Carolyn Wickware

Executive Editor

Carolyn Wickware is Executive Editor at The Pharmaceutical Journal

All 42 integrated health boards in England submit bids for pharmacy independent prescribing services

Expressions of interest most commonly included services that focus on cardiovascular diseases, which would involve community pharmacists initiating antihypertensives and statins.…

Pharmacist prescribing pilots to test new services for depression and minor illnesses

Pharmacies participating in pilots for the pharmacist independent prescribing service in north west England will be able to prescribe for minor infections, as well as offer additional services for other conditions.…

Pharmacy First will be introduced in England in 2023, says government

NHS England has announced that the government will invest an extra £645m in community pharmacy over the next two years, part of which will fund a 'Pharmacy First' service.…

Scottish government ‘scoping’ launch of National Pharmaceutical Agency

Jenni Minto, public health minister for Scotland, has said the government is committed to developing an agency “to improve links between the life sciences industry and the NHS, and ultimately improve patient care”.…

MPs commission expert review of government progress on pharmacy services

An expert panel will evaluate the government's commitments across five areas of pharmacy.…

Voluntary levy on drug manufacturers will save NHS £7bn in five years, says government

The government has said the ‘Voluntary pricing and access scheme’ will have allowed the NHS to save £7bn between 2019 and 2023.…

NHS to publish guidance on sharing pharmacy workforce across healthcare settings

The government has said NHS England is developing guidance for shared pharmacy workforce models to mitigate supply issues and aid retention.…

Generic manufacturers take government to court over status in NHS price negotiations

Mark Samuels, chief executive of the British Generic Manufacturers Association, said that it had requested “full participation" in negotiations with the government over a new branded medicines tax scheme, but had only been offered "observer status".…

Shadow health secretary in talks over how to increase community pharmacy numbers

Setting out plans to free up GPs, Wes Streeting said he was in talks with pharmacists "to see what more a Labour government could do to support and expand community pharmacy — both in terms of number and also the range of support they’re able to provide".…

Government to call for research on effect of ‘Pharmacy First’ schemes on antibiotic use

The National Institute for Health and Care Research's "pre-call" announcement said a common conditions service in England "will commence no earlier than the end of October 2023", subject to successful commissioning.…