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Scotland’s first minister John Swinney has announced plans to expand the country’s Pharmacy First service to include more health conditions.

Announcing the 2025-26 programme for government earlier this week, the Holyrood administration revealed plans to “further expand our Pharmacy First Service, enabling community pharmacists to treat a greater number of clinical conditions and prevent the need for a GP visit”.

It is not clear which conditions are to be introduced to the service as it is expanded. The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. 

Speaking to P3pharmacy, Community Pharmacy Scotland’s Sarah Scott commented: “The groundwork has just recently begun on deciding both what conditions are selected and how the development is resourced.”

CPS has said that the Government’s agenda, which also references ambitions to tackle drug-related harm, chimes with the negotiator’s own goals. 

CPS added: “We have seen in the recent Scottish Government NHS Operational Improvement Plan that the community pharmacy network has been recognised for its invaluable delivery of care in the community. 

“The aim is to build on this further as we see the balance of care shifting into the community setting where community pharmacies are already well established and relied upon by the public. 

“CPS look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government to explore the untapped potential within the community pharmacy network and sustainably develop services on behalf of our members.”