The largest professional body for pharmacists in Scotland is renewing its calls for high street pharmacists to be better integrated into the rest of the NHS, with improved access to health records and a more consistent approach to vaccination.

In a manifesto for candidates standing in May’s Scottish parliament elections, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) says a series of issues need to be addressed if Scotland is to get the full benefits from “a sustainable, integrated and strong pharmacy profession that delivers high quality, safe and effective care to Scotland’s citizens”.

Early in the pandemic community pharmacists were given access so they could read a patient’s electronic emergency care summary record, after several years of campaigning.

Now the RPS says pharmacists in all care settings need to have both ‘read’ and ‘write’ access to full electronic patient records so they can see things like laboratory results, arrange fast referrals to other clinicians and ensure they give the best advice – and make the best decisions – for patients.

The manifesto calls for community pharmacy – with its potential to be the walk in health hub on the high street – to have a much bigger role in national flu vaccination programmes and in delivering scheduled immunisation programmes for children and people travelling abroad.

The uneven relationship between community pharmacy contractors and the rest of the NHS was highlighted during the first lockdown when staff had to be issued with documents proving that they were part of the NHS and, as essential workers, had the right to travel.

Now the RPS manifesto is calling for pharmacy teams to be recognised and valued as key workers:

‘Pharmacists working in all sectors and their teams provide expertise in all aspects of medicines, health advice and prevention, tackling health inequalities, supporting long term conditions and treating self-limiting common clinical conditions,’ the manifesto document states.

‘Community pharmacies are contracted to provide services in local communities on behalf of the NHS and remained open throughout the pandemic despite the risks involved.

‘In our consultations with members and engagement events with pharmacists, colleagues told us that greater recognition as an essential part of the patient journey is very much needed.

‘Community pharmacy teams are NHS service providers and must be recognised as such.

‘They should have access to support and benefits, including mental health and wellbeing support, in the same way as other primary care providers contracted to deliver NHS services.’

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.