Pharmacy First Scotland - PHS Report
Published: 21st May 2026
A new report published by Public Health Scotland shows that community pharmacy continue to play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland. The latest NHS Pharmacy First Scotland data demonstrates rising public confidence in community pharmacy, with more people than ever accessing care, advice and treatment through their local pharmacy network.
Some highlights from the report are as follows:
The report reveals that 35% of the Scottish population, almost two million people, used the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service over the latest 12 month reporting period.
The number of people accessing the service each quarter has increased by 70% over the last four years, showing continued growth in demand and trust in community pharmacy teams.
Usage continues to be strong across all age groups and levels of deprivation, reinforcing the role community pharmacies play in reducing barriers to healthcare and supporting local communities.
Chart 1 image reproduced from Public Health Scotland. All rights remain with the original copyright holder.
We believe these figures clearly illustrate the value community pharmacy delivers every day through accessible, close-to-home and clinically effective care. However, we continues to call for further investment and expansion of community pharmacy services to ensure pharmacies can continue to meet growing public demand and provide even more care within their communities across Scotland. Recent CPS policy work has highlighted the opportunity for community pharmacy to play an even greater role in prevention, prescribing, screening and long term condition support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is a service delivered through community pharmacies that allows people to access advice, treatment and medication for common conditions without needing to see a GP first. It is designed to improve access to care and make better use of healthcare services across Scotland.
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The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows continued growth in the use of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland. Almost two million people accessed the service over the most recent 12 month period, with increasing numbers using their local pharmacy each quarter. This reflects growing public confidence in community pharmacy services.
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For patients, the findings highlight that community pharmacies are an accessible and trusted first point of contact for healthcare. More people are receiving treatment or advice quickly and locally, often without the need for a GP appointment, helping to improve convenience and speed of care.
The Scottish Parliament recently debated the growing challenge of health misinformation, including its impact on public confidence in healthcare and vaccination programmes.