PJ, March 2023, Vol 310, No 7971

Boots to trial £20 type 2 diabetes screening service

If deemed suitable for screening, patients will undergo a finger prick blood test and receive diagnostic test results within seven minutes.…

Proportion of people unable to buy medicines doubles in one year, government survey shows

The percentage of people unable to buy the medicines they needed increased to 5%, compared with 2% in a similar time period in 2022.…

Negotiator urges government to allow pharmacies to cut opening hours by a third to manage cost pressures

A statement from the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee sets out a range of regulatory easements to help pharmacies deal with financial and logistical pressures.…

Cough medicine with anaphylaxis risk to be removed from UK market, MHRA announces

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it was withdrawing pholcodine-containing medicines from the UK market as a "precautionary measure", owing to the risk of anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia.…

How to conduct a clinical review of a patient’s medicines

Best practice principles and practical advice for structuring medication reviews and approaching conversations with patients.…

ADHD and central nervous system stimulant prescribing has increased by almost 70% in five years

The NHS Business Services Authority's 'Medicines used in mental health' report covers five types of mental health medication prescribed in England and dispensed in the community.…

RPS rejoins International Pharmaceutical Federation

Members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society expressed strong support for rejoining the federation, after it left in December 2021 owing to concerns over the cost of membership.…

Prescription charge to increase by 30p from April 2023

The government said it had “applied an inflation rate of 3.21%” to the prescription charge, taking it from £9.35 to £9.65.…

NHS England to offer extra 25 placements in health and justice sites for trainee pharmacists

The additional placements mean there will be 26 trainee pharmacy placements at health at justice sites in 2024/2025.…

Interpretation of electrocardiograms

Understanding and interpreting electrocardiogram readings is an increasingly important skill for pharmacists. This article introduces the basic principles of the electrocardiogram and how to recognise common abnormalities.…