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Objective — To obtain the views of key pharmacists in Scotland (potential policy‐makers and innovative practising pharmacists) on a systematic approach to pharmaceutical care and on the factors important in its development. Method — Semi‐structured interviews, based on factors identified from the literature as resources required for, or barriers to, pharmaceutical care development. Key findings — All 16 interviewees agreed with the systematic approach and identified community pharmacies as the key locus for the delivery of pharmaceutical care in primary care. Many expressed similar views in relation to remuneration, the need for training, physical resources, relationships with general practitioners to facilitate access to clinical information from medical records, repeat dispensing systems and improvements to existing computer systems to support the necessary documentation. Divergent opinions were expressed on the need for registration of patients with community pharmacies, on the use of dispensing technicians and on what specific literature and information from medical records would be required to support pharmaceutical care. While all agreed that there was insufficient evidence available of the benefits of pharmaceutical care, many felt that its development should nonetheless be progressed. Conclusion — Many of the views expressed are similar to those identified among community pharmacists in similar studies. Planning of future services needs to involve community pharmacists if indeed they are key to pharmaceutical care provision.

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Clinical and medication data from 2,878 admissions to a Department for Care of the Elderly were examined retrospectively to determine the association between the administration of hypnotics/benzodiazepines and the incidence of falls. Only lorazepam prescribed to females and nitrazepam prescribed to males were associated with a significantly increased incidence of falls. Women fell significantly more frequently than men, and 7.5% of falls resulted in fractures. Stroke was the most common major diagnosis in fall-cases, followed by infection, Parkinsonism and confusion.