Sophie Willis

Investigations editor

All patients should undergo pharmacogenetic testing before being prescribed clopidogrel

The UK Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation in Pharmacogenomics has highlighted that a significant proportion of the UK population have lower CYP2C19 enzyme levels, which lower the effectiveness of the antiplatelet drug.…

Medicines commission calls for greater clarity on risk of suicidal behaviour from antidepressants

The Commission on Human Medicines said wording in antidepressant patient information leaflets should be “strengthened” on the risk of suicidal behaviour.…

Electronic patient records pose risk to safety, watchdog warns

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body said that electronic patient records contributed to patient safety incidents when they lacked necessary functions and displayed inconsistencies in terms used.…

Patient access to 24/7 palliative care medicines is ‘insufficient’, finds House of Commons-commissioned report

The report also suggested that there was a “postcode lottery” in integrated care board provision of palliative care and end-of-life services.…

‘Significant shift’ to larger chains selling off pharmacy branches, says broker

In 2025 to date, corporate and multiple operators made up 71% of all sales instructions, whereas independent pharmacy owners made up 19%.…

Mounjaro health benefits found to reverse one year after stopping drug

Researchers said their findings “underscore the importance of continued obesity treatment”.…

Changes to competition law could help pharmacy involvement in neighbourhood health services

A report commissioned by Community Pharmacy England said that the GP and community pharmacy contracts are constructed in a way that disincentivises collaboration.…

NHS England commissions study on effects of puberty blockers

The ‘Pathways trial’ will assess the impact of GnRH analogues for puberty suppression in more than 200 children and young people aged under 16 years.…

Will new hub-and-spoke legislation change anything for pharmacies on the ground?

As the government trials a new model for hub-and-spoke dispensing, experts have voiced concerns that it will only be the larger community pharmacy players that will benefit in practice.…

Patient safety alert issued after penicillin allergies incorrectly recorded

Penicillin allergies have been recorded as penicillamine allergies in electronic prescribing systems, a “look-alike sound-alike error” that could lead to a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction.…