Insight
Boots and the community pharmacy sector was keen for Scotland’s Minor Ailment Service to be extended to a bigger patient base. We set out to place the issue into the election manifestos of all major parties.
Idea
We arranged 30 meetings for MSPs, including the Public Health Minister, at their local Boots pharmacy, wrote Boots’ first manifesto document and designed an infographic that deftly summarised the issue. We supported Boots in giving evidence to a Cross Party Group, wrote a Parliamentary motion and aligned messaging with other sector organisations.
Impact
SNP, Labour and Conservative manifestos all mentioned an expanded or enhanced Minor Ailment Service. After the election, the First Minister announced she “will examine a proposal in the Labour manifesto to extend the Minor Ailments Service to make it a universal service” . A pilot project, to expand the service for patients through community pharmacies in Inverclyde, will start soon.
