Pharmacy First Plus

The Pharmacy First Plus Service Scotland is a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (PIP) – led service for patients presenting in the community pharmacy with a common clinical condition, which is beyond the scope of the standard NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, and would otherwise require onward referral to another healthcare professional.

As set out in PCA(P)(2020)16, only employed independent prescribers are permitted to deliver the service. This means locum pharmacists cannot provide a Pharmacy First Plus service and therefore cannot apply to the Board for a prescription pad.

The service will include the assessment and treatment of acute common clinical conditions, within the IPs competence and within the terms of their medical indemnity arrangements. Conditions may include but are not limited to:

Urinary tract infections
Respiratory infections
Ear, nose and throat
Dermatological presentations
Allergies
Eye infections (in conjunction with local optometry services)

Details of the service are outlined in PCA (P)(2020) 16

Registering for Pharmacy First Plus

Please in the first instance email pharmacy.adminteam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk and you will receive 3 forms, A, B, C
Fill in and return forms A & B, this will help us order your prescription pads. Keep form C as your starter checklist
To ensure you start receiving payment, please ensure you email completed form Annex A, from PCA circular 2020(P)16: Primary and Community Care Directorate (scot.nhs.uk) to nss.psd-pharm-pay@nhs.scot
Ensure you have read the service specification and understand the service legalities and responsibilities you undertake with this service from PCA circular 2020(P)16:
- Primary and Community Care Directorate (scot.nhs.uk)
Ensure you have the correct indemnity insurance arrangements in place
Ensure you have the correct equipment needed for examination and formulary stock required
Ensure you are familiar with the NHS Lanarkshire Formulary, as a prescriber in Lanarkshire its good practice to follow the same formulary as GPs, nurses, and other prescribers in the board
- https://nhslguidelines.scot.nhs.uk/medicines-guidance/joint-adult-formulary/
- They have an app available for download as well for your phone which can be easier to access

Leavers/Movers

You must notify the NHS Lanarkshire Pharmacy Admin team of any changes to your workplace/practice or if you leave the organisation:

If you move to another contractor code within NHS Lanarkshire you must notify Pharmacy Admin; pharmacy.adminteam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk of the new contractor code to ensure the IP organisational data base is accurate. NHS Facilitation must also be notified to ensure your NHS mailbox, Clinical Portal and Emergency Care Summary access reflects this.

If you move to another sector of practice and/or another health board, you must notify Pharmacy Admin and destroy any prescribing pads issued by the health board (an email from your line manager confirming pads have been shredded and disposed of into confidential waste is sufficient). Similarly, any prescriber joining the health board must apply for an NHS Lanarkshire prescribing number and must not use any other number issued by previous employers. NHS Facilitation must also be notified to ensure your NHS mailbox, Clinical Portal and Emergency Care Summary access reflects this.

Ordering more pads

Prescription pads can take up to 8 weeks to arrive. Please ensure when you start your last prescription pads, you place an order for new pads via email to pharmacy.adminteam@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk (some CPIPs may need to order more frequently depending on prescribing frequency)

2026-27 Prescription Order Dates