Scottish National Party politician Chris Stephens has tabled a parliamentary motion to discuss a community pharmacist’s triumph during this year’s Independent Pharmacy Awards which was held at the House of Commons this year.

Mr Stephens (pictured), the MP for Glasgow South West, put forward the early day motion to congratulate John-Paul Mackie on winning the Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award at the national event in October which is run in association with Independent Community Pharmacist magazine.

Mr Mackie, who runs Mackie Pharmacy in Cardonald, a suburb in Glasgow, impressed the awards judges with his use of technology. He installed an automated dispensing robot which he integrated with a prescription collection point to allow patients to collect their medication 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The motion notes that it “encouraged physical distancing and supporting key and shift workers during the pandemic and, importantly, the move towards automation ensured his pharmacy stayed open for every scheduled hour of the pandemic.”

The pharmacy offers flu vaccinations, HIV and hepatitis B drug support, the NHS Pharmacy First minor ailments service, a free condom service, opioid substitution therapy, medicines care and review and a Covid lateral flow test distribution service.

One member of Mr Mackie’s team is an independent prescriber and the pharmacy’s prescribing services include nicotine replacement therapy, emergency contraception, skin conditions, urinary tract infections, COPD and gluten-free foods. The services are supported by a six-day-a-week delivery service.

The motion was signed by four other SNP members - Marion Fellows, Patrick Grady, Kirsten Oswald and Gavin Newlands - and Democratic Unionist Party member Jim Shannon. It was supported by three other SNP members - Amy Callaghan, Allan Dorans and Chris Law.