Carolyn Wickware

Executive Editor

Carolyn Wickware is Executive Editor at The Pharmaceutical Journal

Patient records: when will community pharmacies get access?

Despite repeated calls for read-write access and the issue of public safety, the majority of community pharmacies still lack access to patient records.…

Data show ‘spiralling’ antipsychotic price increases of up to 1,200% in past five years

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS data show that the price of risperidone has increased the most out of all antipsychotics, from £3.09 in July 2017 to £41.16 in June 2022 — an increase of 1,232%.…

The rising price of antipsychotics and what it means

Data analysis has revealed that the drug tariff for some mental health medicines has increased by more than 1,200% as demand has risen.…

Government receives notification of more than 3,000 medicine supply issues under new scheme

A total of 1,700 shortages and 1,500 drug discontinuations were reported to the government between October 2020 and March 2022.…

Pharmacies face restrictions on ordering chicken pox vaccine amid supply shortages

Wholesalers have implemented ordering quotas for Varivax and Varilrix vaccines owing to limited supplies.…

More than half of pharmacists warn medicine shortages have risked patient safety in the past six months

Exclusive: Results from The Pharmaceutical Journal’s annual salary and job satisfaction survey show that 54% of UK-based pharmacists said medicines shortages have put patients at risk in the past six months.…

Hospital pharmacists balloted on industrial action over NHS pay award

Unite has recommended that its members vote yes to industrial action in response to the 2022/2023 Agenda for Change pay award.…

Nearly a quarter of pharmacists aged over 55 years plan to retire within the next year, survey suggests

Exclusive: Of 291 participants of The Pharmaceutical Journal's annual salary and job satisfaction survey aged between 55 and 64 years, 67 said they were planning to retire within 12 months.…

Government warns hospital trusts to conserve stock of some thrombolytic drugs amid shortages

Boehringer Ingelheim, which is the sole manufacturer of alteplase and tenecteplase injections, has said "manufacturing constraints" are affecting global supply of the medicines.…

NHS staff with ‘disabling conditions’ after COVID-19 should be able to claim benefits, say government advisers

Exclusive: By listing health complications from COVID-19 as part of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, people affected by the virus would qualify for up to £188.60 in weekly benefits.…