Pharmacy's potential contribution to the Scottish Executive's modernisation agenda for health care is the subject of a new topical paper issued by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Scottish Department. The paper is the latest in a series designed primarily to inform members of the United Kingdom and Scottish parliaments about public health and health care issues in which the Society is involved.
On modernising policy development, the paper says that the role of pharmacy is central to health boards' and trusts' efforts to ensure best values for money from the drugs budget, because no other health care professional has a greater knowledge of medicines and their safe and effective use.
On modernising service delivery, the paper says that involving pharmacists more in medicines management and discharge planning could reduce unnecessary hospital admissions arising from suboptimal drug therapy or from lack of communication between hospital and community care.
On modernising governance, the paper refers to the high level of standards maintained in pharmacy and says that it is imperative to recognise pharmacy's role and the services that pharmacists provide across primary, secondary and tertiary care.