NHS Pharmacy First Scotland
1 April 2021 to 30 September 2025
Official statistics
- Published
- 05 May 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 (CPUS) services. 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
- 35% of the Scottish population (1,958,711) used Pharmacy First Scotland in the most recent 12 months reported (1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025).
- The number of people using Pharmacy First Scotland at least once each quarter increased by 70% in the four years from 464,363 in July - September 2021 to 787,547 in July - September 2025. This trend can be seen in both males and females, and across all age groups and deprivation quintiles (measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Further information on this can be found in the Data Quality and Interpretation document).
- 80% of people who used the service in the most recent reported half-year (1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025) received at least one item (for example tablets or cream). Alternative outcomes to contacts are advice only (for example, guidance on self-care) and referral to another health care professional.
- Of the 1,297,241 people accessing the service in the most recent half-year, 61% were female.
As in previous years, the highest rate of Pharmacy First Scotland was in the 0-9 age group (336 per 1,000 population in the most recent half-year).
Use of the service was similar across deprivation quintiles in the most recent half-year, from 217 per 1,000 population in the least deprived quintile to 274 per 1,000 in the most deprived quintile.
Community Pharmacy Urgent Supply (CPUS)
- 11% of the Scottish population (604,837) used CPUS in the most recent 12 months reported (1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025).
- The number of people using CPUS at least once in a quarter increased by 25% in the four years, from 166,000 in July - September 2021 to 208,184 in July - September 2025.
- Of the 370,749 people using CPUS in the most recent half-year, 58% were female.
- CPUS use increases in older age groups. In the youngest age group (0-9 years), 18 patients per 1,000 population used the service compared with 212 per 1,000 population among the 90+ age group. 55% of patients using CPUS at least once in the most recent half-year were in the 50-79 year age group.
- Use of CPUS in the most recent half-year varied from 58 per 1,000 population in the least deprived quintile to 82 per 1,000 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 October 2026.
General enquiries
If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please contact Lynne Jarvis at phs.prescribing@phs.scot.
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If you have a media enquiry relating to this publication, please contact the Communications and Engagement team.
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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.