CONFERENCE THE FUTURE OF
by Adam Osprey, Policy & Development Pharmacist, Community Pharmacy Scotland
O
n 6 September this year, leading healthcare professionals from a variety
of disciplines and other interested parties came together to hear how the community pharmacy network is ready to build on its many successes and support the NHS in delivering the future healthcare needs of the population.
This was my first conference and my new colleagues Matt and Amanda were also in attendance as part of a strong CPS contingent.
Once everyone had arrived at the National Galleries, we were ushered in to the auditorium for the first session of speakers. Our own Matt Barclay opened proceedings, setting the scene for the day: a discussion of the potential that community pharmacy holds, and how we could further support the NHS in increasingly trying times.
We heard from CPO Rose-Marie Parr, who spoke plainly about how the sector is ‘hiding in plain sight’ and detailed her five priorities for making Scotland the safest place to take medication. Ed Clifton from HIS then gave us a brief lesson on health economics before Sinead Power (SG Primary Care Division) showed us that new ways of working are
already being tested, such as in the Inverclyde area where MAS extension is just one of the lines of enquiry.
Dr Andrew Buist, Deputy Chair of the BMA Scotland’s GP Committee, was extolling the virtues of having a practice pharmacist on board, and how this led him to recognise that community pharmacy was more than able to act as a form of workforce substitution. He explained the need for GPs to move on from managing minor ailments, chronic disease management and public health amongst other functions and instead focus on complex care and senior clinical decisions where their expertise was better placed. Importantly, he came out strongly in support for the universal rollout of MAS.
The second session of speakers was equally inspiring, and although they also carried the same themes for the future, what really struck me was what amazing things can be done in the here and now, with what we have to hand.
Irene Oldfather of the ALLIANCE took us on a healthcare journey from a patient’s perspective, making us think twice about a few things – How do patients perceive being taken into the consultation room? What actually matters to the patient in terms of outcomes? I will certainly be more mindful of my own assumptions in practice going forward, hopefully
COMMUNITY PHARMACY: A SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE
making patients feel further at ease.
Next up we had Sally Arnison and Jonathan Burton – both exemplary community pharmacists at the sharp edge of the profession. Jonathan is a champion of pharmaceutical care and embodies the spirit of collaboration with our fellow healthcare professionals – his passion for pharmacy and what we can do for patient care is truly infectious.
Matt Barclay, Director of Operations, CPS, opens the conference
We heard how the NHS Forth Valley Common Clinical Conditions pilot diverted care for UTI’s and impetigo away from GPs and OOH towards pharmacy, showing that with proper preparation, training and guidelines there really isn’t much stopping us from being the first port of call for patients suffering minor injuries or illness. Sally showed us her pharmacy, where the community is at the heart of everything they do. From ensuring that her place of work is dementia friendly to working a two-pharmacist model where possible to enhance the pharmaceutical care given to each and every patient, it’s clear that Sally
and her team have the future clearly in their sights. The main lesson I took from their presentations is that it is only by being proactive that we can make incremental steps towards fulfilling the potential that lies in community pharmacy in Scotland.
Walking back to the office from the conference, I had a think about what the day had meant, and for me, it was reassuring to hear common themes in every single presentation – especially as those common themes were so much in line with the CPS Manifesto aims of Pharmacy First, Prevention and Support. As our chairman Martin Green said in his section, there is a real feeling of momentum building in Scotland’s world of community pharmacy – leading us to be able to do so much more for our patients and really stretch our clinical muscles unlike we’ve ever been able to before. I, for one, am really looking forward to supporting this future from my role in CPS, and I don’t think it’ll be a million years from now that the vision becomes a reality! •
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