Useful Information for the PHS – Poster Campaigns
Published: 15/07/24

Our colleagues at Scottish Government have provided some further information regarding the: ‘Be the Early Bird’ – Detect Cancer Earlier Campaign.
Campaign runs until 4th September 2024.
As a reminder the 'Be the Early Bird' campaign was developed in response to insight which shows that fear of a cancer diagnosis can delay people contacting their GP practice with possible symptoms. ‘Be the Early Bird’ reinforces the benefits of finding cancer earlier in a bid to challenge the fear that is stopping people acting – and encourage those who have unusual, persistent symptoms to contact their GP practice.
The Detect Cancer Earlier Campaign looks to target people across Scotland aged 40+, with a focus on those from more deprived communities.
If you have already downloaded the Be the Early Bird assets then please get sharing and use the hashtag #BeTheEarlyBird
Key Messages
Anyone, particularly those aged 40+, with persistent symptoms unusual for them are being urged to ‘be the early bird’ and contact their GP practice.
If you’re worried about a possible cancer symptom, your GP practice wants to know.
Possible cancer symptoms could include unexplained bleeding, unusual lumps, unexplained weight loss or something that doesn’t feel normal for you.
Finding cancer earlier can mean there’s more treatment options available, a greater chance of living well after treatment and better news to tell the family.
For more information visit getcheckedearly.org
Campaign Resource Updates & Case Studies
You can now download public information screens static assets for public areas and waiting rooms.
We would also like to draw your attention to the great collection of Real stories | Get Checked Early. You are welcome to share these powerful stories across your social media channels. Here are a selection but there are many more to choose from across Scotland:
Liz Clark | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage lung cancer)
Laura Russell | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage skin cancer)
Ian Cassels | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage prostate cancer)
Christine Mitchell | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage ovarian cancer)
Paul McCaffery | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage testicular cancer)
Graeme Clark | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage blood cancer)
Norma MacLeod | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage breast cancer)
Glen Long | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage bladder cancer)
Anita Lindsay | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage cervical cancer)
Ron Kerr | Get Checked Early (treated for early stage bowel cancer)
All Available Campaign Assets
'Be the Early Bird' campaign resources include the following:
Stakeholder toolkit with social copy and editorial ideas
We would welcome your support in helping to embed the ‘Be the Early Bird’ concept with the public to make the term synonymous with finding cancer earlier and reduce later stage disease in Scotland. Please share it far and wide.
More details can be found in this Scottish Government / NHS Scotland Letter – ‘Be the early bird’ 2024/25
If any pharmacy requires a replacement poster holder, please contact APS Group at: stockorders.DPPAS@theapsgroup.com and a replacement will be sent out.
NHS Inform offers Women’s Health pages with advice and support. Resources for promoting these pages and raising awareness about endometriosis are available from the SG Campaign Resource Centre. Community pharmacies in Scotland provide support for women’s health issues through Pharmacy First.
Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.
Community pharmacists who completed the CPS/NES Independent Prescribing Training can attend a Teach & Treat (T&T) session after qualifying and completing four Clinical Skills days. These sessions, led by experienced prescribers, offer valuable support. New hubs are now open in Saracen Pharmacy and Garscadden. For details, check your TURAS account.
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is seeking volunteers to help develop the Pharmacy Foundation Training assessment for 2025. Subject matter experts are needed for 45-minute interviews via phone or Microsoft Teams to create scenarios for Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs). Interested individuals should contact Jo at Work Psychology Group to schedule an interview. No financial compensation is provided.
Our colleagues at NSS have let us know that there is planned downtime of the patient registration service from 6pm on Friday April 4th to 8am on Monday the 7th of April.
FT/ PT Pharmacist role days negotiable for local community Pharmacy in Lochgilphead. Would suit experienced or newly qualified pharmacist looking for a stable work/learning environment. Potential to support Independent Prescribing course should this be desirable. Possible live in accommodation due to location.
This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.
As a Senior Dispenser, you will be a key player in the smooth operation of our luxurious, high-end pharmacy, where we pride ourselves on delivering premium service in a spacious and elegant environment.
The Chief Medical Officer along with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and the Interim Chief Nursing Officer has writing to provide members with important details regarding the 2025 Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme, which will run from 31st March to 30th June 2025.
The CPS Board is currently discussing and reviewing the following top three items. While these are still "works in progress" and specific details are not yet available, further information will be provided as it becomes available.
We are pleased to confirm that the next Independent Prescribers meeting will take place on Thursday 27th March 2025.
You will have received a form in February, directly from CPS, asking you to send details for your organisation's finance lead and inviting you to join the CPS WhatsApp Groups. If you have not completed and returned the form, you need to do so asap.
As part of the policy team’s involvement on the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme we are looking for your input on some key questions to help inform how the system is built.
The Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) website represents a valuable resource to Pharmacy teams and is well worth taking a look at for those not already aware of it.
Recent reports have highlighted an increase in sudden collapse after injecting or smoking heroin. This appears linked to a rapid onset into overdose and multiple repeat doses of naloxone being required to reverse overdose.
Our colleagues at the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will be hosting a virtual event to engage with pharmacy professionals on the key issues shaping the future of pharmacy.
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) is delighted to host its 11th Annual Charity Golf Day at the stunning Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort. To help raise essential funds for this remarkable charity, we have expanded our sponsorship opportunities, allowing more businesses to contribute and gain valuable exposure.
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) attended the annual Pharmacy in Practice Conference on the 12th March 2025 in Edinburgh. The day consisted of a breadth of panel discussion sessions focusing on innovation in, and the future of pharmacy practice.
Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, March 20th, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.
Sheila MacFarlane Pharmacy is an independent, family-run, two-branch pharmacy based in the heart of Broughty Ferry. Customer service is at the heart of everything we do, and we have an experienced team of support staff.
We are seeking an experienced pharmacist looking to take on a management position in our Milton Road pharmacy. The pharmacy is a large business and requires someone who can work at a fast pace and deliver excellent customer service to our patients.
We are seeking a Pharmacist who is looking for a manager position within a mid-sized pharmacy business. This position would suit someone starting out in their management career or someone who is looking to build and grow a service base with independent prescribing clinics.
The Detect Cancer Earlier campaign ‘Be the Early Bird’ is LIVE throughout March 2025 but with a difference! A new Early Bird, ‘Bonnie’, has been introduced to raise awareness of lesser known head and neck cancer symptoms. We are delighted to share NEW campaign material and would welcome your support in helping us spread this important #BeTheEarlyBird message once again.
Endometriosis Awareness Month is taking place throughout March and is dedicated to raising awareness about endometriosis, a chronic and painful condition affecting many women across the UK. This month provides an opportunity to increase public understanding of the condition and encourage those who are suffering to seek medical advice from their GP practice.
From 1st April 2025, it will be a legal requirement for individuals to be a member of the PVG Scheme when carrying out a regulated role with children, protected adults, or both.
There have been some clinical incidents as a result of higher than expected levels of Vit D3 being in the product.
Pharmacies across Scotland have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the future pharmacy workforce by supporting student pharmacist experiential learning (EL) in the 2025-26 academic year.
This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the Serious Shortage Protocol for Estradot® (Estradiol) 50 micrograms / 24 hours transdermal patch, a hormone replacement therapy product has been extended.
We are pleased to see that the House of Lords recently held a debate which used community pharmacy as a central talking point, eventually voting overwhelmingly in favour of granting an exemption to this rise in business costs.

The devolved government for Scotland has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, etc...
This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the Serious Shortage Protocol for Estradot® (Estradiol) 50 micrograms / 24 hours transdermal patch (SSP079), a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product, due to expire on 21 March 2025 has been extended until Friday 4 April 2025.