Scottish Drugs Forum #STOP THE DEATHS CONFERENCE 2025
Published: 04/09/25
Late August saw Gill and Gordon from our Policy Team attend the Scottish Drugs Forum in Glasgow. The two-day conference highlighted the importance of lived-in experience influencing future strategy, with updates on recent developments across Scotland as well as other parts of the UK.
The event hosted a variety of inspirational speakers and provided insight from those from various organisations and backgrounds, all working with the same aim of improving the lives of those affected by drugs, ensuring dignity, shared involvement, and responsibility. Sessions were impassioned and informative, sharing various innovations and successes, whilst demanding improvement and change necessary to tackle drug deaths. The Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) team have taken a lot away from the event, which will inform our work on substance use going forward.
Tackling drug deaths is a national priority, which is why CPS have made this a priority policy ambition in our 2026 Manifesto - read more here.
Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy & Sport, Maree Todd MSP also attended the event, providing an update on the National Mission and plans post 2026. We will shortly be writing to Ms. Todd to invite her to discuss our ideas for service development in this area.
Due to the day on which the 1st of November 2025 falls, this will result in the October prices being finalised early next week commencing the 3rd of November.
Reminder about the UK Yellow Card Scheme for reporting medicine and device safety concerns. Visit the official site for more information.
As part of your CPS / NES funded CP IP course, there is one half day session at a Teach and Treat Hub included. This session can be booked once you have completed your qualification and the 4 Clinical Training days.
Take part in a UK-wide survey on urgent care services. Help shape future research. Community pharmacy voices from Scotland are especially welcome.
In line with our 2026 Manifesto, a key policy area is that of detecting illness in those who may present at the Community Pharmacy with or without symptoms.
Pharmacist roles in Stornoway with KJ Macdonald Ltd. Rent-free flat, great team, and stunning Isle of Lewis location. Apply by 21 Nov 2025.
SSP for cefalexin oral suspension sugar free products extended to 28 November 2025. Pharmacists should review updated guidance.
This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.
Community Pharmacy Scotland / NHS Education for Scotland Independent Prescribing trainees for June and September 2025 must return forms confirming details. Contact us with any questions.
NSS may contact your pharmacy via email when a reimbursement claim lacks sufficient detail for a dispensed item. These messages are sent from the nDCVP payment system to your pharmacy’s generic email address.
Join Broughton Pharmacy’s growing team in Edinburgh. Full or part-time role with IP support. Apply by 20 November 2025.
Last week, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) welcomed a visitor from Norway to Edinburgh. Birgitte Lloyd, President of the Norwegian Association of Pharmacists was in Scotland to learn more about the Scottish Community Pharmacy contract and services, as well as build on her own knowledge of Scottish culture.
The Scottish Government are funding training for Primary Care teams to more quickly identify the symptoms of a stroke.
Our local store in Lenzie is looking for a Pharmacy Technician to join their very knowledgeable team. The store offer a ranges of services and Pharmacy 1st plus
Community Pharmacy Scotland calls for the community pharmacy network to be commissioned to deliver a national NHS weight loss service, focussing on the direct use of medicines.
Your next courier collection is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.
Boots are currently looking for an experienced pharmacist to join our Pharmacy team at Boots in North Lanarkshire.
Our pharmacy in Braehead is looking for a pharmacy technician to join their team on a full time basis.
Boots Galashiels store is looking for a pharmacy technician to join their well established team.
Join Houston Pharmacy in Dundee as a Pharmacist Manager. Lead services, support your community, and grow your clinical career. Apply by 03/10/25.
Join Lindsay & Gilmour Inverkeithing as a Non-Pharmacist Pharmacy Manager. Lead a dedicated team and deliver exceptional community pharmacy care.
Join Boots Campbeltown as a Pharmacist. Deliver expert care, support your community, and make a difference in a trusted local pharmacy.
Join Boots North Lanarkshire as a Relief Pharmacist. Work across multiple stores, deliver expert care, and make a real impact in your community.
Join Boots Thornhill as a Pharmacist. Work with great support, DSP automation, and make a difference delivering expert care to your community.
Join Boots St Andrews as a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber. Deliver expert care, lead a great team, and support your local community.
Join Boots in Portree, Isle of Skye as a full-time Pharmacist. Great team, IP support, benefits & career growth. Apply by 28 October 2025.
At Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS), our Community Pharmacy Health Board (CPHB) committees are at the forefront of local service negotiation.
Can all Community Pharmacy Independent Prescriberss and Trainees who undertook or are undertaking a Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) / NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Funded Training, please keep us up to date with any changes to your information.
This week Adam from the Policy team headed to the RPS Offices in London to take part in a national discussion on early years career development for pharmacists.
Policy Officer

The Scottish Government has released circular PCA(P)(2025)24 which details changes to the remuneration of all components of the NHS Pharmacy First (Scotland) service.