illnesses and common conditions.

While teams in England and Wales routinely now provide NHS flu vaccinations, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society says progress has been slower in Scotland, despite changes brought in due to covid-19.

RPS Scotland says changing this would help boost uptake of a range of vaccinations.

Other requests set out in the manifesto include calls for increased recognition for the third largest healthcare profession and investment in 24/7 clinical pharmacy teams in hospitals

Jonathan Burton, Chair of the Scottish Pharmacy Board, says much of the potential of the pharmacy profession remains untapped:

“We've listened to our members, the profession and other pharmacy organisations and have put together a list of asks for political parties that we believe will help deliver a quality pharmacy service.

“Pharmacy is at the very forefront of health care in Scotland and it is vital that it gets the support it needs to enable pharmacy teams to provide access to expert medicine and health care advice to the people of Scotland where and when they need it.”

Speaking last month at an online event organised by healthandcare.scot, MSPs and primary care representatives agreed on the need for better links between different IT systems in the light of a report criticising a lack of joined-up data on patient outcomes.

“We need a system that talks to each other, we need electronic transmission of prescriptions,” said the BMA’s Dr Andrew Buist, who joined the meeting from his GP surgery in Blairgowrie.

“We need an electronic system that produces data and data can then be fed back to the prescribers, it can be linked to the actual prescribers, so you get data on what you are doing and that can be linked to patient outcomes.”

Matt Barclay of Community Pharmacy Scotland told the audience health boards were doing “different things at times, or different variations on a theme at times,” leading to queries from pharmacists in different board areas.

RPS Scotland has also published a new policy calling for pharmacists to have a larger role in the support of people with mental health problems.

Jonathan Burton added: “Pharmacists can play a vital role in providing accessible services to support people’s mental health, not only to help people get the most from their medicines, but also around looking after their general health and wellbeing.

“Whether it is spotting early signs of mental health conditions, managing long-term conditions, providing expert medicines advice or signposting to other forms of support, pharmacists working across the health service are ideally-placed to ensure people get the help they need.”

Bulletin – Sign up for all the latest news and events

Supporters – If you can help support our reporting for Scotland's health and social care community, please head to our donations page.