Updated Pharmacy First and PCS service specs published

Updated service specifications for Pharmacy First and the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) have been published today (29th October 2026) by NHS England.

With prescribing being added to both services, the specifications needed updating to incorporate that and we have worked with NHS England over the last few months to make and agree those amendments and also some other changes to the documents.

Pharmacy First specification

As well as content relating to prescribing, the updated Pharmacy First service specification also includes a number of wider amendments and clarifications intended to support consistent service delivery, governance and assurance arrangements.

The amendments are largely minor, with the largest additions being enhanced guidance on urgent medicines supplies. This new content reflects the emergency supply requirements of the Human Medicines Regulations that already apply to urgent supplies of medicines made under the service and consequently they do not represent any new requirements, but remind pharmacists of the requirements that already apply.

Other additions include:

• SOP, business continuity and governance requirements have been expanded, including expectations relating to training, record keeping and equipment maintenance – these changes align with wording already used in other Advanced service specifications.
• Requirements relating to face-to-face, remote and distance-selling pharmacy consultations have been clarified, including the use of video consultations – these changes largely align with wording already used in other Advanced service specifications.
• New requirements preventing pharmacy owners from generating, submitting or otherwise creating referrals on behalf of patients, except in very exceptional circumstances.
• Requirements relating to record keeping, access to patient records, information sharing, conflicts of interest and consultation outcomes have been strengthened and clarified – these changes largely align with wording already used in other Advanced service specifications.
• Monitoring and post-payment verification requirements have been expanded, including clearer expectations around evidence, verification, data quality and the recovery of payments where claims cannot be substantiated – again, these changes align with wording already used in other Advanced service specifications.

Download the revised Pharmacy First service specification

Visit our Pharmacy First webpage

PCS specification

As well as content relating to prescribing, the updated PCS specification also includes a number of other minor amendments, including:

• Requirements relating to the promotion of the service have been clarified, including a reminder that pharmacy owners must comply with Terms of Service requirements on promoting services, including the need to clearly identify the service as being NHS-funded.
• Requirements relating to blood pressure and BMI assessments have been clarified, including the use of recent measurements when determining suitability for treatment.
• An additions to the recommended training programmes related to the service: CPPE transgender healthcare – consulting with dignity and respect e-learning.

Download the revised PCS service specification

Visit our Pharmacy Contraception Service webpage

Actions for pharmacy owners and community pharmacists

Pharmacy owners providing the services should read the updated specifications and consider whether any updates are required to their SOPs, governance arrangements and operational processes.

Community pharmacists providing the services should read the updated specifications and, where required, amend their practice in line with any of the new requirements within the documents.