Actions for Newly Qualified Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribers (CPIP)
Published: 10/10/24

Congratulations to everyone who has recently passed their IP Courses. Well done!
Once you have had the chance to celebrate, here are some details for next steps.
The Universities will confirm your qualification with the GPhC
You need to contact the GPhC to arrange to arrange annotation and pay the relevant fees.
Contact the Community Pharmacy Lead at your NHS Board. Details can be found at Community Pharmacy – A hub for all information relating to community pharmacy (scot.nhs.uk)
They will order your Rx Pads; these are printed on a 6 week cycle for all new prescribers (one week CP, one optom etc) so depending on where the cycle is, the Rx can take up to 8 weeks to arrive. Please be patient - we know you want your Rx asap. Ways to speed this up have been investigated, but there is no immediate, faster solution.
They will also let you know of local arrangements and requirements for sign off; these are Board specific and form part of the Board Governance of the service. This has to be completed before you can start delivering the service.
Let the relevant people in the pharmacy where you work know, so any specific arrangements they have can get underway. If your pharmacy does not already offer the service, once you are ready to start delivering, the sign up to the service needs to be completed. The details can be found in this circular - Primary and Community Care Directorate (squarespace.com)
If you have any questions, please contact us on enquiries@cps.scot
This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.
Our colleagues at Public Health Scotland (PHS) have asked us to share the following update regarding the COVID-19 spring vaccine poster for people with a weakened immune system.
This week The Scotsman newspaper revealed that Scotland is on course for the highest number of annual flu deaths in almost half a century after more than than 350,000 fewer vaccines were given this winter.
Development of a new CPS strategy is well underway, with a final draft soon to be sent to the CPS Board for review.
Robert Gordon University (RGU) have developed a qualification aimed at post-registration pharmacy technicians across the UK entitled: BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice for Pharmacy Technicians.
You will play a key part in leading the pharmacy team, working across the healthcare area and dispensary, to meet patients’ needs. Your focus each day will be to look after your team, deliver a great service to our patients, through managing the workload and people to deliver on the operational requirements of the position.
A new letter has been jointly issued by Professor Sir Gregor Smith (Chief Medical Officer for Scotland), Professor Alison Strath (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer), and Anne Armstrong (Interim Chief Nursing Officer), underscores the importance of continued collaboration across health and social care.
Borders Pharmacy in Hawick is thrilled to announce an exciting opening for a Base Pharmacist. This role involves working alongside our experienced GpHC-registered non-pharmacist manager and a supportive dispensary team.
Are you an Independent Prescriber looking for a stable, part-time role that allows you to focus on delivering high-quality clinical services without the commitment of full-time hours? Stranraer Pharmacy is seeking a dedicated and passionate independent prescribing pharmacist to join our friendly and experienced team in providing exceptional care to our local community.
To view our latest eNewsletter through your browser, please click on the link
Lindsay and Gilmour are looking for a Full-Time Base Pharmacist to join their team at Lindsay and Gilmour Pharmacy in Inverkeithing Cross, Fife. Click to find out more and apply…
Read Victoria’s incredible real-world story of how a routine consultation through the NHS Pharmacy First Plus service led to the urgent referral of a patient who was later diagnosed with leukaemia.
Do you have questions about the updated Smoking Cessation Varenicline Service? Join us on Wednesday 7th May at 19:30 to 21:00 on Microsoft Teams - Click here to Register
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland are running online training sessions on the FAST tool for identifying stroke, and community pharmacy team members are invited to join.
This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors of an updated Patient Group Direction (PGD) that is to be implemented for smoking cessation under the community pharmacy Public Health Service.
Our colleagues at Public Health Scotland (PHS) have asked that we disseminate the latest RADAR update to community pharmacy teams to inform you of concerns related to ongoing localised clusters of drug harms in multiple areas in Scotland.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland are gathering views and experiences from people currently taking Valproate, or those who have recently stopped.
Check out our Policy & PR Pharmacist, Sarah Scott, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland this morning about how people can manage their hay fever symptoms and access expert support through NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.
Please find attached NHS PCA(P)(2025)05 circular advising of a new Serious Shortage Protocol in place for Estradot® (Estradiol) 25 micrograms / 24 hours transdermal patch until Friday 2 May 2025.
Please find attached NHS circular PCA(P)(2025) 04 - Extension to Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot (estradiol) 50, 75 and 100mcg patches, advising that the SSPs for the noted Estradot (estradiol) products have been extended until Friday 2 May 2025.
We are pleased to announce that following the close of the nominations on Thursday 3rd of April 2025, Martin Green, who stood unopposed for the position of Chair of Community Pharmacy Scotland and James Semple, who also stood unopposed for the position of Vice Chair, have both accepted these appointments for the 2025-2028 term.
Here is a round-up of all the important news this week, including the latest updates on Independent Prescribing and Community Pharmacy vacancies within the network.
Deans Pharmacy in Wishaw seeks a manager for one of Scotland's busiest pharmacies, offering robotic dispensing and a 24-hour collection point. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential. Competitive salary offered. Apply Now!
The approved list of products for the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service has been updated from the 1st April 2025.
It is important that we have an up to date record of our CPIPs and Trainees. If there are any changes to your circumstances, please let us know by completing the attached form and sending it to us on enquiries@cps.scot.
As a part of our work with the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland, we regularly raise lines of concern and work to secure adjusted prices for these. We also work with them regularly to review lines which have now stabilised and remove these as appropriate.
NES are now in the process of gathering expressions of interest for FTY facilitators to support online and in-person training sessions for the next cohorts of NES FTY students in 2025/26.
When submitting your bundle of prescriptions to P&CFS, one of the things that should always be included is your yellow GP34 form, as it is a legal requirement. You will need to have counted your prescription submission before completing, which involves totalling your number of forms and items.
Late last week, the UK Government confirmed that they will soon make the necessary changes to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to enable 'hub and spoke' dispensing between different legal entities (businesses), which is not currently permitted.

Head of Policy & Development.
Our colleagues at NSS have asked us to pass on the following message:
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) are undertaking a tech refresh of the Patient Registration Service (PRS) to ensure continued support. As part of this process, NSS will need to schedule a PRS system downtime.