Royal College of Pharmacy in Scotland
We support, promote and lead the pharmacy profession across all sectors of pharmacy in Scotland.
The Royal College of Pharmacy is a GB-wide organisation, but there are significant differences in policy in Scotland, Wales and England. That’s why Scotland has its own National Pharmacy Advisory Council and RCPharm Scotland team: to ensure we understand and support all our members and the wider profession in Scotland.
Contact your RCPharm Regional Ambassador.
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Call for evidence on facilitated self-selection of P medicines
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. We've published a call for evidence on the facilitated self-selection of P medicines following changes made by the regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), enabling more pharmacies to adopt this practice. The call for evidence is open for eight weeks from 12 July – 06 September 2024 and is the outcome of the national Pharmacy Boards meeting in June, which discussed the current RPS position that "Pharmacy medicines must not be accessible to the public by self-selection", as stated in our guide Medicines, Ethics and Practice. The Call asks for submission of evidence of the benefits and harms of a facilitated self-selection model for P medicines in relation to patient care, and any evidence gaps with an explanation of areas where further research is required. RPS CEO Paul Bennett said: "Following changes brought by the GPhC focusing on an outcomes approach to standards, they have confirmed they no longer prohibit facilitated self-selection of P medicines. As a result, there are pharmacies that are now adopting a more flexible interpretation to providing this group of medicines. "The GPhC have stated that sale and supply of a P medicine must still take place in a registered pharmacy premises under the supervision of a pharmacist, and that appropritae measures should be in place to ensure that supervision continues. "The evidence base gathered through this exercise will inform a report by RPS Science and Research to enable us to consider our current position. As the professional body, we are committed to patient safety and the safe development of innovative practice to meet the needs of patients now and for the future. Please share the call for evidence with your networks." To inform the review, we want to hear from a wide range of pharmacists and pharmacy team members, patient representative bodies, employers, academics, think tanks, pharmacy representative bodies, regulators and other stakeholders and researchers. Please read and respond to the call for evidence.
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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.
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Elections to RPS Boards and Assembly 2024
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Elections to vacant positions on the RPS Scottish and English country boards took place at the meeting on 18 June 2024 and the results are as follows: Scottish Pharmacy Board The Board elected Jonathan Burton FRPharmS as their new chair. Jonathan said: “I'm delighted to be elected chair of Scottish Pharmacy Board, serving as chair is a great privilege. I am hugely thankful to members for supporting me to serve the pharmacy profession across Scotland in this important capacity. “During my time as chair, my guiding principles will be, to act with authenticity, to respect all members’ views and to be passionate, whilst treating everyone with respect.” Jonathan is an independent prescriber who works within the community in NHS Forth Valley and won the 2023 RPS Charter Award. Read Jonathan’s election address to the board. He also served as chair of the Scottish Pharmacy Board 2019-2021. The board also elected Audrey Thompson to the RPS Assembly, the organisation’s governing body. English Pharmacy Board The board elected Adebayo Adegbite, Danny Bartlett and Matthew Prior to the RPS Assembly. Tase Oputu continues in her term as board chair for England. Welsh Pharmacy Board The board confirmed Eleri Schiavone as their representative to the RPS Assembly. Geraldine McCaffrey continues in her term as board chair for Wales. Find out more about members of the RPS National Pharmacy Boards. Find out who is part of the RPS Assembly. Read more RCPharm news stories.
Our work in Scotland
Vision for the future of pharmacy
Pharmacy 2030: our vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland.
Pharmacy best practice in Scotland
See how pharmacy teams in Scotland are demonstrating best practice.
Election manifesto for Scotland
Our asks of the next Scottish government.
How we work in Scotland
National Pharmacy Advisory Council
Meet the council for Scotland and find out how it works.
The Royal College of Pharmacy Scotland team
Supporting members and leading pharmacy in Scotland.
Our policy and advocacy work in Scotland
Find out more about the College’s Scottish policy and advocacy work.