Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Scottish pharmacies secure three-year funding settlement

Community pharmacies across Scotland will see an almost £5 million increase in funding for next fiscal as part of the new three-year deal.

Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) on Thursday confirmed agreeing on the first-ever three-year funding settlement for pharmacists with the Scottish government.


The deal, which is for the period of 2020-21 to 2022-23, has increased the global sum for community pharmacy to £188.148 million in 2020-21. This is an increase of 2.5 per cent or £4.59 million from 2019-20 sum £183.559 million.

The global sum will be subject to a fixed percentage uplift of 2.5 per cent in each of the

three years.

“The non-Global Sum will remain at £1.3 million and will be repurposed towards funding infrastructure to support the joint SG (Scottish Government) and CPS strategy of increasing the number of independent prescriber workforce within the community pharmacy setting,” Rose Marie Parr, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland, said in a circular.

As part of the deal, the government will invest a total of £10 million of new funding to NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service over three year period.

The service, which replaces the existing Minor Ailment Service and Pharmacy First, will be introduced from April 2020. It enables pharmacists to give advice to, and if necessary treat or refer, patients with uncomplicated urinary infections (UTIs) and Impetigo.

A further £3.258 million will be available for pharmacists as a support to the Independent Prescribing Strategy and Career Pathway while £1.44 million will be available to pharmacy owners in 2020-21 increasing to £4.32 million in 2022-23 to support pharmacists completing the NES Foundation Programme.

The total guaranteed funding to be delivered in 2020-21 will be £258.148 million.

Calling the announcement "a vote of confidence in Scottish community pharmacy", the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said it "will lead to a significant improvement in patient access to NHS healthcare."

Mark Lyonette, NPA Chief Executive, said: "The Scottish Government, pharmacy negotiators and pharmacy teams across Scotland are working in partnership to develop services in line with a clear strategy and that is to be applauded. We are especially pleased to see investment in the clinical skills of the community pharmacy workforce, which will reap rewards well beyond the three year timeframe.  The direction of travel towards clinical services is being underpinned by new and guaranteed funding, which shows the way for other parts of the UK to follow.  The NHS, the community pharmacy sector, patients and communities will all benefit from this investment."

More For You

Air pollution in UK linked to thousands of deaths and chronic health conditions

A report by the Royal College of Physicians claims that air pollution was causing harm to almost every organ of the body.

iStock

Royal College of Physicians paints grim picture of air pollution in UK

Doctors warn that around 99 per cent of the population in the UK are breathing "toxic air", and around 30,000 deaths will be linked to air pollution in 2025.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) claimed in a report that air pollution was causing harm to almost every organ of the body, and shortening life by 1.8 years on average.

Keep ReadingShow less
Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

The last date for submission is 30 June 2025.

Pic credit: iStock

Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

More than 50 per cent of the community pharmacies in England have failed to complete their Data Security and Protection Toolkit 2025 with the deadline in less than two weeks.

Necessary guidance regarding the toolkit has previously been provided by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) earlier.

Keep ReadingShow less
Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

In the UK, over three million people have osteoporosis.

Pic credit: iStock

Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has launched a free online service called BoneMed which is aimed to support patients with osteoporosis in taking their medicine and remove barriers to adherence.

After completing a five-minute online survey, patients will be emailed a summary of the medicine they have been prescribed and six further updates throughout the year on their medication.

Keep ReadingShow less
GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

GPhC's Strategic Plan 2025-30 will focus on empowering pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

iStock

GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) launched its new plan for the next five years to uphold safety, quality and public trust in pharmacy.

The regulatory body unveiled its Strategic Plan 2025-30 during a Parliamentary event attended by pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock on Wednesday (18).

Keep ReadingShow less
Glucose monitor and test strips on a blood sugar tracker sheet with lancets and pen device.

Medical device manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

iStock

Medical device regulation overhauled to improve patients' safety

Medical device manufacturers must now adhere to the UK's post-market surveillance (PMS) regulations.

The new rule came into effect on June 16, and manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

Keep ReadingShow less