Published: 04/01/24
Each local NHS Health Board has the ability to develop bespoke local pharmacy services to suit the needs of local communities and patients - this is why you find differences across borders in what is asked of you when, for example, supporting people who are prescribed opiate replacement therapy.
You will also see that some Health Boards have services that others don't - again, an example would be the Oral Nutritional Supplement service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde pharmacies that isn't found elsewhere.
This is how many of our now national services started life (e.g. Pharmacy First PGDs), and is a great way to test out new ideas. The agreed process of agreeing and launching these services involves the Health Board pharmacy team working closely with a representative committee of pharmacy owners that have been elected for this purpose. Most of the time, this process is understood and followed, but occasionally other Health Board staff may not be aware of these ways of working and may (with the best of intentions) make direct approaches to a pharmacy or several pharmacies to test out a new service. We have seen a few examples of this recently which have had to be rolled back to go through the proper channels to ensure that what has been agreed is safe, appropriate and represents a fair opportunity for community pharmacy.
It is critical that if you are approached to take part in a pilot or new service, that you check whether the local Community Pharmacy owners' committee has been consulted. If you or the Health Board representative are unsure, check in with your pharmacy owner/area manager or contact the policy office at CPS on enquiries@cps.scot
CPS is promoting NHS Pharmacy First Scotland this winter as new figures show almost two million people used the service in 2025/26.