Securing access to electronic patient records for Scottish pharmacies must be a top priority going forward, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has said.

Increasing demands on pharmacists to privide emergency care and independent prescribing meant access was "more vital than ever", the contract negotiator said.

CPS chief executive Harry McQuillan said: “We strongly maintain that it is vital for community pharmacists to have access to the electronic patient record in order to ensure effective and safe pharmacist prescribing, and urge that this be recognised, supported and delivered appropriately within an acceptable timescale.”

CPS would also work to increase pharmacists' roles in flu vaccination provision, the care of drug misusers and public health, the manifesto said.

The comments came as the contract negotiator restated pledges, made in its recently published manifesto, to work to secure access to the records.