News | England

Feature

What does the assisted dying legislation mean for pharmacy?

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill still has a long way to go before becoming law and pharmacy organisations have unresolved questions about what it might mean for pharmacy practice.…

Published: 22 January 2025

News

Melatonin prescribing in children rises by 245% in nine years, data show

Exclusive: The uptick in prescribing melatonin in children runs parallel with a decrease in the prescribing of other medicines used for insomnia, including Z-drugs and benzodiazepines, data show.…

Published: 17 January 2025

News

Four pharmacies closed per week in 2024, says National Pharmacy Association

The National Pharmacy Association is urging the government to commence consultations on the 2025 ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ to prevent more closures.…

Published: 17 January 2025

News

PrEP pilot underway in five community pharmacies across south west England

The University of Bristol-led pilot is aimed to address inequalities in access to pre-exposure prophylaxis.…

Published: 16 January 2025

News

Regional pharmacy minor ailments scheme leads to 60% increase in consultations

Data suggest that the local walk-in consultation service has saved an estimated 30,000 GP appointments.…

Published: 16 January 2025

News

Naloxone kits should be more widely available for drug users, coroner’s report says

The Inner North London coroner said the need for kits to be made available was made more pressing by the presence of nitazenes in street heroin.…

Published: 15 January 2025

News

‘Teach and Treat’ independent prescribing pilot to launch in all regions of England

The government confirmed the programme’s expansion in its response to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee's pharmacy inquiry.…

Published: 13 January 2025

News

NICE recommends olaparib for advanced breast cancer in final draft guidance

The drug has previously been recommended for some types of ovarian cancer in England and for prostate cancer in Scotland.…

Published: 13 January 2025

Opinion

A 2.8% pay uplift recommendation reflects a tough economy for everyone

In this month’s health policy column, Andy Cowper warns that high gilts and low growth may mean pay parsimony for pharmacists, but questions whether more NHS strikes would have public backing.…

Published: 13 January 2025

News

MPs announce inquiry into impact of medicines shortages

Community Pharmacy England welcomes the inquiry as medicines shortages increase the already "huge pressures on community pharmacies" and patient care.…

Published: 10 January 2025