Scottish Bill sets out new contract legislation
Legislative changes that are required to implement the new community pharmacy contract in Scotland have been set out in the Smoking,
Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill. It was published just before Christmas.
Andy Kerr, health minister at the Scottish Executive, said: “It
will help us take forward the aims set out in our pharmacy strategy,
to enable pharmacists to take a greater role in providing new services,
enabling patients to have their medicines reviewed and minor
ailments treated at their local pharmacy,
reducing the need to visit a GP.”
The Bill is divided into six parts, one of which covers the newly termed “pharmaceutical
care services”. Among the provisions are requirements for NHS boards
to plan pharmaceutical care services and to publish this information.
NHS boards will have to extend their pharmaceutical lists to include
all pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care services (ie, both contractors
and employee or engaged pharmacists). The Bill will also
introduce legislation so that pharmaceutical care service contracts between
NHS boards and contractors reflect the model of essential and additional
services set out in the new Scottish community pharmacy contract.
Other parts of the Bill cover the legislative changes needed for smoking
to be banned in certain places, and for dental and eye examinations to
be made available to all free of charge.
The Scottish Executive’s health committee has called for views
on the Bill to be submitted by 11 February. Further information is available
on the Scottish Executive website. |
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