Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey 2026
Published: 28th July 2026
PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team and Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) will shortly begin a national workforce survey to help build a clearer picture of personnel levels and skill mix across community pharmacy in Scotland. The information gathered will support future workforce planning and development across the sector.
In September 2026 PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team, in conjunction with Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS), will be co-ordinating another national community pharmacy workforce survey to gain a better understanding of personnel numbers and skill mix within community pharmacy in Scotland. The information obtained will be analysed and will help to inform pharmacy workforce planning and development, ensuring we have the right workforce in place now and can take action to ensure that demand is met in the future.
The data for independent community pharmacies will be gathered via an online survey and we encourage each pharmacy to identify a single person to collate this information. The survey will come to the pharmacy mailbox. The data for Multiple and Group pharmacies will be gathered via an individual from within that multiple or group and this information will be captured using a standard spreadsheet. You will receive more information in due course.
The survey has been designed to capture a snapshot of the community pharmacy workforce including pharmacists (plus those working centrally if appropriate), locum pharmacists, pre-registration trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians including trainees, and pharmacy support staff during the week commencing Sunday 6th September 2026 to Saturday 12th September 2026.
Frequesntly Asked Questions (FAQs)
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The survey is being conducted to gain a better understanding of personnel numbers and skill mix within community pharmacy in Scotland. The information collected will be used to support workforce planning and development.
Source: PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team (https://publicservicesdelivery.scot/news/all-news/national-community-pharmacy-workforce-survey-2026/)
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Independent community pharmacies will complete the survey through an online questionnaire sent to the pharmacy mailbox. Pharmacies are encouraged to identify one person to collate the required information.
Source: PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team (https://publicservicesdelivery.scot/news/all-news/national-community-pharmacy-workforce-survey-2026/)
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The survey will collect information on pharmacists, locum pharmacists, pre-registration trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians (including trainees) and pharmacy support staff.
Source: PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team (https://publicservicesdelivery.scot/news/all-news/national-community-pharmacy-workforce-survey-2026/)
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The survey will capture a snapshot of the workforce during the week commencing Sunday 6th September 2026 to Saturday 12th September 2026.
Source: PSD Scotland Pharmacy Team (https://publicservicesdelivery.scot/news/all-news/national-community-pharmacy-workforce-survey-2026/)
Six years of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, with more than 1.9 million people using the service and continued expansion of independent prescribing.