Scottish Labour Conference Hears From Pharmacy In Scotland

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 31 Mar 2010 - 3:00 PDT


As the General Election looms ever closer, Labour held its Scottish Conference in Glasgow on the 27th March. The 'Pharmacy in Scotland' joint exhibition by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) was there to lobby on important issues for members and the profession.

The presence of RPS and CPS ensures that the profession's contribution to healthcare, and its potential to do more, is understood by politicians. The Conference was dominated by messages to the voters about the election being a choice between Labour and the Conservatives and that the Conservatives would damage the country's economic revival through savage cuts in public spending if they were elected.

Sandra Melville, Chair of the RPSGB Scottish Pharmacy Board said: "The Pharmacy in Scotland exhibition has now been to all the major political party conferences in Scotland this spring, advocating the interests of pharmacists to Scotland's politicians.

"It is becoming much better understood by politicians that the pharmacy profession is making a real and positive difference to Scotland's public health. Pharmacy in Scotland has also shown the MSP and party delegates how the profession has the potential to do even more."

Community Pharmacy Scotland's Head of Corporate Affairs, Alex MacKinnon said: "The Pharmacy in Scotland representatives were once again lobbying on behalf of pharmacists working in Scotland. Our joint representation is committed to improving the quality and delivery of pharmaceutical care and we continue to seek support for the further development of the role of pharmacists working in the NHS in Scotland. We believe that it is vital that pharmacists are represented at the highest level in policy and decision making processes.

"Through their unique skills and professional expertise pharmacists are vital healthcare providers in the modern NHS and our Pharmacy in Scotland joint representation is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of this constantly developing role."

Visitors to the 'Pharmacy in Scotland' stand included: Jim Murphy MP, Cathy Jamieson MSP, Andy Kerr MSP, Iain Gray MSP, Jackie Baillie MSP, David Whitton MSP, Sarah Boyak MSP, Jim Hood MP and Alistair Darling MP Chancellor of the Exchequer.

RPSGB delegates attending the stand were: Sandra Melville and David Thomson. Community Pharmacy Scotland delegates attending the stand were: Alex MacKinnon, Harry McQuillan and Robbie McGregor.

Notes

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Community Pharmacy Scotland is the body empowered to represent the contractor owners of Scotland's 1,200 community pharmacies. It negotiates on their behalf with the Scottish Government on all matters of terms of service and contractors' NHS activity. Community Pharmacy Scotland works to increase the profile of community pharmacy and develop the role of community pharmacists within a modern NHS in Scotland and engages key stakeholders and the Scottish Government to influence policy on behalf of its members.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Community Pharmacy Scotland work collaboratively at Party Political Conferences to promote Pharmacy in Scotland.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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