News People with MS in England to be given fampridine as patent expires Fampridine, taken twice daily, improves nerve signalling and walking speed in some patients with multiple sclerosis.…Published: 23 July 2026
News Yvette Cooper named health secretary Newly appointed secretary of state for health and social care, Yvette Cooper, moves from her previous role as foreign secretary.…Published: 21 July 2026
News Community pharmacists most confident in minor ailment prescribing, survey suggests A National Pharmacy Association survey found that nearly three-quarters of pharmacists felt that using prescribing to manage minor acute illnesses was the area that added most value.…Published: 21 July 2026
News GPhC increases minimum level of study for pharmacy technicians in new training standards Under the regulator's new standards, the minimum level of study for pharmacy technicians will be increased to Regulated Qualifications Framework level 4, or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 7 or above.…Published: 17 July 2026
News ADHD medicines prescriptions rose again in 2025 More than 991,000 items of lisdexamfetamine were prescribed in NHS primary care in 2025, which is a 36% increase compared with 2024, according to Care Quality Commission data.…Published: 15 July 2026
Opinion The GPhC must demonstrate equivalence before shortening the international registration route Why a faster, more flexible prescribing qualification route can only be justified if the General Pharmaceutical Council demonstrates that it delivers the same standards, responsibilities and public confidence as the existing pathway.…Published: 15 July 2026
News One-quarter of pharmacy owners took no salary in past year, finds CPE survey The results of Community Pharmacy England's annual pressures survey also showed that for the vast majority of pharmacy owners, NHS reimbursement did not cover the cost of medicines.…Published: 14 July 2026
News ‘Stark lack of government response’ on valproate redress, patient safety commissioner says In her annual report for 2025/2026, Henrietta Hughes said the government was “yet to announce a redress scheme or a timeline for providing a substantive response to the recommendations” made in her previous report on patients harmed by sodium valproate.…Published: 14 July 2026
News Single national formulary pilot sites announced NHS England said that 13 early adopter integrated care boards will transition to the single national formulary by December 2026.…Published: 13 July 2026
News Pharmacies owed £1.5m in unpaid items Community Pharmacy England said that of the more than 194,000 pending unpaid item claims made by community pharmacies in England, around one-third have been left incomplete for more than six months.…Published: 13 July 2026
