Joanna Robertson

Senior clinical reporter

Health news round-up: Vaccines, male contraception and medicines mix-ups

Senior clinical reporter Joanna Robertson summarises some important developments in health news you may have missed.…

Assisted dying drugs ‘would not be considered medicines when used to facilitate suicide’, Lords told

The House of Lords Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee was also told that any substances used in assisted dying would undergo “rigorous assessment”.…

‘Balanced’ guidance on isotretinoin welcomed as MHRA launches survey

The Commission on Human Medicines-endorsed updates to isotretinoin guidance encourages patients to ask about mental health or sexual dysfunction side effects associated with the drug in follow-up consultations.…

‘Concerning’ call from doctors to ‘reallocate’ Pharmacy First funding to GPs

During the upcoming England Local Medical Council conference, GPs will also consider proposals to scrap the one-mile rule to enable dispensing doctors to compete with pharmacies and provide patients with more choice.…

National community pharmacy prescribing service to be negotiated from 2026

In a letter sent to integrated care boards, NHS England also said that they should agree locally which ‘Independent prescribing in community pharmacy pathfinder programme’ sites will be continued after 31 December 2025.…

GPhC considering ‘additional regulatory powers’ for pharmacy owner accountability

Under its five-year strategy delivery plan, the regulator also said it would consider if inspection frequency could be incorporated into its risk-based approach to maintain regulatory contact.…

MHRA raids illegal weight-loss jab production line worth more than £250,000

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has told The Pharmaceutical Journal that the site of the raid is the first illicit production facility for weight-loss medicine discovered in the UK.…

Health news round-up: newborns, hormones and a colour-changing label to help spot heat damage

Senior clinical reporter Joanna Robertson summarises some important developments in health news you may have missed.…

Jhoots boss says he is selling stores to pay staff wages

Exclusive: Sarbjit Singh Jhooty has told The Pharmaceutical Journal that he is selling and remortgaging his pharmacy stores as it is “the only way” he can pay staff wages.…

Boots launches support service for patients coming off weight-loss drugs

The service will provide users of the Boots Online Doctor weight-loss service unlimited support for 12 months, alongside various resources and ways to seek advice.…