The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has welcomed politicians’ commitment to the creation of digital patient care records in Scotland during a vote in parliament this week.
The umbrella organisation for pharmacists in Scotland said it had consistently called for integrated digital patient care records as part of its own national strategy – Pharmacy 2030.
The organisation has been holding drop-in sessions for MSPs and produced a briefing paper towards that aim – with its own survey showing 95 per cent of pharmacists believe digital access to clinical systems was important.
As part of a debate on Tuesday at Holyrood, Jackie Baillie MSP tabled an amendment, which states that Ministers must ensure that every person who receives health care or a social service in Scotland has a digital care record.
‘This record must be enabled for secure and efficient sharing of data between health care and social services so that people’s experiences are as safe and seamless as possible. It would also allow people to access their own health and care information, in a format accessible to them,’ the organisation said.
A further amendment, tabled by Brian Whittle MSP and voted through, will ensure that this record is integrated. Ensuring that digital patient records are integrated has long been a key focus for RPS in discussions with Scottish Government and MSPs on this issue.
Laura Wilson, director for Scotland at Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “I am delighted that MSPs have voted for the creation of an integrated digital health and care record. This is something that we have been discussing with Scottish Government and MSPs for a long time, so it is great to see this legislation being passed.
“Access to patient records for community pharmacists is a key enabler within our vision for the future of pharmacy, which will improve patient care, experience and safety. This will become even more important in 2026 when all pharmacists qualify as prescribers.
“This record must have read and write access so that pharmacists, GPs and other healthcare professionals can leave a record of their interventions visible to all, reducing the risk of duplication of treatment and ensuring patients only have to tell their story once. We also need to ensure that this record can be accessed by every pharmacy and pharmacist, no matter which technological system they use. I look forward to working with Scottish Government to ensure this.”
Brian Whittle MSP said: “I have long been championing the potential of integrated technological innovation to improve patient care and experience.
“I was very pleased to be able to ensure that the digital patient care record will be integrated, and to have the backing of Royal Pharmaceutical Society for this important amendment. This is a huge step forward for patient safety and improving working conditions for health care professionals.”
