Community Pharmacy Scotland

Thanks to everyone who made it along to our recent "Ask Me Anything" event on NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, we hope you found it useful!

Last Thursday we held an Ask Me Anything session on PFS and PFS+, giving contractors and their teams the chance to put questions directly to the CPS team

The top question for this week is around the processing of claims for the service.

Congratulations again on your recent qualification, and the start of your career as a registered Pharmacist!

We have run a short series of articles on the NHS PFS Service over recent weeks, focussing on some specific aspects of the service. 

Pharmacy First Scotland refresher: join our live AMA on Thursday 20th August, 19:30–21:00 on Microsoft Teams. Bring your questions

This week, CPS Policy and Development Pharmacist Gordon Winter joined BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme to discuss what the data means for community pharmacy and the wider primary care landscape.

Six years of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, with more than 1.9 million people using the service and continued expansion of independent prescribing.

Latest update for Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribers and trainees, including training pathways, next steps and upcoming support.

The top question for this week is around the eligibility of patients to receive the service.

Reminders and revisit ahead of the holiday season and upcoming events. NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) Service – including Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing

Update to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Approved List from 1 June 2026, including changes for oral thrush and allergy treatments.

A new report published by Public Health Scotland show that community pharmacy continue to play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland

Summary of the 1st April 2026 updates to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Approved List, including changes to oral thrush, allergy/itch and previous cough removals.

A new national PGD for oral candidiasis is being added to NHS Pharmacy First Scotland. Guidance for Health Boards and community pharmacy teams.

Scottish Government circular announcing a new Patient Group Direction for skin inflammation within NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

Pharmacy teams will start to notice two new UCF modules appearing in their PMRs from next week - one each for the previously-announced Nystatin and Hydrocortisone PGDs.

Understand the top 25 Pharmacy First rejected items, why claims fail, and how to ensure compliance with NHS Scotland requirements.

On behalf of NHS Health Boards, we are collecting suggestions for amendments to the Approved List from our members and their pharmacy teams, which can be for additions to the list, replacements or deletions.

Last Thursday the CPS team held a webinar which covered the recent changes to NHS Pharmacy First Scotland remuneration, and gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions of the team.

The attached document below is a series of key facts, guidance and information relating to the NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) (PF(S)), the Scottish Community Pharmacy service for the pharmaceutical care of acute common clinical conditions.

CPS updates on rejected item reporting for Pharmacy First claims. Learn common reasons for rejection and how to avoid them.

Community Pharmacy Scotland will be hosting a webinar on Thursday 20 November at 7.00pm via Microsoft Teams, this webinar is for CPS contractor members and their teams.

The Scottish Government has released circular PCA(P)(2025)24 which details changes to the remuneration of all components of the NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) service.

Updated PGDs for UTIs and impetigo approved for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland. Health Boards to implement locally.

This circular reminds community pharmacy contractors of the key service requirements for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, highlighting the importance of face-to-face consultations, correct use of NHS branding, and adherence to national service guidelines.

Read Victoria’s incredible real-world story of how a routine consultation through the NHS Pharmacy First Plus service led to the urgent referral of a patient who was later diagnosed with leukaemia.

Check out our Policy & PR Pharmacist, Sarah Scott, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland this morning about how people can manage their hay fever symptoms and access expert support through NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

The Scottish Government has published its NHS Operational Improvement Plan, which describes how the commitments outlined in the First Minister’s January speech will be delivered. In his speech, First Minister John Swinney announced plans to make it easier for people to see a first point of contact with the NHS, for example a community pharmacist. The Operational Improvement Plan states that the Scottish Government will further expand the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, enabling community pharmacists to treat a greater number of clinical conditions.

The approved list of products for the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service has been updated from the 1st March 2025.