This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.

We can now confirm that Pharmacy Technicians will be included under the updated definition of ‘regulated roles’ and will therefore require PVG Scheme membership from 1st April 2025.

Yesterday (14 May 2025), Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) welcomed members to the first Council session of the 2025 - 2028 term.

Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.

The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, announced this week the Programme for Government for 2025/26. He stated that "this programme is focused on delivery and hope. Delivery in response to the challenges we know people are facing in their everyday lives.

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the four UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot® (estradiol) transdermal patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product, due to expire on 2 May 2025 have been extended.

The current Public Health Scotland poster campaign topic is Lyme Disease. The campaign aims to increase awareness of Lyme disease; how it is transmitted (via ticks) and vital signs and symptoms to look out for. Posters should be displayed within your pharmacy.

This article includes guidance around the process of submitting claims for the generic version of Varenicline. This applies to dispensing against prescriptions and the use of the newly re-launched PGD.

As a part of our work with the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland, we regularly raise lines of concern and work to secure adjusted prices for these.

Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.

The NHS circular PCA(P)(2025)08 informs NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors of new arrangements in place for the procurement and reimbursement of Paxlovid® (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir).

Check out our Policy & PR Pharmacist, Sarah Scott, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland this morning about how people can manage insect bites and associated symptoms and how to access expert support through NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced draft legislation has been laid out, with a view to the legislation coming into force for Hub and Spoke dispensing between different community pharmacy legal entities in October 2025 (The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Hub and Spoke Dispensing etc.) Regulations 2025). 

The Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) Board has accepted the Scottish Government’s financial offer detailing the initial focus on the reimbursement arrangements within the community pharmacy funding envelope for the financial year 2025/26.  

This circular sets out to community pharmacy contractors and Health Boards the details of the reimbursement arrangements as part of the community pharmacy funding settlement for 2025/26.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is consulting on proposals to increase registration fees for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy premises over a two year period.

Due to ongoing discussions with PHS the final round of Adjusted Prices for April are likely to be agreed and published on Thursday 1st May 2025. This will result in the May Part 7 file being agreed and published slightly later than the 1st of May.

The CPS 2025 Election has now concluded. We’d like to thank everyone who got involved. We have some new faces and some familiar ones. We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome our new CPS Board for 2025 - 2028.

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 was pleased to meet with Dame Jackie Baillie MSP on Tuesday at The Scottish Parliament to discuss the vital role of community pharmacy in Scotland's healthcare system.