This information was correct at the time of publication. Policy and guidance can change, so please check our latest news for the current position. For anything else, please contact enquiries@cps.scot
CPS is continuing to champion the vital role of community pharmacy this winter, raising public awareness of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and the care available from pharmacy teams across the country.
As part of the Scottish Government’s “Know Before You Go” winter preparedness campaign, CPS Policy and Public Relations Pharmacist Sarah Staddon recently visited the Forth 1 studios in Edinburgh to record a series of radio soundbites highlighting how community pharmacy can help people stay well and access the right care closer to home.
The recordings will feature in the station’s Life Matters segment, providing another opportunity to promote the expertise and accessibility of community pharmacy teams to people across Scotland.
The campaign comes at a timely point, with the latest Public Health Scotland figures demonstrating just how significant NHS Pharmacy First Scotland has become.
In 2025/26, almost two million people, equivalent to 36% of Scotland’s population, used NHS Pharmacy First Scotland at least once. This represents a 59% increase since 2021/22, when around 1.24 million people accessed the service.
The figures also demonstrate the important role contractors and their teams play in supporting communities across Scotland. Use of the service ranged from 336 per 1,000 people in the least deprived areas to 408 per 1,000 in the most deprived, while the highest rate of use was among children aged 0–9.
For contractors and pharmacy teams, these figures reflect what you see every day: people turning to their local pharmacy for accessible advice, treatment and support. They also provide powerful evidence of the contribution the community pharmacy network is making to primary care and the growing reliance people place on the service.
Help Spread the Word
This winter, help us promote NHS Pharmacy First Scotland in your community. Remind patients that they don’t need to register with a pharmacy and can turn to their local pharmacy team for advice and treatment for common clinical conditions.
Read the latest Public Health Scotland NHS Pharmacy First Scotland data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Almost two million people used NHS Pharmacy First Scotland at least once in 2025/26, representing 36% of Scotland’s population. Use has increased by 59% since 2021/22, when around 1.24 million people accessed the service.
Source: Public Health Scotland NHS Pharmacy First Scotland data (https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland-27-october-2026/)
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Use of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland was higher in the most deprived areas of Scotland, at 408 people per 1,000, compared with 336 per 1,000 in the least deprived areas. This demonstrates the service’s importance in providing accessible advice, treatment and support within communities experiencing greater health inequalities.
Source: Public Health Scotland NHS Pharmacy First Scotland data (https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland-27-october-2026/)
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The figures show growing reliance on community pharmacy for accessible advice, treatment and support. Almost two million people used the service in 2025/26, providing strong evidence of the contribution contractors and pharmacy teams make to primary care across Scotland.
Source: Public Health Scotland NHS Pharmacy First Scotland data (https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland-27-october-2026/)
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Pharmacy teams can promote NHS Pharmacy First Scotland within their communities and remind patients that they do not need to register with a pharmacy before using the service. Teams can also explain that local pharmacies provide advice and treatment for common clinical conditions.
Source: Sarah Staddon
