Implementing Pharmacy 2030 in Shetland

This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.  In June 2024, Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), visited pharmacy teams across Shetland, to witness their innovative practice and implementation of RPS’s vision for the future of pharmacy, Pharmacy 2030, across a remote island community. During the two-day visit, Anderson, accompanied by Anthony McDavitt, director of pharmacy, NHS Shetland and Interim Deputy Chief Officer, Shetland Community Health and Social Care Partnership, visited two community pharmacies, Laings Pharmacy in Lerwick and Brae Pharmacy. Both pharmacies have independent prescribing pharmacists providing a vital first point of contact healthcare service for their communities; independent prescribing being a cornerstone of our vision. Anderson also met with the hospital pharmacy team at Gilbert Bain Hospital and had the opportunity to present on our vision for hospital pharmacy, which includes releasing pharmacists to patient facing roles and advancing clinical practice including caseload management. It was fantastic to hear that the team had already done some focused work based on the vision. On the Wednesday, Anderson visited pharmacists working in primary care, in one of the Scottish government 'Primary care improvement plan' pharmacotherapy demonstrator sites. Alongside visitors from Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Primary Care Phased Investment Programme, Anderson was able to present on the RPS vision for general practice pharmacy, with our central focus on improving skill-mix across pharmacy teams so better use can be made of pharmacists’ knowledge, skills and experience to support patients.  Speaking about the visit, Anderson said: “Thank you so much to pharmacy teams across Shetland for welcoming me, and for being so generous with your time to demonstrate the fantastic work which every pharmacist in Shetland is involved in on behalf of the island community. “I am so proud to witness the implementation of our vision for the future of pharmacy, Pharmacy 2030, and learn about the innovative approaches taking place to implement this in a remote and rural setting. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, a member of the RPS Scotland team was unable to join this time and we look forward to our next visit to understand how this work is progressing, so that ultimately, patients receive the very best care possible from their pharmacy teams.” Speaking about the visit, McDavitt said: “It was fantastic to showcase the great work of our pharmacy teams across Shetland with Claire from RPS. We have a lot going on in Shetland and it was great to cover the breadth of the service in a couple of days.  “Our pharmacy teams are busy innovating across community, hospital and primary care, and are implementing Pharmacy 2030, RPS’s vision for the future of pharmacy, to improve patient care, and experience. I’m glad we had the opportunity to have Claire with us during our workshop for the Primary Care Phased Investment Programme we have in Shetland through Scottish government funding. It’s essential to have professional body input into the development of pharmacy services and the changing of pharmacy roles in Scotland.  “Thank you to Claire for making the trip to Shetland and we look forward to demonstrating our impactful work again to RPS colleagues at a future visit.” Read more RCPharm news stories.