The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7233 p135
25 January 2003

Society summary

Scottish briefing emphasises value of community pharmacy network

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Scottish Department has published a briefing paper emphasising the value of the national network of community pharmacies in Scotland. It suggests that the pharmacy network is an unparalleled vehicle to promote health in all aspects of people's lifestyles and says that the pharmacy in the high street should be recognised as a walk-in health centre where people received advice and treatment on a daily basis.

The paper is the 10th in a series covering issues of public health and health care in which the Society has an involvement. The briefings are designed primarily for the use of members of the United Kingdom and Scottish parliaments and for health care opinion-formers in Scotland.

The stimulus for the latest briefing was the recent publication of "Consumer views of community pharmacies", setting out the results of research by the Scottish Consumer Council (PJ, 30 November 2002, p769). The research found a high level of use of pharmacies and also a high level of loyalty by respondents to particular pharmacies. The vast majority of respondents considered that pharmacies were conveniently located.

The briefing adds that most of the survey respondents were comfortable about approaching pharmacists for medical advice. Most of them also believed that pharmacies should provide more services, such as repeat prescriptions, health checks and smoking cessation clinics.

The briefing also draws attention to the survey report's conclusion that the responses underline "the potential which exists for using pharmacies to promote improved access to services and to promote healthy living". It adds that the Public Health Institute of Scotland has also recognised pharmacists' contribution to public health in a new report, "Pharmacy for health" (PJ, 18 January, p70).