Supporting Community Pharmacy Across Scotland

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.

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

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.