Julia Robinson

Clinical and Science Editor

Julia Robinson is our Senior Data Journalist

Give prescribers access to non-drug alternatives to antidepressants and opioids, says NHS

In a new framework, NHS England recommends alternative treatment options, such as psychotherapy, health coaching and pain or sleep clinics, are commissioned locally.…

NICE alters guidance on COVID-19 treatments as manufacturer withdraws marketing authorisation application

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence said the guidance has changed because Eli Lily is no longer seeking a marketing authorisation for baricitinib (Olumiant).…

MHRA to review evidence of harm linked to pseudoephedrine-containing medicines

Exclusive: A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has told The Pharmaceutical Journal that it is "reviewing available evidence" to decide whether marketing authorisations for pseudoephedrine-containing medicines need to change.…

Pharmacist prescribers can reduce sedative use in care homes, study demonstrates

Researchers found that pharmacist independent prescribers were able to improve outcomes for care home residents through "effective deprescribing" of anticholinergic and sedative drugs.…

Government advisers warn of ‘negative impact’ of two-clinician sign-off on valproate patients

Exclusive: Meeting minutes of the Valproate Safety Implementation Group say the new measure could have a “negative impact” on patients, and that “their perspective should be taken into account”.…

Why is the UK struggling to contain its sodium valproate problem?

There has been some progress in managing the risks of sodium valproate, but babies are still being born after exposure to the drug, and safety concerns over antiepileptic use in men and women are multiplying.…

First oral advanced therapy approved for moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease

Upadacitinib has been approved for use in adults with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease in the UK, marking the first marketing authorisation globally, and will now undergo appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

Patient safety tsar to ‘eliminate’ dispensing of sodium valproate in white boxes

Patient safety commissioner Henrietta Hughes said she would also work with health leaders to ensure that all relevant patients who take sodium valproate are on a Pregnancy Prevention Plan.…

Eliminating HIV: are we on target?

Testing was blown off course by the COVID-19 pandemic, so England has to continue to make progress in order to reach its target of zero new HIV transmissions by 2030.…

‘Devastating effects’ caused by switching between branded and generic Parkinson’s disease medication

Charity Parkinson's UK said patients had experienced pain and other symptoms after being switched between branded and generic medications.…