MSPs have voted for the creation of digital patient care records in Scotland, during a debate on the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in Scotland has been consistently calling on Scottish Government, and raising with MSPs, the need to create an integrated digital patient care record; making this objective a key cornerstone of our vision for the future of pharmacy, Pharmacy 2030. Since we published Pharmacy 2030, we have held drop in events with MSPs in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the need for an integrated digital patient care record, produced an MSP briefing paper, published a thought column in The Times newspaper on patient records and surveyed pharmacists in Scotland to understand their views on the need for an integrated digital patient record. 95% of pharmacists surveyed by RPS said that digital access to clinical systems by community pharmacists was important.

As part of yesterday’s debate, 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.

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.

This marks a hugely important milestone in our journey to ensure that every pharmacist, whatever sector they work in, has the patient information they require to be able to support patients. This legislation creates the conditions for community pharmacies to have access to patient records. RPS will continue to work closely with Scottish Government, and MSPs, to ensure that this becomes a reality. We will work to ensure that the digital care records provide pharmacist with read and write access, and that they are able to be used by all pharmacists in Scotland, no matter what technological system they are using in their health or care setting.

Speaking about this vote, 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.”

Speaking about his amendment, 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.”