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Scotland

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Drug misuse deaths in Scotland falls – but opioids the most common cause

The National Records of Scotland said the number of deaths fell to its lowest figure since 2017.

05 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Over 8.5 tonnes of medicines wasted every year in the Scottish borders

NHS Borders, one of 14 health boards in NHS Scotland, said prescription medicines cost it more than £30 million annually.

21 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Obituary – Bill Scott OBE FRPharmS

Bill Scott, who was chief pharmaceutical officer for Scotland for 22 years from 1993 to 2014, died last month aged 76.

12 Aug 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Pharmacies in Scotland urged to prepare for big increase in eye treatment prescriptions

The number of prescriptions written by independent prescriber community optometrists and sent for dispensing in pharmacies is set to rise.

05 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Man caused ‘fear or alarm’ after shouting and swearing at pharmacy staff

Andrew Robertson, 40, reacted aggressively at a branch of Numark when told his weekly prescription was a day late. he will be sentenced on August 22.

01 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Phoenix opens depot in Aberdeen to meet ‘increasing demand’

Phoenix said the new depot will allow it to serve its customers "with even greater efficiency” in Scotland.

20 May 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First consultation in Scotland helped diagnose leukaemia in patient

Independent prescriber Victoria Lang noticed the patient was unwell and became more concerned after going through their medical history.

14 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde seeks views on medicines waste campaign

NHSGGC said 10,000 medicines are thrown away every day because they are not needed or have not been taken.

02 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Numark chair: Swinney’s promise to expand Pharmacy First is ‘pivotal moment’

Harry McQuillan, however, cautioned any expansion must be underpinned by funding.

28 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacist convicted of sexually assaulting woman and put on sex offenders register

Tauqeer Azam, 41, was found guilty of conducting an inappropriate examination of a 19-year-old woman in a pharmacy in June 2023.

21 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Scotland flu hospital admissions rise as pharmacies struggle to access vaccines

Community Pharmacy Scotland urged the government to involve community pharmacy in national flu vaccine strategy planning much earlier.

07 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Follow Scotland’s lead and support England’s pharmacies, Numark chair urges Labour

Numark chairman Harry McQuillan paid tribute to the Scottish government after it increased pharmacies' global sum.

03 Oct 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Success of Scotland’s five-year vaccine strategy hinges on support for pharmacies

Numark chairman Harry McQuillan says pharmacies must be part of vaccination delivery plans – but they need support.

28 Aug 2024 , 3 Min Article

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Assisted dying Bill in Scotland must contain opt-in section, says RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said pharmacists must be allowed to choose whether or not to help terminally ill people die.

28 Aug 2024 , 2 Min Article

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Community pharmacy not included in Scotland’s RSV vaccination programme

It is unclear why the community pharmacy network is not involved in the country's respiratory syncytial virus vaccine programme.

14 Aug 2024 , 1 Min Article

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RSV vaccine programme starts in Scotland but how many pharmacies are taking part?

The vaccine is available to pregnant women who are 28 weeks into their pregnancy and those aged 75 to 79.

13 Aug 2024 , 1 Min Article

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