The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7347 p510
30 April 2005

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Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill

New health Bill in Scotland takes a step forwards

Legislation required for the new community pharmacy contract in Scotland moved closer to reality last week when the Scottish Executive’s health committee announced its support for the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill. The Bill will also result in strengthened disciplinary powers for the NHS over pharmacists who provide pharmaceutical care.

The health committee’s stage one report concluded: “The committee supports the Executive’s proposals for the provision of planned pharmaceutical care services. The committee believes that, if properly implemented, the proposals could ensure the provision of a wider range of pharmaceutical services throughout Scotland on the basis of the needs of individual communities.”

Pharmacy bodies are supportive of the principles of the Bill (PJ, 5 March, p257) but are concerned about the fine detail of the regulations. The Executive has agreed to provide the draft regulations to the committee during the next stage of the Bill’s consideration. This second stage — which involves an examination of the details of the Bill — should start in May, provided the Scottish Parliament agrees with the principles of the Bill when it considers the health committee’s report on 28 April (after The Journal went to press). It is hoped that the second stage will be completed in June.