Exclusive: High street chemists in Scotland are demanding direct access to patient records, saying it is essential as they take over more work from GPs.

High street chemists in Scotland are demanding direct access to patient records, saying it is essential as they take over more work from GPs.

The controversial move has already raised concerns from some groups about confidentiality being breached and personal information being used to market products.

However, Community Pharmacy Scotland, which represents the owners of Scotland's 1200 chemists, say with their responsibilities for healthcare growing, the issue can no longer be ignored.

The group's new manifesto, released today, urges the Scottish Government to give pharmacists access to electronic patient records. This includes both the existing Emergency Care Summary - an electronic file which shows basic information about patients, including any bad reactions to drugs - and aspects of patients' full medical records as these are moved to a national database.

Martin Green, Community Pharmacy Scotland chairman, said pharmacists were being asked to take on new roles and relieve pressure on other NHS staff.

He added: "This increasing role is to be welcomed, but it also needs to be properly resourced and managed. It is vital to ensure best patient care and our members must be given the tools to do the job. We believe our members need to have as much information on patients as possible with regard to medication in the interests of safety. We regard appropriate access to electronic records as essential."

Pharmacists have already been given authority to issue medicine to patients on repeat prescriptions when GPs are off. Patients exempt from prescription charges can also register with their nearest chemist and consult them about treatment for common illnesses.

In future, chemists also expect to play a greater role in public health, offering emergency contraception and support to quit smoking, among other services. They also plan to play a greater role managing patients with chronic diseases, helping doctors to monitor people on longterm medication.

Alex MacKinnon, head of corporate affairs for Community Pharmacy Scotland, listed a number of occasions when accessing a patient's medication history would improve their safety.

He said: "If you have a patient presenting for the first time with a prescription for a prescription-only medicine, I would like to know what they have had before and what else they are on. The pharmacist plays a very important role in making sure the medicine and the dose and quantity is correct."

He said access to records was particularly pertinent given the growing role pharmacists are playing when GP surgeries are shut, such as in emergency care on bank holidays and at weekends. "Patients expect the community pharmacy to be the doctor at these times," he added.

Dr Stuart Scott, joint deputy chair of the British Medical Association's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said patients should be consulted before any moves to widen access to their records.

He said: "Certainly the patient representatives on the Emergency Care Summary Programme Board were not particularly in favour of pharmacies getting access at this stage Some rural patients were worried about confidentiality and there were concerns some of the major corporate players such as Boots may use information for reasons other than just treating patients. They were worried it might be used for targeting insurance and for targeting marketing."

Mr MacKinnon said security fears should not be used to prevent access in pharmacies.

However, former GP and MSP Dr Jean Turner, chief executive of the Scottish Patient Association, said: "Sadly I've not come across an IT system which has been perfect in practice, in the Scottish Parliament or at home."

While noting benefits to the move, she added: "You cannot rely on IT systems for security. The more people that wish to have access to a patient's record, the more confidentiality goes out the window."