Scottish policies and consultations

The RCPharm Scotland team produces policies and consultation responses in Scotland and contributes to GB-wide policies and consultations where they are relevant in Scotland.

Open consultations

There are no current open Scottish consultations.

This page is updated regularly. If you would like to provide comments on any consultations, please email us at [email protected].

Recent policies

• Palliative and end of life care
• Access to end of life medicines in care homes
• Women’s health position statement
• Position statement on facilitated self-selection of pharmacy medicines
• Artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy practice
• Medicine shortages: solutions for empty shelves
• Digital capabilities for the pharmacy workforce
• Support for DPPs

Recent consultations

August 2026

• Public Service Reform: Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28 consultation response | Scottish Parliament

July 2026

• Urgent and Unscheduled Care Standards (draft scope) | Healthcare Improvement Scotland

June 2026

• Proposed Edinburgh Safer Drug Consumption Facility | Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board

Previous consultation responses

The following responses were submitted when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

2025

November 2025

• NHS Delivery | Scottish Government
• Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill call for views | Scottish Parliament
• Maternity Care draft Standards | Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• A manifesto for health and climate | RPS Scotland and RCGP Scotland

October 2025

• Chronic Pain Guidance: A Guide for improvement 2026-29 | Scottish Government

September 2025

• Appropriate Prescribing – Making medicines safe, effective and sustainable 2025-2028 | Scottish Government
• Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament
• Clinical Governance Standards | Healthcare Improvement Scotland

August 2025

• Harm caused by Substance (Mis)use in Scottish Prisons  | Scottish Parliament
• Pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27 with a focus on mental health spending | Scottish Parliament
• ADHD / ASD pathways | Scottish Parliament 

July 2025

• Long Term Conditions Framework | Scottish Government

February 2025

• Scottish Government Abortion Law Review | Call for written views
• Regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures | Scottish Government

January 2025

• Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer | National Centre for Sustainable Delivery
• Palliative Care Matters for All: strategy consultation | Scottish Government

2024

December 2024

• Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament
• National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland | Questionnaire on the Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Support Staff Development Pathways

November 2024

• Scottish Government Abortion Law Review | Call for written views

October 2024

• Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act | Scottish Government

September 2024

• Controlled Drugs (Supervision and Management of Use) Regulations 2013 – Questionnaire | DHSC and Scottish Government
• National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (Stage 2) draft amendments | Scottish Parliament
• Achieving value and sustainability in prescribing medication: consultation | Scottish Government
• Scoping Exercise – Standards for Maternity Care | Healthcare Improvement Scotland

August 2024

• Scotland’s 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Strategy and Delivery Plan | RPS response letter | Public Health Scotland
• Assisted Dying in Terminally Ill Adults | Scottish Parliament
• Assisted Dying in Terminally Ill Adults Financial Memorandum | Scottish Parliament
• Position Statement on Plastics for Suppliers | NHS Scotland

June 2024

• Ageing and Frailty Draft Standards | Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education | General Pharmaceutical Council
• Chronic Kidney Disease Action Plan | Kidney Research UK

May 2024

• Post-implementation review of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 | MHRA
• Right to Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament
• Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament
• Implementing the prohibition of the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland | Scottish Government

April 2024

• Professional Standards Authority good practice guidance on rulemaking | PSA
• Professional Standards Authority good practice guidance on the use of Accepted Outcomes in Fitness to Practise | PSA
• Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill: consultation | Scottish Government
• Consultation on draft Standards for Chief Pharmacists | General Pharmaceutical Council

March 2024

• Suicide Prevention Strategy Call for Views | Scottish Government
• Draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 | Scottish Government
• NHSScotland ‘Once for Scotland’ Workforce Policies | Scottish Government
• Proposals to expand access to take-home naloxone supplies | GOV.UK

February 2024

• Gender Identity Healthcare Standards | Healthcare Improvement Scotland | Scottish Government