Home > Latest News
Latest News
The content below contains the latest news affecting community pharmacy owners and their teams throughout Scotland. If you can’t find something or you have a question please get in touch with us at webteam@cps.scot
NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service
The NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service has an annualised pool of £30.800m. The service will remunerate contractors for making the service available to their communities (Base element) and for the episodes of care provided in line with service (Activity element).
NHS Pharmacy First Plus
Circular PCA(P)(2020)16 set out the intention to introduce a combined National Foundation Programme and Independent Prescriber (IP) Career Pathway for community pharmacists.
Independent Prescribing
Scottish Government has agreed to an annualised pool of £1m to support the training of employee Pharmacist Independent Prescribers in community pharmacies. Further details will be provided under a separate circular on arrangements.
Post Registration National Foundation for Newly Qualified Pharmacists
To support the Post Registration National Foundation Programme for Newly Qualified Pharmacists, a monthly fee of £1,000 will be made available to the contractor named on the pharmaceutical list on the 1st of each month where the newly qualified pharmacist has joined the PRFP scheme.
Public Health Service
The Scottish Government campaign activity for 2023-24 is currently being finalised and a more detailed list for the year will be issued in due course.
Unscheduled Care
The annualised pool of £3.58 million to recognise the work undertaken in the treatment of unscheduled care.
PCA(P)(2023)31 - SSP for Jext 300 micrograms/0.3mL
To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Jext® 300 micrograms/0.3mL (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen, from 21 August 2023 to 15 September 2023.
PCA(P)(2023)30 - SSP for Estradot (Estradiol hemihydrate)
To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Estradot® (Estradiol hemihydrate) 100 microgram patches, from 21 August 2023 to 8 September 2023.
PCA(P)(2023)29 - SSP for Progynova®
This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Progynova®
Reimbursement
The Drug Tariff arrangements are different in Scotland from elsewhere in the UK.
Payments to Essential Small Pharmacies
The total Establishment Payment plus Dispensing Pool Payment plus Pharmaceutical Needs Weighting Payment made to an Essential Small Pharmacy (ESP) each month, are subject to a guarantee minimum target income of £4,412 for full-time contractors.
Payments to New Contractors
New contractors will be eligible to receive on a monthly basis:
PCA(P)(2023)24 - Extension to SSP issued for Progynova TS
The UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Progynova® (estradiol) TS 100 microgram patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
PCA(P)(2023)21 - SSP for Utrogestan® 100mg Capsules
To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Utrogestan® (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules, from 19 May 2023 to 18 August 2023.
PCA(P)(2023)20 - Gluten Free Food Prescribable List
This Circular provides an updated Gluten Free Food Prescribable Product List to be used in conjunction with the community pharmacy Gluten Free Food Service (GFFS).
PCA(P)(2023)19 - SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Clarithromycin, and Sandrena® (Estradiol)
This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that ten of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for antibiotics products due to expire on 28 April 2023 have now been extended.
PCA(P)(2023)17 - Pharmaceutical Services Amendments to the Drug Tariff
This Circular advises of changes in the Drug Tariff effective for dispensing 1 May 2023 in respect of reimbursement of costs borne by community pharmacy contractors when dispensing NHS prescriptions for specialist preparations and imported unlicensed medicines listed in Part 7S.
PCA(P)(2023)14 - SSP for Estradot® (Estradiol Hemihydrate) 75mcg / 24hr Patch
To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Estradot® (Estradiol hemihydrate) 75 micrograms / 24 hours patch, from 13 March 2023 to 5 May 2023.
PCA(P)(2023)13 - Extension to SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin Products and Sandrena®
This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that eight of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin antibiotic products (SSPs 040-047) due to expire on 31 March 2023 have been extended until Friday 28 April 2023.