Core NHS Service
Public Health Service (PHS)
The Public Health Service (PHS) is one of the four core NHS community pharmacy services in Scotland. It supports community pharmacies to contribute to national public health priorities by promoting healthier lifestyles, preventing illness, and improving access to preventative healthcare services.
- Core service
- 1 of 4 in Scotland
- Smoking cessation
- Up to £80
- EHC and BC
- £30 consultation
At a Glance
- PHS is one of the four core NHS community pharmacy services in Scotland.
- It includes health promotion, smoking cessation, sexual health services and prophylactic paracetamol supply.
- Community pharmacies play a key role in supporting prevention and population health.
- Smoking cessation interventions attract fees of up to £80 across the patient journey.
- EHC and Bridging Contraception consultations attract a £30 service fee plus reimbursement for medicine supply.
- Delivery relies on national specifications, PGDs and training requirements.
About the service
What the Public Health Service is, and why it matters
The service
What is the Public Health Service?
The Public Health Service (PHS) is one of the four core NHS community pharmacy services in Scotland. It supports community pharmacies to contribute to national public health priorities by promoting healthier lifestyles, preventing illness, and improving access to preventative healthcare services.
The service makes use of the accessibility of community pharmacy, enabling pharmacy teams to provide advice, interventions and support to patients as part of everyday practice.
The impact
Why the Public Health Service Matters
Community pharmacy is often the most accessible part of the NHS. Through the PHS, pharmacy teams help:
- Support self-care and prevention.
- Improve access to public health advice and services.
- Reduce health inequalities.
- Encourage healthier lifestyles.
- Contribute to national public health priorities.
- Provide early intervention and signposting to other NHS services.
The service recognises the important contribution community pharmacy makes to improving population health through both planned interventions and opportunistic conversations with patients.
Service Components
The Public Health Service currently comprises four key elements. Select one to read more.
Community pharmacies are required to maintain a health-promoting environment and participate in national public health campaigns.
This includes the use of posters, promotional materials and engagement with public health priorities such as cancer screening, vaccination uptake, smoking prevention and self-care.
Keep an eye out on public health promotion campaign updates via our newsletter.
Community pharmacy plays a leading role in helping people quit smoking, delivering a significant proportion of NHS Scotland's smoking cessation support.
The service provides structured support, follow-up and, where appropriate, access to pharmacological treatments in line with local arrangements and national guidance.
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Quit Date Submission | £30 |
| Four-Week Follow-Up Submission | £15 |
| Twelve-Week Follow-Up Submission | £35 |
Pharmacies should ensure all required data is submitted through the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR), as this supports both service evaluation and payment.
The Sexual Health Service supports community pharmacies to improve access to contraception and sexual health advice through nationally commissioned NHS services.
As part of the Public Health Service, pharmacy teams can provide both Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and Bridging Contraception (BC) in line with national service specifications, NHS Board-approved PGDs and local governance arrangements.
Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
The EHC service provides timely access to emergency contraception for people who may be at risk of unintended pregnancy. In addition to supplying treatment where appropriate, pharmacy teams can provide advice, support and referral to other healthcare services when required.
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Emergency Hormonal Contraception Consultation | £30 |
Claims must be submitted through the Universal Claim Framework (UCF). Since November 2024, payment is made for the consultation rather than being linked solely to the supply of medication, meaning pharmacies can claim where the outcome is advice, referral or supply.
Bridging Contraception (BC)
The Bridging Contraception Service improves access to ongoing contraception by allowing eligible patients to receive a supply of desogestrel while they arrange longer-term contraceptive care. The service may be provided following an EHC consultation, but it can also be accessed as a standalone service.
The service supports improved access to contraception, reduces delays in treatment and strengthens the role of community pharmacy in sexual and reproductive healthcare. Updated service documentation, assessment forms and a revised PGD were introduced in 2024 to support consistent delivery across Scotland.
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bridging Contraception Consultation | £30 |
Claims must be submitted through the Universal Claim Framework (UCF). Pharmacy teams should ensure the correct claim pathway is selected to support accurate payment.
Providing Both Services
Where a patient receives both an EHC consultation and a Bridging Contraception consultation, separate claims should be submitted for each service through the Universal Claim Framework (UCF). Contractors are paid £60 when both services are delivered as part of the same patient episode.
Where appropriate, pharmacies can provide prophylactic paracetamol to support childhood vaccination programmes in line with national arrangements.
Remuneration
Fees for the Smoking Cessation and Sexual Health Services
Smoking Cessation Service
Data is submitted through the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR).
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Quit Date Submission | £30 |
| Four-Week Follow-Up Submission | £15 |
| Twelve-Week Follow-Up Submission | £35 |
| Up to, across the patient journey | £80 |
Sexual Health Service
Claims are submitted through the Universal Claim Framework (UCF), plus reimbursement for medicine supply.
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Emergency Hormonal Contraception Consultation | £30 |
| Bridging Contraception Consultation | £30 |
| Both services in the same patient episode | £60 |
The future of the service
Looking Ahead
Community pharmacy has an increasingly important role in delivering preventative healthcare and supporting population health. As NHS Scotland continues to focus on prevention, early intervention and reducing health inequalities, community pharmacies are well placed to expand their contribution to public health programmes and wider healthcare priorities.
Community Pharmacy Scotland continues to work with government and NHS partners to ensure future service development recognises the accessibility, expertise and impact of community pharmacy teams.
Resources and Guidance
Community pharmacy teams delivering Public Health Service elements should ensure they are familiar with the relevant service specifications, Patient Group Directions (PGDs), Pharmacy Care Record (PCR) requirements and local NHS Board guidance.
Smoking Cessation Service
Useful resources for delivering the national Smoking Cessation Service include:
- Smoking Cessation Service Specification and Varenicline PGD
- Smoking Cessation Key Facts Sheet
- NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) guidance on using the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR) for service delivery and claims.
- Smoking cessation education and training available through Public Health Scotland and Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS).
Sexual Health Service
Pharmacists providing Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) services should ensure they are working in accordance with:
- Current local NHS Board PGDs.
- National service specifications.
- Relevant safeguarding and child protection guidance.
- Sexual and reproductive health learning resources available through Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS).
Health Promotion Resources
Community pharmacies should continue to support national public health campaigns through the use of promotional materials, patient engagement and local health improvement activities. Current campaign materials are distributed through the national poster programme.
If a pharmacy requires a replacement poster holder, requests can be made through the national supplier arrangements.
Pharmacy Care Record (PCR)
The Pharmacy Care Record supports the delivery and claiming of a number of Public Health Service elements. Pharmacy teams should ensure records are completed accurately and submitted within the required timescales to support service evaluation and remuneration.