RPS Wales launch 2016 policy strategy

Suzanne Scott-Thomas

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched its policy strategy for Wales in the run up to the Welsh Election. The policy vision, ‘Steps to Better Health and Wellbeing’, calls upon political parties in Wales to take measures to ensure patients and health professionals can benefit more from the expertise of pharmacists.

The document outlines three actions to help increase patient access to health and well-being services and relieve pressure on the NHS in Wales. It calls for the establishment of a pharmacy-led Welsh chronic medication service, pharmacist access to individual health records and fully integrated pharmacist expertise into NHS multidisciplinary teams.

Other recommendations made relate to improving medicines safety, shifting care closer to people’s homes and reversing the upward trend in prescribing costs.

Suzanne-Scott Thomas, the new chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board, emphasises the importance of the three messages. “We are looking for commitment from the political parties in Wales to push these changes forward to improve patient safety, increase access to services and to help build capacity by ensuring all health professionals can work at the top of their game.”

RPS Wales is currently engaging with political parties in Wales to emphasise the benefits associated with unlocking the full potential of pharmacy and argue for changes to be made to the current delivery model for pharmacy services in Wales.

‘Steps to Better Health and Wellbeing’ can be downloaded from the RPS website.

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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, RPS Wales launch 2016 policy strategy;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20069621

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