The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7102p946
June 24, 2000 The Society

Scottish department

Enhancing links with other professional bodies is a priority

Enhancing relationships with other professional bodies is a priority for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Scottish Executive, according to the executive's retiring chairman for 1999-2000, Mr Graeme Millar. In his chairman's report at the Scottish annual general meeting in Edinburgh on June 14, Mr Millar said that the past year had seen the Scottish Department re-examine its relationship with the Society's Council. This had led to representatives of the Welsh and Scottish Executives being invited to attend Council meetings in a non-voting capacity, with the right to raise any matter for discussion, not only topics limited to their own country. Closer links have also been sought on a national level with members of the Scottish Parliament, Health Ministers and the Health Select Committee, the Pharmaceutical General Council and the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation as well as local health care co-operatives (LHCCs), area pharmaceutical committees, the Society's branches and schools of pharmacy on a more local level, Mr Millar continued.

Graeme Millar: a better relationship with the Society's Council

Reminding the meeting of the Scottish Department's successes over the past year, Mr Millar said that its policy document "Achieving excellence in pharmacy through clinical governance" had been well received and was to be followed by a briefing document that would be sent to every pharmacist resident in Scotland. Other major projects included a clinical audit support pack and the founding of national pharmacy research and primary care research units.
Mr Millar's theme of building relationships and multidisciplinary working was echoed in an address by Dr Colin Hunter (chairman of the Scottish Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners). Discussing pharmacist-GP interaction in the community, Dr Hunter highlighted the success of practice pharmacist schemes and called for increased collaboration in the future, suggesting that pharmacists be given the facility to issue repeat prescriptions and that communication be strengthened through multidisciplinary LHCCs.
During his presentation, Dr Hunter expressed the view that drug addicts, especially those on methadone therapy, should not be treated in community practice. Asked to explain, he said that such patients should receive proper care from a well-funded, specialist service rather than a busy general medical practice and community pharmacy. The issue was a good example of current budget restraints limiting patient care within the National Health Service, he suggested.