Chamber and committees

This information is not currently collected centrally.

However, in light of the revised National Child Protection Guidance published by the Scottish Government on 13 December 2010, the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with Child Protection Committee Chairs and local authorities in developing its annual Child Protection Survey.

As a result, the Child Protection Survey will in future require local authorities to report on the concerns identified at Child Protection Case Conferences. The list of concerns to be reported on separately identifies the concerns “parental drug misuse” and “parental alcohol misuse”.

The first set of results using this new information will be published by the Scottish Government in February 2013 (based on information reported by local authorities in the 2011-12 Child Protection Survey (covering the reporting period 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012)).

In light of the revised National Child Protection Guidance published by the Scottish Government on 13 December 2010, the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with Child Protection Committee Chairs and local authorities in developing its annual Child Protection Survey.

As a result, the Child Protection Survey will in future require local authorities to report on the concerns identified at Child Protection Case Conferences. The list of concerns to be reported on separately identifies the concerns “parental drug misuse” and “parental alcohol misuse”.

The first set of results using this new information will be published by the Scottish Government in February 2013 (based on information reported by local authorities in the 2011-12 Child Protection Survey (covering the reporting period 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012)).

The Scottish Government is aware of the issues impacting on the supply of prescription medicines in South Scotland and elsewhere. These problems are not confined to Scotland and Scottish Government officials are in contact with officials from the other UK administrations, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and others to exchange information about supply difficulties and, where possible, to take appropriate steps to ensure continuity of supply. This has included the publication of joint guidance explaining Article 81 of EC Directive 2001/83/EC which requires that marketing authorisation holders and distributors of medicines ensure, within the limits of their responsibilities, appropriate and continuous supplies of the medicines so that the needs of patients are met. This requirement was transposed into UK medicines legislation in 2005. This guidance and other relevant information on medicines shortages and supply chain obligations can be found on the MHRA’s website at www.mhra.gov.uk.

More specifically in Scotland, the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/128), introduced on 1 May 2010, place an obligation upon pharmacists who dispense NHS prescriptions to use all reasonable endeavours to provide prescribed drugs and appliances with reasonable promptness and not to engage in activity which might delay or prevent the dispensing of prescribed drugs and appliances to NHS patients. The amendment regulations also place on pharmacists an obligation to contact the prescriber to discuss alternative arrangements where there is likely to be, in that pharmacist’s opinion, a clinically significant delay to the dispensing of prescribed drugs or appliances. A copy of the amendment regulations can be found at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2010/pdf/ssi_20100128_en.pdf.

Medicines shortages can occur for a number of reasons, including manufacturing problems or difficulties in obtaining raw materials. Supply issues can also occur as a result of distribution problems or as a result of fluctuations in parallel trade.

The Scottish Government is monitoring closely information about supply problems experienced by community pharmacists and is in contact with organisations representing the various parts of the supply chain, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and Community Pharmacy Scotland. Medicines shortages is a UK-wide problem therefore Scottish Government officials are also in touch with officials in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to review the situation at a UK level.

Article 81 of EC Directive 2001/83/EC requires that marketing authorisation holders and distributors of medicines ensure, within the limits of their responsibilities, appropriate and continuous supplies of the medicines so that the needs of patients are met. This requirement was transposed into UK medicines legislation in 2005. In November 2009, guidance was issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and other key organisations to help manufacturers, wholesalers and others in the supply chain on their existing legal and ethical responsibilities relating to the supply of medicines. This guidance, which was updated and republished in December 2010, was drawn to the attention of NHSScotland. The guidance and other relevant information on medicines shortages and supply chain obligations can be found on the MHRA’s website at www.mhra.gov.uk.

In Scotland, the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/128), introduced on 1 May 2010, place an obligation upon pharmacists who dispense NHS prescriptions to use all reasonable endeavours to provide prescribed drugs and appliances with reasonable promptness and not to engage in activity which might delay or prevent the dispensing of prescribed drugs and appliances to NHS patients. The amendment regulations also place on pharmacists an obligation to contact the prescriber to discuss alternative arrangements where there is likely to be, in that pharmacist’s opinion, a clinically significant delay to the dispensing of prescribed drugs or appliances. A copy of the amendment regulations can be found at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2010/pdf/ssi_20100128_en.pdf.

Parallel exporting of medicines is legal and can be carried out by anyone who holds the necessary licenses under UK medicines legislation. Preventing the export of UK medicines would be contrary to European trade laws. However, Article 81 of EC Directive 2001/83/EC establishes an obligation on marketing authorisation holders and distributors of medicines, within the limits of their responsibilities, to ensure appropriate and continued supplies of medicines so that the needs of patients are met. This requirement was transposed into UK medicines legislation in 2005. In November 2009, guidance was issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and other key organisations to help manufacturers, wholesalers and others in the supply chain on their existing legal and ethical responsibilities relating to the supply of medicines. This guidance was updated and republished in December 2010. The guidance and other relevant information on medicines shortages and supply chain obligations can be found on the MHRA’s website at www.mhra.gov.uk.