Public Health

Service specification

The Public Health Service (PHS) is one of the four core community pharmacy services in Scotland, designed to support health promotion and preventive care. Here’s how it works:

What is the Public Health Service?

  • It is a national NHS service delivered through community pharmacies.
  • Its aim is to promote healthy living, prevent illness, and support self-care by providing accessible health interventions and education. [cps.scot]

Key Elements of the Service

  1. Health-Promoting Environment
    • Pharmacies display national health campaign materials (e.g., bowel cancer screening, flu vaccination, hydration).
    • Staff are trained to provide opportunistic health advice.
  2. Sexual Health Service
    • Provision of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and advice.
  3. Smoking Cessation Service
    • Community pharmacies deliver around 70% of NHS quit attempts in Scotland.
    • Includes behavioural support and prescribing aids like Varenicline under a PGD (Patient Group Direction).
  4. Access to Prophylactic Paracetamol
    • For children receiving vaccinations, where appropriate. [cps.scot]

How Does It Work?

  • Walk-in or appointment-based depending on the service.
  • Pharmacists and trained staff provide:
    • Advice and education on healthy living.
    • Interventions (e.g., smoking cessation programs, EHC supply).
    • Referral to other NHS services if needed.
  • Services are delivered according to national specifications and PGDs, adapted by local health boards. [cps.scot]

Why Is It Important?

  • Supports Scotland’s preventative health agenda.
  • Reduces pressure on GPs and hospitals by tackling issues early.
  • Helps meet public health targets (e.g., reducing smoking rates to below 5% by 2034). [cps.scot]

Resources (useful links)

Official Guidance & Service Specifications

  1. Community Pharmacy Scotland – Public Health Service Overview
    Explains the four elements of PHS (health-promoting environment, sexual health, smoking cessation, prophylactic paracetamol) and includes service specifications.Public Health Service – CPS [cps.scot]
  2. Scottish Government Circulars (PCA)
    These outline contractual requirements for PHS, including poster campaigns and service delivery standards.
    PCA Circulars – gov.scot [publicatio…cot.nhs.uk]

Campaign Resources

Training & Education

Regulatory & Professional Standards