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.

Do you have questions about NHS Pharmacy First Scotland / NHS PFS Plus and or the UCF Module?

First Minister John Swinney addressed the nation yesterday (27/01/25) to outline plans for NHS reform, pledging to reduce waiting lists, enhance the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service.

Our Policy and PR Pharmacist attended the Norsk Farmasoytisk Selskap Pharmacy Conference in Oslo last Thursday where she gave a presentation on NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

There has been an update to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Approved List.

Community Pharmacy Scotland has been made aware of confusion around some of the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service (PFS) Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Patient Group Direction (PGD) details. We thought it would be useful to clarify these points.

Our colleagues at Scottish Government have produced an NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service Communications Toolkit to help promote Pharmacy First services in Scotland. There are two kits available: one specifically for women's health services and one for general services.

There has been an update to the respiratory section of the NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) Service Approved List of Products. This means that there are no longer any products listed under cough. It was agreed to remove Simple linctus sugar free, all pack sizes.

There has been an update to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Approved List.

guidance for the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland (NHS PFS) service, which is in response to previous questions and outcomes from live events held with the community pharmacy network. 

Referrals into community pharmacy from other healthcare professionals are becoming more frequent as community pharmacy services become more well known. This may result in an increase in recommendations to patients from other healthcare professionals when referring them to the community pharmacy for care.

The Scottish Government have updated the NHS Pharmacy First Approved List and to follow national prescribing guidance Simple Linctus sugar-free and Simple Linctus Paediatric sugar-free have now been removed from this list.

The update is to Section 10 Skin to remove Epimax Ointment and Epimax Paraffin free Ointment from NHS Grampian’s list only.

The NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service approved list of products has been updated as of 1st of April 2024.

This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors of updated Patient Group Directions (PGDs) that are to be implemented for the treatment of shingles and skin infections under NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

We have been working with Scottish Government and NHS colleagues on trying to capture Pharmacy First Plus prescribing, advice and referrals data to better evidence the great work being done out in the network – at the moment, this cannot be separated out from standard Pharmacy First activity.

As some of you may be aware, NHS England are due to launch the NHS Pharmacy First service in English community pharmacies on 31st of January 2024.

Each local NHS Health Board has the ability to develop bespoke local pharmacy services to suit the needs of local communities and patients

This Circular provides updated guidance aimed at both community optometry and community pharmacy teams and an updated referral form for the assessment and treatment of minor eye conditions.

Patient Group Directions (PGDs) that are to be added to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors of updated Patient Group Directions (PGDs) that are to be implemented for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) and impetigo under NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

As part of a move to a regional formulary review process in the East of Scotland, both NHS Lothian and NHS Borders will very shortly inform contractors that the dose of Flucloxacillin permitted

Our colleagues in Primary Care have highlighted the attached website as a source of information for professionals and patients which you may find useful in your practice, and Pharmacy First and First Plus in particular.

Circular PCA(P)(2021)5 set out the arrangements for the settlement for pharmaceutical services for the period 2020-21, including for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

Since its launch in the midst of the pandemic, you and your teams have supported the people of Scotland with their minor health conditions over 2 million times!

With the Revised List of Approved List Products (PCA (P) (2021) 14) Circular, from 1st October 2021