Pharmacies in Scotland are already step ahead STAR PHOTO
IN your article “Pharmacists to be given right to prescribe so GPs have more time with patients” on Sunday, you report that pharmacists will be given the right to write prescriptions under plans reportedly being considered by Health Secretary Sajid Javid. These of course, are English plans for the NHS in England, but what Mr Javid fails to recognise is that pharmacists across Great Britain are already able, and regularly do, prescribe for their patients. The regulations to enable pharmacist prescribing came into effect in 2006. In Scotland, for example, the Pharmacy First Plus service, which is available through community pharmacies, enables pharmacists to advise and prescribe medication for common conditions.
You also mention that in 2020, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) “called for pharmacists to be given powers to change prescriptions that would reduce delays”. This is very true, but it is important to clarify that this call was only made in England and Wales, because in Scotland measures are already in place to support pharmacists to make simple changes to prescriptions where there are shortages in supply.
Patient care is the top priority for pharmacists and pharmacy teams. Pharmacists in hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices across Scotland are working with patients to ensure they get the medicines they need, when they need them.
Clare Morrison MBE, FRPharmS RPS Director for Scotland
I DO think the GMB union have a point about increasing the number of people to stop flytipping but it is short sighted, like the chief executive and cleansing management in the council. They have 60 odd parking wardens who could be combined with the current community enforcement officers. This idea will probably fly over their heads and the council will just continue to fail to use their combined resources.
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REGARDING the article on Glasgow City Council paying a major film company £150,000 to produce a major movie in the city.
When I first heard about this my first thoughts were: these are major multi-million-pound organisations, so why are we paying them money to film in the city? Surely they should be making a major contribution to the city for the privilege of filming here? That would mean that our local communities would benefit as compensation for the massive disruption to the city. The council has got the whole thing the wrong way round. There is little evidence that their presence brings significant financial benefits to the city.
Pam Agnew had quite a few visitors to her garden