Laura Wilson, Director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in Scotland discussed the future of the pharmacy workforce with Michael Matheson,
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care at the SNP conference.
The event, which took place on 17 October in Aberdeen, Scotland featured other health officials including Colin Poolman, Director of the Royal College of
Nursing; Kenryck Lloyd-Jones, Public Affairs and Policy Manager for Scotland, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; and Chris Marshall, Deputy Editor at Holyrood
Communications.
The Scottish government has recently unveiled its national workforce strategy for health and social care, laying out its plans for achieving recovery, growth,
and transformation.
Wilson highlighted the challenges and opportunities for the pharmacy workforce in Scotland to attract potential pharmacists into the profession and encourage
them to stay within the profession.
"This was a great opportunity to discuss with the Cabinet Secretary the challenges which exist for the pharmacy workforce in Scotland and to highlight some of
the solutions which need to be implemented to ensure a pharmacy workforce in Scotland which is fit for the future," she said.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland has submitted its evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's inquiry into 'Healthcare in remote
and rural areas.'
The Committee had sought views on what policies and actions would be most effective in addressing the issues people face when accessing healthcare in these areas.
During the evidence session today (19 December), Laura Wilson, Director for RPS Scotland, highlighted the challenges faced by pharmacists and pharmacy in remote and
rural areas, as well as provided some of the solutions for ensuring a sustainable pharmacy workforce.
At present, people living in remote and rural areas of Scotland are required to travel to Glasgow or Aberdeen to undertake pharmacy training. Laura underscored the
need to develop alternative education and training pathways, such as "grow your own" models, to support remote and rural areas to develop and retain local pharmacists.