Carlotta Eden

Executive editor

Coroner flags lack of clarity around expanded role of community pharmacists under Pharmacy First

A coroner has questioned methotrexate guidance after a patient died after developing methotrexate-induced pancytopenia and pneumonia.…

Pharmacists could play role in neighbourhood hub obesity care, MPs told

Kath McCullough, special adviser on obesity at the Royal College of Physicians, used community-based women's health and smoking cessation programmes as examples of “good models of care” that could be emulated for obesity support.…

Welsh parliament approves motion on assisted dying

The vote would allow Welsh ministers to shape how assisted dying services could operate on the NHS in Wales if UK legislation on the issue is approved.…

Regulator sets acceptance criteria for fitness-to-practise complaints

The General Pharmaceutical Council said the new criteria have been developed to reduce the number of avoidable concerns it receives and progresses.…

Pharmacy owners warn of closures and cuts in open letter to health secretary

In a letter to health secretary Wes Streeting, the National Pharmacy Association claimed that two-thirds of pharmacies are at risk of imminent closure.…

NICE widens access to SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1s in updated type 2 diabetes guidance

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said the changes could prevent up to 17,000 deaths in the UK over three years.…

Stopping antidepressants in pregnancy linked to higher risk of mental health emergencies

Researchers looked at data from almost 4,000 women who gave birth between January 2023 and December 2024.…

Pharmacy First campaign boosted public awareness and trust in pharmacy advice, says minister

Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock said that trust in pharmacy advice rose from 61% to 70% following a promotional campaign for Pharmacy First.…

Poor communication hampered parts of winter vaccination campaign, MPs told

Community Pharmacy England told the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee that clearer messaging and better booking controls were needed to help pharmacy vaccination programmes.…

National pharmacy stop-smoking service could support more than 200,000 quit attempts annually

The Company Chemists’ Association said a national walk-in pharmacy service would offer a single, consistent route for patients looking to quit smoking.…