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Secretary For Scotland's Report for Guild Council Meeting 22.9.2005



Review of NHS Production in Scotland
Nothing further has been heard as to progress on this matter.


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In the Press
It was reported in "The Herald" newspaper that "Scotland's 150,000 health workers are to be targeted in a crackdown on absenteeism as part of a £1.2bn government efficiency drive.
Tom McCabe, finance and public services minister, said that as part of the Scottish Executive's flagship policy on efficient government he wanted to see a 20% drop in sickness absence by 2008.
The ultimate aim is to make the NHS alone more efficient by freeing up to £55m a year for treating patients which would otherwise be spent hiring temporary staff." At least one union has already commented that easing some of the stresses in the system would be a good start.
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Agenda For Change
The meeting with R.O. Michael Fuller and representatives of ASCP on 29th June went extremely well and a follow-up discussion was meant to take place at the ASCP meeting on 26th August. Unfortunately, a car breakdown meant that Michael Fuller was unable to attend the meeting. He hopes to reschedule the discussion for a later meeting of ASCP.


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Scottish Health Sector Committee
The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 10th October 2005. Unfortunately, I am on holiday and will not be able to attend.


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A Scottish Prescription - Managing the use of medicines in hospitals
This report from Audit Scotland was published in late July. There are a lot of useful recommendations within the report which may help to boost the profile of pharmacy within the NHS in Scotland.


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Association of Scottish Chief Pharmacists
I have attended two meetings of the Acute Group since the last Council meeting. One was the meeting that Michael Fuller was intended to address and the other was a special meeting to discuss the Audit Scotland report mentioned above.


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Consultations
There have been no consultations over the summer period that I am aware of, but a couple of reports have been issued.

Colin Rodden
16 September 2005

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