NHS Pharmacy First Scotland - Page last updated Dec 2023

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is a consultation service designed to encourage the public to visit their community pharmacy as the first port of call for all minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.. 

Detailed information is available via the links below

https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2020(P)13.pdf

https://www.communitypharmacyscotland.org.uk/winter-ready-hub/remobilisation/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland-info-hub/

https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2022(P)26.pdf and an easy read explanation is also available https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/NHS_Pharmacy_First_Scotland.pdf

Pharmacy First Formulary:

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland: Approved List of Products

PGDs and Supporting Documents

Pharmacy PGDs 

NHS Scotland have a variety of national pharmacy first PGDs, public health PGDs, sexual health PGDs & optometry links for community pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care. 

These are listed below. Please carefully read each PGD & ensure you have undertaken any required TURAS learning (detailed within each PGD itself). Once competent ensure you sign each PGD you intend to practice with in Lanarkshire and send to pharmacy.adminteam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.

1) Unscheduled Care PGD 

2) Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

• There are now four national hayfever PGDS ready for use in community pharmacy, as detailed below.
• Please ensure you read each individual PGD fully and carefully, there are detailed & differing inclusion & exclusion criteria for each agent, and differing maximum treatment lengths for each agent. Please ensure you are fully familiar with these requirements. There is an attached assessment sheet pro forma, and GP communication sheet to send to practices notifying supply.
• Pharmacists must ensure they have successfully completed the NES Pharmacy e-learning module: Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland | Turas | Learn
• https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/67704/pharmacy/cpd-resources/seasonal-allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-for-nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland 

The 4 new PGDs are:

• Oral fexofenadine 120mg tablets (over 12 years)
• Beclometasone 50micrograms/actuation Nasal Spray (over 6 years)
• Mometasone furoate 50micrograms/actuation Nasal Spray (over 3 years)
• Olopatadine 1mg/ml Eye Drops (over three years)
• Patient Assessment Form

3) Treatment of Bacterial Skin Infections in patients over 18 years

• Patient Group Direction for Supply of Flucloxacillin
• Patient Assessment and GP Notification Form for Bacterial Skin Infections

4) Treatment of Herpes Zoster in patients over 18 years

• Patient Group Direction for Supply of Aciclovir
• Patient Assessment and GP Notification Form for Herpes Zoster

5) Treatment of Impetigo

• Patient Group Direction for supply of Fusidic Acid 2% Cream Version 2.0
• Impetigo Patient Assessment and GP Notification Form 

6) Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in non-pregant females

• Patient Group Direction for supply of Trimethoprim Version 2.0 (First Line)
• Antibiotic Treatment of uncomplicated UTI Patient Assessment and GP Notification Form
• Patient Group Direction for supply of Nitrofurantoin Version 2. (Second Line)

  • Nitrofurantoin PGD for UTI treatment in Community Pharmacy has been adopted for second line use within NHS Lanarkshire.

    Trimethoprim will remain the antibiotic of choice for treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in non-pregnant female patients over 16 years of age via community pharmacies, but nitrofurantoin will be available for consideration in patients who have significant drug interaction with trimethoprim or have a history of allergy or adverse effects to trimethoprim.

    Nitrofurantoin can only be used if a renal function assessment is undertaken and Appendix 1 of the assessment form shows how this should be done.

    At this stage we do not yet have clinical portal access for community pharmacists so nitrofurantoin can only be provided after contact with the GP surgery or OOH.

Public Health PGDs 

7)  Emergency Contraception

• Emergency Contraception PGD
• Emergency Contraception Aide-Memoir

8) Bridging Contraception

• Bridging Contraception PGD
• Bridging Contraception Assessment/GP Communication Form

9) Smoking Cessation

• Varenicline for smoking cessation ( update Nov 2018)

10) Optometry / Eye Conditions

• NHS PHARMACY FIRST SCOTLAND – GUIDANCE AND REFERRAL FORM FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR EYE CONDITIONS
• NHS Scotland Optometry Pharmacy Referral Form
• NHS Pharmacy First Scotland (eyes.scot) 
• NHS Lanarkshire Letter giving context to optometry pharmacy referral in Lanarkshire