Updated Pharmacy First and Pharmacy Contraception Service Specifications Published
NHS England has published updated service specifications for both the Pharmacy First and Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) on 29 October 2026. The revisions reflect the introduction of prescribing within both services and include a range of additional updates designed to strengthen governance, consistency and service delivery.
Pharmacy First updates
Alongside new prescribing-related content, the revised Pharmacy First specification includes several clarifications and enhancements. Key changes include:
- Expanded guidance on urgent medicine supplies, reinforcing existing legal requirements under the Human Medicines Regulations.
- Stronger requirements around standard operating procedures (SOPs), business continuity arrangements, staff training, record keeping and equipment maintenance.
- Clearer guidance covering face-to-face, remote and video consultations, including provisions for distance-selling pharmacies.
- New restrictions preventing pharmacy owners from creating or submitting referrals on behalf of patients, except in exceptional circumstances.
- Enhanced requirements relating to patient records, information sharing, conflicts of interest and recording consultation outcomes.
- Expanded monitoring and post-payment verification measures, with clearer expectations around evidence, data quality and the recovery of payments where claims cannot be supported.
Pharmacy Contraception Service updates
The updated PCS specification also incorporates prescribing and includes several additional amendments, such as:
- Clarified requirements for promoting the service, including the need to clearly identify it as NHS-funded.
- Updated guidance on blood pressure and BMI assessments, including the use of recent measurements when assessing suitability for treatment.
- The addition of the CPPE Transgender Healthcare: Consulting with Dignity and Respect e-learning programme to the list of recommended training resources.
Actions for pharmacy teams
Pharmacy owners delivering either service are advised to review the updated specifications and assess whether any changes are needed to SOPs, governance arrangements and operational processes. Community pharmacists should also familiarise themselves with the revised requirements and update their practice where necessary.
The revised specifications are available to download from the NHS England website on the following links:
Download the revised Pharmacy First service specification
Download the revised PCS service specification
Further details can be found on the CPE website here.
