PJ, March 2024, Vol 312, No 7983

Pharmacy technicians enabled to administer and supply medicines under patient group directions

The government said 84% of consultation respondents agreed with adding pharmacy technicians to the list of healthcare professionals permitted to supply and administer medicines under a patient group direction.…

Whooping cough resurgence as vaccination rates slump

Official data on whooping cough show that reports of suspected cases are at a 15-year high in the first three months of 2024, as vaccination rates continue to fall.…

Boots offers private COVID-19 vaccination service at almost £100 per jab

The multiple will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination privately at 52 locations across England.…

NHS England publishes guidance on withdrawing desflurane from general use, following NICE evidence review

Desflurane can be safely withdrawn from clinical use, the guidance says, but may be warranted in “some specific clinical exceptions”.…

Amira Guirguis: ‘We want to use our expertise to prepare for future threats’

As the recently appointed chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s science and research committee, Amira Guirguis sets out her goals for her new role and calls for more proactivity in the fight against substance misuse.…

Around 45% of hospital emergency departments have a clinical pharmacy service, MPs told

Giving evidence to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee pharmacy inquiry, David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said the figure was a "significant step" towards all hospital emergency departments having a dedicated pharmacist.…

Ability to supply naloxone should be expanded to non-registered members of pharmacy team, says negotiator

Community Pharmacy England has said that amended legislation should go further than extending the ability to supply naloxone without a prescription to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.…

Pulmonary hypertension: recognition, diagnosis and management

An overview of the pathogenesis, recognition, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.…

Community pharmacies to take part in pilot scheme to administer catch-up MMR vaccines

The scheme has been launched in the north west of England to improve MMR vaccination rates, following the measles outbreak at the beginning of 2024.…

Maintaining trust in science and increasing research literacy

This month’s pick of academic papers from Parastou Donyai, chief scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.…