Representatives from across Scotland’s pharmacy sector have met with the Scottish parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Disability Convener to discuss ‘bold actions’ to support people with disabilities to work in pharmacies.

Jeremy Balfour MSP chaired a meeting last week with pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) of Scotland to hear from lived experience perspectives, and employers working to support pharmacy employees living with disabilities.

Living with a disability was identified as the biggest barrier to working in pharmacy, according to a survey of RPS Scotland members last year. RPS Scotland is now running a disability in pharmacy awareness campaign to highlight the challenges raised by their members and work towards solutions with members and stakeholders across pharmacy.

All attendees at the parliamentary meeting agreed “it is crucial that there is cultural change” to support pharmacy employees living with disabilities, including shifting to flexible working as the norm.

Clare Morrison, Director of RPS Scotland said:

“It was fantastic to bring pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from across the country to the Scottish parliament to discuss and agree actions which will make pharmacy more inclusive for people living with disabilities.

“As pharmacists’ professional leadership body, we are committed to ensuring our members have access to the same employment opportunities. That’s why this roundtable is so important.”

She added that RPS Scotland’s survey made clear the “huge barrier” to both entering and staying in the profession for people living with disabilities, and that working together towards inclusivity is essential:

“I look forward to continuing collaborative working with pharmacists and pharmacy organisations across Scotland to ensure we have a pharmacy workforce which is inclusive and reflects our society.”

All attendees committed to further collaborative working across their organisations and networks to better support their team members with disabilities.

Organisations also agreed to hold more open conversations with employees to find out how they can best support them and encourage awareness-raising within their networks.

Mr Balfour said:

“I was delighted to chair this important meeting and to hear directly from pharmacists and pharmacy organisations across Scotland about what some of the challenges are for pharmacists working with a disability.

“There was a real commitment from everyone represented to working together to achieve change, particularly in workplace culture, to make it easier for pharmacists to discuss their individual circumstances with employers.”

He added that he will continue to support organisations to effect change and work with RPS Scotland on their campaign to raise awareness. RPS Scotland’s Director, Ms Morrison, added that she looks forward taking action to ensure a pharmacy workforce which is inclusive and better reflects society.

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