The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7475 p459
27 October 2007

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CPS stimulates debate on access to records

Community Pharmacy Scotland's call to give pharmacists access to electronic patient records has sparked a debate in Scotland.

CPS made the call in its manifesto (PDF 900K), published last week (PJ, 20 October 2007, p427).

A report about the manifesto in The Herald newspaper on 22 October drew a number of comments from members of the public, many of whom said pharmacists should not be given access to records.

Alex Mackinnon, head of corporate affairs, CPS, said: “This has shown that we clearly have quite a bit to do in terms of engaging with patients to explain what we mean by appropriate access to records. The good thing is that the debate has now been opened.”

He added: “Pharmacists are taking on more roles, such as the urgent supply of medicines when surgeries are closed. So we do not think it unreasonable to ask for access to the medicines part of patients’ records to help pharmacists make informed decisions on behalf of patients.”