The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7289 p297
6 March 2004

Society summary

Society takes pharmacy message to Scottish Labour Party conference

The Scottish Department of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society took the pharmacy message to the annual Scottish Labour Party Conference, this year held in Inverness from 27 to 29 February. The Society joined the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council in co-sponsoring a “Pharmacy in Scotland” stand.

The Scottish Department says that attending the Scottish Labour Party Conference enabled its representatives to speak to politicians and other participants about issues currently affecting the profession and to respond directly to queries on pharmacy developments in Scotland. These included progress on implementation of the Right Medicine strategy, ease of access to the community pharmacy network, public health issues and the opportunities available for patients and the health service by making better use of the skills of pharmacist and their staff.

David Thomson (centre) and David Forbes (left) talking to Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell

David Thomson, chairman of the Society’s Scottish Department, said: “It is important that the Society continues to ensure that members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), locally elected representatives and indeed their grass roots supporters are kept informed about developments in pharmacy. Having a presence at the Scottish Labour Party Conference has meant that we have been able to discuss and raise awareness of key pharmacy issues with many eminent politicians. These included, among others, the First Minister, Jack McConnell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alistair Darling, the Minister for Health and Community Care, Malcolm Chisholm, and the Secretary of State for Health in England and Wales, John Reid.”

Mr Thomson added: “Attendance at party conferences enables the profession to engage with the political community and allows us to build on the other forms of contact we have now introduced to further support these efforts. These include the issue of topic-specific parliamentary briefing papers and the short e-mail bulletin, Pharmacy Bytes (PJ, 4 October 2003, p475). To maintain this profile, it is important that we continue to work with our colleagues in the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council by taking the pharmacy stand, and our message, to all of the party conferences held in Scotland.”

From left, Noel Wicks, David Forbes, David Thomson and Robbie McGregor (SPGC) with John Reid

In addition to Mr Thomson, the Society’s Scottish Department was represented on the stand by two other members of its executive, Noel Wicks and David Forbes, and Nigel Graham, Acting Secretary.

All conference participants, including MSPs, were invited to have a mini health check measuring their blood pressure and body mass index.