The Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) Board has accepted the Scottish Government’s financial offer detailing the initial focus on the reimbursement arrangements within the community pharmacy funding envelope for the financial year 2025/26.  

This circular sets out to community pharmacy contractors and Health Boards the details of the reimbursement arrangements as part of the community pharmacy funding settlement for 2025/26.

Due to ongoing discussions with PHS the final round of Adjusted Prices for April are likely to be agreed and published on Thursday 1st May 2025. This will result in the May Part 7 file being agreed and published slightly later than the 1st of May.

The CPS 2025 Election has now concluded. We’d like to thank everyone who got involved. We have some new faces and some familiar ones. We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome our new CPS Board for 2025 - 2028.

Community Pharmacy Scotland was pleased to meet with Dame Jackie Baillie MSP on Tuesday at The Scottish Parliament to discuss the vital role of community pharmacy in Scotland's healthcare system.

Our colleagues at NSS have asked us to pass on the following message:

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) are undertaking a tech refresh of the Patient Registration Service (PRS) to ensure continued support. As part of this process, NSS will need to schedule a PRS system downtime.

Our colleagues at Public Health Scotland (PHS) have asked us to share the following update regarding the COVID-19 spring vaccine poster for people with a weakened immune system.

This week The Scotsman newspaper revealed that Scotland is on course for the highest number of annual flu deaths in almost half a century after more than than 350,000 fewer vaccines were given this winter.

Development of a new CPS strategy is well underway, with a final draft soon to be sent to the CPS Board for review.

Robert Gordon University (RGU) have developed a qualification aimed at post-registration pharmacy technicians across the UK entitled: BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice for Pharmacy Technicians.

A new letter has been jointly issued by Professor Sir Gregor Smith (Chief Medical Officer for Scotland), Professor Alison Strath (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer), and Anne Armstrong (Interim Chief Nursing Officer), underscores the importance of continued collaboration across health and social care.

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.

Do you have questions about the updated Smoking Cessation Varenicline Service? Join us on Wednesday 7th May at 19:30 to 21:00 on Microsoft Teams - Click here to Register

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland are running online training sessions on the FAST tool for identifying stroke, and community pharmacy team members are invited to join. 

This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors of an updated Patient Group Direction (PGD) that is to be implemented for smoking cessation under the community pharmacy Public Health Service.

Our colleagues at Public Health Scotland (PHS) have asked that we disseminate the latest RADAR update to community pharmacy teams to inform you of concerns related to ongoing localised clusters of drug harms in multiple areas in Scotland.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland are gathering views and experiences from people currently taking Valproate, or those who have recently stopped.

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.

Please find attached NHS PCA(P)(2025)05 circular advising of a new Serious Shortage Protocol in place for Estradot^® (Estradiol) 25 micrograms / 24 hours transdermal patch until Friday 2 May 2025.

Please find attached NHS circular PCA(P)(2025) 04 - Extension to Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot (estradiol) 50, 75 and 100mcg patches, advising that the SSPs for the noted Estradot (estradiol) products have been extended until Friday 2 May 2025.