There is widespread support among members of the public in Scotland for pharmacies to play an enhanced role in healthcare, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said.  

A survey of 1,107 adults carried out for RPS Scotland by Ipsos last November found that 87 per cent of people agree that it is important for pharmacists to prescribe medicines, while 95 per cent want pharmacists to advise them on the safe and effective use of medicines.

The survey findings point to strong levels of support for the current direction of travel in Scotland with regard to services and professional development, with 89 per cent of respondents saying they thought pharmacists should be a first point of call for common ailments.

The Pharmacy First and Pharmacy First Plus services launched in Scotland in recent years see pharmacies funded to offer advice, treatment and, where appropriate, prescriptions for a range of specified minor clinical conditions.

Furthermore, 81 per cent of people responding to the RPS survey said they felt it was important to have pharmacists monitoring, reviewing and adjusting medicines for long term conditions like high blood pressure.

RPS Scotland director Clare Morrison said: “Having just published Pharmacy 2030, our vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland, it is fantastic to know that the Scottish public relate to the ideas contained within our vision.

“The ideas in the vision have been developed with the ultimate aims of improving the quality of patient experience, as well as improving safety and capacity across the NHS and social care. 

"It’s great to know that the public really value pharmacists taking on a wider range of roles, whether in hospital, general practice or community settings.”