New powers for pharmacists in Scotland to treat patients with minor ailments during coronavirus pandemic

Health secretary Jeane Freeman has empowered pharmacists to provide additonal help to patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

Through an extension of the Minor Ailment Service, pharmacists will be able to support more patients, reducing the pressure on other parts of NHS Scotland she said.

Ms Freeman said: “The vital work of community pharmacies up and down the country is key in ensuring that we continue to reduce the burden across the NHS, and patients continue to get the necessary medicines they need to stay healthy.

“Many people visit a community pharmacy every day, with these numbers increasing in the current Covid-19 outbreak.

“This makes them the most accessible healthcare professionals on the front line of community health services, and a valuable resource to NHS Scotland.

“Strengthening the role of pharmacists, and easing some of the pressure from frontline NHS services, is therefore an important step in our wide ranging response to the current crisis.”

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