Dr Richard Simpson, MSP, has told the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council that he is already convinced of the need for pharmaceutical input into the new primary care structures because of drug budget restrictions and the need for prescribing controls.
Dr Simpson, a member of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Community Care Committee, met the SPGC chairman (Mr George Romanes) on September 28. They also agreed that two-way transfer of information between prescribers and pharmacists was necessary if patient benefits from electronic links between the two were to be maximised.
They agreed that it should be possible for pharmacists to feed back to GPs information on patient compliance, and even to make appointments with GPs for patients, where appropriate.
Dr Simpson was keen to see the inclusion of all stakeholders in any roll-out of electronic prescribing.
The MSP has many years of experience of the NHS, having been a GP at Bridge of Allan.

Dr Simpson (left) with Mr Romanes