Community pharmacies in Scotland delivered “well over” three million consultations during the first two years of the Pharmacy First service, it has been revealed.

Sector negotiator Community Pharmacy Scotland issued a statement last Wednesday (July 28) in which it praised pharmacy teams for delivering the service, which launched on July 28 2020 and offers the public advice, treatment or onward referrals for a number of health conditions. 

Adam Osprey, policy and development pharmacist at CPS, told pharmacy teams in a video message that the current bottlenecks in the health service “would be so much worse without all your hard work… [it’s] something to be celebrated”.  

Hawick pharmacist Richard Mackie commented: “We are finding the pharmacy first service excellent. Having not only a national service, but a publicised one has helped a great deal with public knowledge and ongoing/increased uptake.

“Particularly as other medical establishments are now aware of it and often send people our way: opticians for example.”

CPS said the service will be subject to further developments “with new PGDs and other additions implemented”.