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Dramatic news from BBC Breakfast this morning.
Scotland? No mention but a big story on a murder…….in LA.
Scotland has not seen a large net loss of pharmacies since 2017. Numbers have stayed broadly stable, in contrast to England.
There were 1 253 on the register in December 20171 and 1 283 in 20262.
Scotland’s contract and funding model has been cited as offering more protection than England’s. BBC Health made this explicit. BBC Scotland looked the other way.
Pharmacists in England look to Scotland, where a scheme called Pharmacy First, external includes a contract between the sector and the Scottish government setting out what services are expected, with payment for every consultation.
These cover minor ailments and illnesses, some of which might once have been dealt with at GP practices. In England there is a less formal arrangement, with some consultations by pharmacists not remunerated. There is also more prescribing of medicines by pharmacists in Scotland.
George Romanes, who owns a chain of local pharmacies in the Scottish borders, believes the new structure works better than the arrangements south of the border.
“I used to have an English pharmacy but I sold it, and all the outlets we have now are in Scotland. I think the Scottish contract is much more patient-focused,” he said.
“The fact you can come in and see a pharmacist there and then as it were, rather than needing an appointment, is very beneficial for patients, they like to get a problem sorted as quick as they can.”3
Sources:
- https://www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk/documents/nhs_boards/fife/Pharmaceutical%20Care%20Services%20Plan/Pharmaceutical_Care_Services_in_NHS_Fife_2017_18_28_April17_FINAL.pdf
- https://www.findpharmacy.co.uk/blog/state-of-uk-community-pharmacy-2026
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65481473
Footnote – Pharmacies per 100,000 people – 22.6 in Scotland but only 17.7 in England – Source AI with multiple sources. Try it yourself?
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going
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