Joanna Robertson

Senior clinical reporter

GPhC chief executive to step down after 15 years in post

Duncan Rudkin has served as chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council since the regulator was established in 2010.…

Pharmacies to offer children’s flu vaccinations from October 2025

The NHS England advanced service will enable community pharmacies to opt in and expand the delivery of vaccines to children too young to be offered them in school.…

NICE approves expanded access to early breast cancer treatment

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that its updated guidance will make ribociclib available to a further 5,700 patients.…

Independent review uncovers ‘extreme financial pressures’ on community pharmacy services

The NHS England-commissioned review looked at clinical services provided under the community pharmacy contract for 2019 to 2024.…

Almost 90% of patients report a good experience of using a community pharmacy, survey finds

The 2025 NHS GP satisfaction survey also revealed an increase in the number of patients visiting a pharmacy before trying to make a GP appointment.…

‘Many students’ struggling to access DPPs as deadline approaches

Health minister Karin Smyth has also revealed that NHS England does not yet know how many DPPs are in place to support trainee pharmacists from the end of July 2025, ahead of the new foundation year.…

Boots pharmacies launch pilot stop vaping service

The 12-week 'Stopping starts here' pilot scheme involves participating pharmacists providing one-to-one sessions and smoking cessation products to help people quit vaping.…

Streeting pledges autumn workforce plan as MPs discuss ten-year health plan

In a discussion on the ten-year health plan, Wes Streeting said that new technology would drive “big productivity gains in the system” that had previously not been available.…

NHS ten-year plan to include pharmacists in neighbourhood health teams

Due to be published on 3 July 2025, the plan will outline a shift toward localised care through ‘neighbourhood health teams’ in which pharmacists will work alongside other healthcare professionals.…

Pharmacists encouraged to report GLP-1 side effects amid pharmacogenomics study

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has called on healthcare professionals to submit Yellow Card reports on behalf of patients who develop acute pancreatitis while using GLP-1 receptor agonists.…