News Updated hypertension case‑finding service draws calls for impact assessment Changes to the specification for the 'Community pharmacy hypertension case-finding service' exclude people who have previously had a blood pressure check via the service in the previous five years.…Published: 11 August 2026
News Boots launches private gonorrhoea vaccination service The high street chain said that gonorrhoea vaccines, which will cost £220 for the full course of two doses, will be available at 160 of its pharmacies.…Published: 11 August 2026
News Pharmacist prescribers can support other professions in antimicrobial stewardship, review suggests Authors of the scoping review recommended that prescribing capability for pharmacist prescribers and prescribing nurses could be strengthened via professional development, structured mentorship and interprofessional learning.…Published: 10 August 2026
Opinion A unique role in the community: supporting social care and discharge services as a pharmacy technician As healthcare shifts into community settings, pharmacy technicians are increasingly supporting patients with medicines in their own homes. Michael Stefaniw explains how his role is evolving to help patients and carers.…Published: 10 August 2026
News Government ‘examining’ medication pack barcode requirements Exclusive: The Department of Health and Social Care has told The Pharmaceutical Journal that since “patient safety is paramount”, it will investigate which barcodes are required on medicines packaging.…Published: 7 August 2026
News Common ailments service rated as ‘excellent’ by almost all users, study finds When asked about their experience with the Welsh common ailments service, the majority of survey respondents said that they were able to have their ailment managed at the pharmacy.…Published: 6 August 2026
News Government did not conduct impact assessment for community pharmacy prescribing Exclusive: The Department of Health and Social Care told The Pharmaceutical Journal that changes under the ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ for 2026/2027 and other years since 2023 did not reach the threshold for an impact assessment.…Published: 5 August 2026
News Barcode issues disrupting pharmacy work at more than half of NHS trusts A survey has also revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents reported that they received medicines without barcodes in the previous month.…Published: 5 August 2026
News Antihistamine prescribing increased by 18% in five years NHS Business Services Authority data also show that fexofenadine has been the most commonly prescribed and dispensed antihistamine in the community in England since 2021/2022.…Published: 5 August 2026
Opinion How pharmacists can transform prescribing safety in psychiatry Medication errors disproportionately affect patients with mental illness but pharmacists’ expertise in psychopharmacology could help tailor prescribing to better meet individual patient needs.…Published: 4 August 2026
