NHS Pharmacy First Scotland
1 April 2021 to 31 March 2026
Official statistics
- Published
- 27 October 2026 (Latest release)
- Type
- Statistical report
- Author
- Public Health Scotland
About this release
This biannual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on the number and characteristics of patients accessing NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and Community Pharmacy Unscheduled Supply services (CPUS). Pharmacy First Scotland enables community pharmacists to advise and provide treatment for a range of common self-limiting conditions. CPUS enables community pharmacists to provide patients with up to one prescribing cycle of their repeat medicines and appliances, where obtaining a prescription has not been possible. More detailed information on these services can be found in the dashboard.
Main points
Pharmacy First Scotland
In the financial year 2025/26:
- 36% of the Scottish population (1,972,005 people) used Pharmacy First Scotland at least once.
- The number of people using Pharmacy First Scotland at least once in a year increased by 59% from 1,242,842 in 2021/22. This increase is seen in both males and females, all age groups and deprivation (measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation).
- 60% of people accessing Pharmacy First Scotland were female.
- 81% of people who used the service received an item (for example tablets or cream) at least once. Alternative outcomes to contacts are advice only (for example guidance on self-care) and referral to another health care professional.
- As in previous years, the highest rate of Pharmacy First Scotland use was in the 0-9 age group (520 per 1,000 population).
- Use of the service varied from 336 per 1,000 population living in the least deprived quintile to 408 per 1,000 population living in the most deprived quintile).
Community Pharmacy Urgent Supply (CPUS)
In the financial year 2025/26:
- 11% of the Scottish population (626,462 people) used CPUS at least once.
- The number of people using CPUS at least once in a year increased by 26% from 498,555 in 2021/22. As with Pharmacy First Scotland, this increase is seen across all demographic groups reported.
- 58% of people using CPUS were female.
- CPUS use increases in older age groups. In the youngest age group (0-9 years) 34 patients per 1,000 population used the service compared with 328 per 1,000 population among the 90+ year age group. 55% of patients using CPUS at least once in this time period were in the 50-79 year age group.
- Use of CPUS varied from 99 per 1,000 population living in the least deprived quintile to 133 per 1,000 population living in the most deprived quintile.
Background
Further information on NHS Pharmacy First Scotland can be found on the NHS Inform website and information on Community Pharmacy Unscheduled Supply on the Community Pharmacy Scotland website. More detailed information on the statistics presented can be found in the Background and Data Quality documents.
Further information
The next release of this publication will be May 2027.
General enquiries
If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please contact Lynne Jarvis at phs.prescribing@phs.scot.
Media enquiries
If you have a media enquiry relating to this publication, please contact the Communications and Engagement team.
Requesting other formats and reporting issues
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Older versions of this publication
Versions of this publication released before 16 March 2020 may be found on the Data and Intelligence, Health Protection Scotland or Improving Health websites.