News | England

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Pharmacists to join NHS industrial action over pay rise offer

Exclusive: The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists says it will encourage its members to join any industrial action planned over pay.…

Published: 7 October 2021

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NHS hits target to cut desflurane use earlier than expected

Minutes from an NHS England and Improvement board meeting reveal that the NHS has been successful in reducing desflurane use, with some trusts having eliminated its use completely.…

Published: 7 October 2021

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HRT prescription charges could be scrapped if parliamentary bill becomes law

The Menopause (Support and Services) Bill would allow patients to receive hormone replacement therapy prescriptions for free in England, and would also make provisions for menopause support and services.…

Published: 6 October 2021

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Community pharmacies in England to carry out contraception checks to free up GP time

NHS England says the oral contraception scheme will relieve burden on primary care while improving access for patients.…

Published: 5 October 2021

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Number of reported medication-related incidents falls to lowest level since 2014/2015

Exclusive: There were 187,670 medication-related patient safety incident reports in 2020/2021, the lowest since 2014/2015, when 175,459 such incidents were reported.…

Published: 5 October 2021

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NHS could save £1.9bn annually with 25% increase in pharmacy funding, says multiples body

The Company Chemists' Association budget representation forecasts that an extra £650m in pharmacy funding would save 8.5 million GP appointments, release 2 million hospital beds and identify 5.5 million patients with undiagnosed hypertension.…

Published: 4 October 2021

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All pharmacists now eligible for free flu vaccination in England after U-turn

Additional funding has been set aside to allow for all "eligible primary care contractors" to be vaccinated against flu — including community pharmacy teams and locums — following pleas from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.…

Published: 30 September 2021

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NHS prepares for antiviral deployment to treat COVID-19

Exclusive: Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, is working with the government to decide the next steps for the deployment of oral antivirals to treat COVID-19 in the community.…

Published: 29 September 2021

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Medicine deliveries to community pharmacies disrupted by fuel crisis

Despite some issues with fuel supply affecting pharmacies in parts of England, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee says “there currently appears to be no issue with supply of medicines into the country”.…

Published: 28 September 2021

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Recruitment of 3,000 pharmacists into general practice is ‘causing challenges’, admits NHS pharmacy chief

Speaking at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress on 24 September 2021, Keith Ridge said the "osmotic draw" of primary care networks is causing workforce challenges.…

Published: 27 September 2021