Programme for Government 2026-2031 - A New Community First Approach?
Published: 10th September 2026
The programme (Supporting documents - Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 - gov.scot) proposes radical reshaping of Scotland’s public services, focusing on structural reform rather than just new spending or isolated policy pledges.
This includes replacing Scotland’s 14 NHS health boards with two strategic boards. There is also the returning theme of shifting towards ill-health prevention, early intervention, and delivering services closer to communities. These priorities have also been echoed in the Health and Care Improving Flow Plan (Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026 - 2031 - gov.scot).
The document specifically mentions the expansion of the 'Community First' model. This approach prioritises delivering healthcare and support in community settings, aiming to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and support people to remain in their homes or local communities for as long as possible. But is it this Community First approach new when it comes to our network of community pharmacies?
The NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service has been delivering health interventions via community pharmacy since 2020. In 2025 alone, 35% of Scotland's population used the service at least once. These interventions provide healthcare advice, treatment or appropriate onward referral to keep people well in their communities. This service has been successfully expanded upon over recent years and therefore this approach to health intervention in the community pharmacy setting isn't new.
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) feels the Scottish Government's commitments to delivering community healthcare now need to go further and should have a clear focus on how to best utilise the community pharmacy network to deliver on their commitments in ill-health prevention and detection.
As outlined in our Manifesto, CPS believes the community pharmacy network should be commissioned to undertake cardiovascular screening as part of the Scottish Governments health MOT programme. Our network of pharmacies are ideally positioned in the population to identify those unknowingly at risk, who would otherwise not proactively engage with NHS services. Duplication of resource across primary care routes must be avoided whilst maximising the opportunity for the population to take advantage of preventative health programmes.
As your representatives, we are urging policymakers to recognise and invest in the power of community pharmacy as part of the foundation for a healthier, fairer Scotland. On behalf of our members, CPS welcomes discussions on the sustainable resource that will be required to deliver this approach.
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
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Not in practice. NHS PFS has been delivering exactly this model since 2020, giving people advice, treatment or onward referral in their own communities without a hospital or GP appointment. In 2025, 35% of Scotland's population used the service at least once. The principle the Programme for Government is describing is already established and proven in the pharmacy network, so the question for policymakers is not whether to build it but how far to extend it.
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The Programme for Government sets out the direction rather than the detail, and the implications for local commissioning, contractor relationships and existing CP(HB) structures have not yet been spelled out. Our priority is making sure the pharmacy network is not lost in the reorganisation and that whatever replaces current local arrangements keeps a clear route for contractors to shape services in their area. We will be seeking early clarity from the Scottish Government on how this will work and will keep members updated as the picture develops.
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We are asking for the community pharmacy network to be commissioned to deliver cardiovascular screening as part of the health MOT programme, as set out in our Manifesto. Pharmacies sit where people already are, which means we can reach those unknowingly at risk who would not otherwise come forward through traditional NHS routes. Doing this through pharmacy also avoids duplicating effort across primary care. Any expansion of this kind needs sustainable resource behind it, and we welcome discussions with government on what that looks like.
Happy to shorten these for a website accordion block, or add a fourth on what contractors should do now if you want a call to action at the end.
The programme (Supporting documents - Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 - gov.scot) proposes radical reshaping of Scotland’s public services, focusing on structural reform rather than just new spending or isolated policy pledges.