Ross Barrow

On 10 April, Catriona Sinclair FRPharmS, Scottish Pharmacy Board Member, joined the First Minister and Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy, Maree Todd on a visit to a Community Pharmacy in Alness in the Scottish Highlands. The First Minister and Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy Minister were both very positive about the role of community pharmacists in the heath and care system; and asked insightful questions about access to pharmacy and broader questions around workforce development.

On 18 March, Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland brought together politicians, Royal Colleges, the pharmaceutical industry and key stakeholders from across Scotland’s health system for a roundtable meeting in the Scottish Parliament. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recommendations in our Manifesto for Health and Climate, which we launched with Royal College of General Practitioners ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill was debated and voted on in the Scottish Parliament on 17 March, and the Bill was defeated by 69 votes to 57. This was the final vote on the Bill, and as a result, the Bill will not become law.