NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


FIRST NATIONAL SEMINAR FOR RPS SCOTLAND


In July last year, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scottish Board announced their intention to hold a national seminar to support members develop their professional practice and engage with Prescription for Excellence and the wider health and social care integration agenda.


The national seminar will take place 6-7 June 2015 and more details will be shared about the agenda, speakers and workshops in the next issue of the Scottish Pharmacist.


On behalf of the RPS in Scotland, Director for Scotland, Alex MacKinnon, said, “This will be our first national seminar in Scotland and I hope it will prove beneficial to members and that it becomes an annual Scottish event. It will present a great opportunity for our members to meet with colleagues from other parts of the country or from different sectors and share experiences and best practice.


“We are planning for the afternoon of 6 June to be focussed on themes relevant to pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacists in the early years of their careers. In the evening we are planning to have a social event recognising our Faculty members in Scotland and encouraging networking across the profession. Sunday 7 June will be our main seminar where we will have plenary speakers and workshops aimed at promoting intra-professional working, sharing best practice and enhancing pharmacy’s contribution to patient care.”


Scottish members will receive further information about this event as details firm up, including how to book a place.


6 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST


Statutory Duty of Candor not recommended for pharmacists


The Scottish Pharmacy Board (SPB) has now responded to the two Scottish Government consultations in relation to Proposals for an Offence of Wilful Neglect or Ill-treatment in Health and Social Care Settings and the Proposals to Introduce a Statutory Duty of Candour for Health and Social Care Services.


The wilful neglect or ill-treatment consultation sought views on the Scottish Government’s proposals to introduce an offence of wilful neglect or ill-treatment in all health and social care settings.


In its response the SPB extended its support in principle for the proposals and specifically agreed that the new offence should concentrate on the act of wilfully neglecting or mistreating an individual rather than the level of harm suffered as a result of that behaviour.


However, the SPB also highlighted some concerns. Professor John Cromarty, Chair of the SPB, said, “We are concerned as to how wilful neglect will be defined and proven as it is important that genuine mistakes and errors are not part of this process. There needs to be a culture of openness and learning from genuine mistakes and errors to continually improve systems and processes which impact on patient safety.


“Specifically for the pharmacy profession, there is a singular problem of concern which has not yet been resolved, where a genuine dispensing


error can result in a criminal prosecution due to the wording of the Medicines Act 1968. As such pharmacists, uniquely amongst health professionals, could be liable for criminal prosecution when declaring a dispensing error in their normal course of duties, even when no harm resulted.


“We are aware that work is progressing, albeit slowly, through Westminster to address this but until resolved, pharmacists require reassurance and need to be confident that these new proposals will not impose further workplace pressures.”


This unresolved issue in the Medicines Act 1968 was also highlighted in the SPB’s response to the Proposals to Introduce a Statutory Duty of Candour for Health and Social Care Services Consultation. The issue of dispensing errors is even more pertinent to these proposals.


Professor Cromarty added, “Regrettably, until this issue is resolved, we recommend that the statutory duty of candour not be introduced for pharmacists. Pharmacists already have a duty of candour as healthcare professionals and are bound by this in all aspects of daily practice. The joint statement from the Chief Executives of the statutory regulators of healthcare professionals is explicit in the requirements to tell, apologise, support, remedy if possible, and explain short and long-term effects when something goes wrong with


Prof John Cromarty.


treatment which causes, or has potential to cause, harm or distress.


“In addition to the regulatory standards, our own professional standards advocate honesty and openness. We promote a culture of learning from errors with staff empowered to raise concerns in the work place, and to be supported when they do.


“We support the principle of duty of candour and would like to have the current situation remedied as quickly as possible and seek to discuss this with the Scottish Government at the earliest opportunity, before any legislation is drafted. While pharmacists are placing themselves at risk of criminal proceedings by reporting dispensing errors, participation in investigations relating to incidents covered by a statutory duty of candour may impact on their rights under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.


“This would be particularly with regards to the right to silence and a privilege against self-incrimination.”


£282m funding agreed for health boards


Health Secretary, Shona Robison, has confirmed that health boards in Scotland are to receive an additional £282 million in 2015-16.


Territorial health boards have been given a general allocation increase of 3.4 per cent on 2014-15, bringing the total allocation to boards to more than £8.5 billion.


In addition to this, the Government’s announcement of £30 million in 2015-16 to tackle delays in discharging patients from hospital will be added to boards’ budgets, bringing the total uplift to 3.8%.


Ms Robison said,“The Scottish


Government’s commitment to increasing health boards’ budgets demonstrates our continuing investment in frontline health spending.


“We’re clear that all patients in Scotland should be treated as quickly and as effectively as possible, with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. With this increase in funding, health boards are being given more support to achieve this.


“We know there are still pressures on the NHS and this Government is acting to deliver record funding and robust policies needed to support the


hardworking and dedicated staff of our NHS.


“Tackling delayed discharge is an absolute key priority for this government and the £30 million for 2015-16, which forms part of a £100 million investment over the next three years, is crucial to this effort.


“As we head towards the integration of health and social care this additional funding will also support work underway to transform care services which will get people who may be unnecessarily staying in hospital home or into a homely setting.”


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