PJ, April 2019, Vol 302, No 7924

How pharmacists can support patients’ psychological, as well as physical, needs

The fifteen minute hour: efficient and effective patient-centered consultation skills by Marian R Stuart and Joseph A Lieberman…

Community pharmacy delivers more than 70,000 more flu vaccines during 2018/2019 season

Community pharmacies in England delivered more than 70,000 more flu vaccinations during the 2018/2019 flu season compared to 2017/2018, according to provisional figures published by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.…

Workforce shortages present ‘major obstacle’ to NHS Long Term Plan, warns PAC

The government “underestimates the challenges” of delivering on its long-term plan, in the face of workforce shortages and a lack of financial planning, a report from the the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said.…

Boots’s parent company to consider ‘consolidation’ of low-performing stores in the UK

The parent company of Boots has said it will consider “consolidation” of low-performing stores in the UK following a “disappointing” financial year.…

NHS 111 pharmacists in Wales close 80% of calls with no onward referral

Around eight in ten calls to NHS 111 in Wales that are picked up by pharmacists are closed without the need for onward referral, the programme’s national lead has said.…

Patients twice as likely to continue taking medicines if warned about health impact of non-adherence

Patients who are warned about the personal health consequences of not taking their medicines are nearly twice as likely to continue taking them as prescribed, research has found.…

Leading AMR expert calls for state-funded research into new antibiotics

Establishing state-run drug companies or “utilities” may be the only solution to boost the development of new drugs and win the fight against antimicrobial resistance, according to Lord Jim O’Neill.…

Cost of prescriptions dispensed in community falls for third year running

The cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England has decreased by nearly 4%, which represents the largest fall in three years, according to figures published by NHS Digital.…

Hospital pharmacy medicine recycling project saves health board £250,000 in six months

A health board in Wales has saved £249,000 over six months by recycling unused medicines across four hospital trusts in the area.…

Older people with terminal cancer ‘overprescribed’ preventative drugs

Older patients with cancer receiving end-of-life care may be overprescribed preventative medicines, study results have shown.…