Published: 17/01/24
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.
As NHS Pharmacy First Scotland has been an established and growing service in all community pharmacies in Scotland since July 2020, CPS understand the launch of this new service in England may bring some confusion to the public and service providers, especially those who are located close to the Scotland-England border. These two services are separate from one another and are not interchangeable between home nations. With this in mind, we thought it important to communicate the differences between NHS Pharmacy First and NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and what impact this may have on public understanding in the coming months.
In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service incorporates the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) that was previously being provided and builds on it to enable community pharmacy to complete episodes of care for seven common conditions following specific clinical pathways. This will enable the management of common infections by community pharmacies through offering self-care, safety-netting advice, and supplying certain over the counter and prescription only medicines via clinical protocol and patient group directions (PGDs).
We have attached a table of comparisons between the PGDs which are covered by each service. More information on NHS Pharmacy First in England can be found here.
Due to the location of some national TV networks, health board areas such as NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and NHS Borders are likely to see conflicting information being broadcast into Scotland when the NHS Pharmacy First in England is launched. CPS are aware this will likely cause some confusion for the public and therefore it is important that you are aware of the differences between these separate services and anticipate any possible conversations with patients. There is also the possibility of patients from England travelling to Scotland, and vice versa, who will be unaware of the differences between the two services and will need further assistance in accessing healthcare. We hope the information attached brings clarity to this and will aid in conversations you may be faced with in the future.
Conditions covered by PGD(s): Comparison between NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and NHS Pharmacy First in England
| Condition | NHS Pharmacy First Scotland | NHS Pharmacy First in England |
|---|---|---|
| Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection | Yes | Yes |
| Shingles | Yes | Yes |
| Impetigo | Yes | Yes |
| Skin Infection | Yes | Yes, but only relating to infected insect bites |
| Hayfever | Yes | No |
| Acute Sore Throat | No | Yes |
| Acute Sinusitis | No | Yes |
| Acute Otitis Media | No | Yes |
CPS is promoting NHS Pharmacy First Scotland this winter as new figures show almost two million people used the service in 2025/26.