CPS Snapshot - 6th August 2026
Published: 6th August 2026
A weekly snapshot of activity across CPS, highlighting recent work on policy, systems, and engagement across the network.
In the past week, the CPS team have:
Engaged this quarter's Scottish PMR liaison group meeting, where Government, NHS, contractors and PMR providers come together on shared interests.
Caught up with our colleagues in Public Services Delivery Scotland on plans for this year's post-registration pharmacist development programme
Fed into the National Pharmacy Workforce Forum advisory group, looking at future development pathways and experiential learning plans
Continued our involvement in the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways work, working closely with the newly appointed officers for communications and information governance.
Gordon from the team joined BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime show to share our thoughts on GP Walk-in centres and how pharmacy could, with the right support and funding, contribute to the aims of the policy.
Disclosure Scotland has published its June 2026 newsletter, covering two important updates for PVG scheme members and customers.
A weekly snapshot of CPS activity including policy work, digital developments and stakeholder engagement across community pharmacy.
The Yellow Card Scheme in the UK is a system for collecting and monitoring information about suspected adverse drug reactions and safety concerns related to medicines and medical devices.
Congratulations again on your recent qualification, and the start of your career as a registered Pharmacist!
We have run a short series of articles on the NHS PFS Service over recent weeks, focussing on some specific aspects of the service.
One item has been removed from Part 7B of the Scottish Drug Tariff from 1st August 2026. Read the latest update.
This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.
An update on August 2026 Part 7 publishing timelines following early finalisation of February adjusted prices. Key dates explained.
Download the prescription collection dates for July to December 2026 and find guidance on courier collections, bags and support.
Five weeks to go until the CPS Charity Golf Day 2026. Enter a team, sponsor the event, donate a raffle prize or support Blood Bikes Scotland.
This week, CPS Policy and Development Pharmacist Gordon Winter joined BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme to discuss what the data means for community pharmacy and the wider primary care landscape.
Six years of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, with more than 1.9 million people using the service and continued expansion of independent prescribing.
A national workforce survey will take place in September 2026 to support community pharmacy workforce planning across Scotland.
Latest update for Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribers and trainees, including training pathways, next steps and upcoming support.
Find patient information resources, Approved List and guidance for the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service.
The Serious Shortage Protocol for ramipril 1.25mg capsules has been extended until 30th October 2026. Read the latest guidance for pharmacies.
Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot® (estradiol) transdermal patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product, which were due to expire on 10 July 2026, have been extended until Friday 2 October 2026.
Calling all CPS/PSDS Funded Newly Qualified CPIP Employees!
Congratulations on passing your CPIP Course!!!
As part of our policy work, we are keen to understand more about you and your patients' experiences of the newly-established GP Walk-in centre pilot sites across the country, and how these fit in with services like Pharmacy First.
A weekly snapshot of CPS activity including policy work, digital developments and stakeholder engagement across community pharmacy.
The top question for this week is around the eligibility of patients to receive the service.
Adam from our policy team has been seconded to the DPDP programme, which aims to move Scotland away from paper prescriptions
This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for ramipril 1.25mg capsules remains in place following an extension to its expiry date.
Reminders and revisit ahead of the holiday season and upcoming events. NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) Service – including Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing
This is a reminder that your next collection date for your prescriptions is the Tuesday 7th July 2026.
The new updated version of Part 7 is now available for July 2026. This month there are two additions to Part 7 of the Scottish Drug Tariff we wanted to make you aware of:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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The CPS Snapshot provides members with a regular overview of the work Community Pharmacy Scotland is undertaking on behalf of the sector. It highlights engagement with stakeholders, policy development, service improvement work and ongoing projects that support community pharmacy in Scotland.
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Updates include policy work, service development, system reviews, and engagement with partners across the pharmacy sector.
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- We have already had some informal conversations and some applications for our open Policy Officer (Pharmacist) role - take a look if you haven't already seen this!
- Graham presented the findings of his research on use of the CPS Shortage reporter to the team working on refreshing it, which has helped us really understand which improvements will best support our members. Maximising the use of this tool provides us with crucial evidence on medicines pricing that can inform price adjustments - so keep an eye out for some developments in the coming weeks (including a name change to something a bit more "Ronseal")!
- We took some new Scottish Government Pharmacy colleagues out to visit the team at Omnicare Tollcross in Edinburgh so that they could see all of the hard work that pharmacy teams put into supporting local communities, highlighting areas that our teams in turn need to be supported in.
- Adam and Gordon continued the work kicked off last week to review the PCR requirements for a supplier review.
- Digital Prescribing and Dispensing work continues to develop - this week's conversations were tackling the systems, processes and governance around prescription cancellations and our thoughts internally are very much turning to the support and resource that will be required for implementation.
- Adam met with Skills Development Scotland to understand what is changing in the world of skills and in particular apprenticeships - the entire system is being overhauled and we are keen that our members are able to benefit from this in the coming years.
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You can follow weekly snapshots and updates shared through CPS communications, including the website and newsletter.
Policy & Development Pharmacist

Community Pharmacy Scotland is keen to showcase examples of how pharmacy teams are helping to reduce medicines waste across Scotland as part of work we involved in nationally.