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News

London’s first drug-checking service could expand to more cities

Under the drug-checking service, users can submit substances for testing and will subsequently receive “anonymous, non-judgemental chat”, alongside tailored harm reduction advice.…

Published: 12 March 2026

Feature

The evolving role of community pharmacy in smoking cessation

Despite the push for a smoke-free generation, uptake of the national pharmacy smoking cessation service remains low. With calls for increased access, pharmacy teams could be poised to play a far greater role in helping people quit.…

Published: 12 March 2026

News

One in four pharmacy consultations cannot be added to patient records

Exclusive: An analysis conducted by The Pharmaceutical Journal has revealed that the overall number of attempts to update a patient's record following a Pharmacy First consultation has more than doubled from October 2025 to February 2026.…

Published: 12 March 2026

News

Privy Council approves Royal Charter changes

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society will become the Royal College of Pharmacy on 15 April 2026 following King Charles III’s approval.…

Published: 12 March 2026

News

NICE recommends non-hormonal treatment for hot flushes

Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says that fezolinetant is recommended on the NHS for patients who are not suitable for hormonal replacement therapy or who do not wish to take it.…

Published: 11 March 2026

News

Government pledges support for more safer drug consumption facilities in ten-year alcohol and drug strategy

The Scottish government's alcohol and drugs strategic plan for 2026–2035 also sets out plans to further expand the distribution of naloxone, including through community pharmacies.…

Published: 11 March 2026

Opinion

Why the UK must put medicines at the forefront of a new EU relationship

Why the UK’s priorities need to change in terms of medicines regulation, which will ultimately determine whether future patients will benefit from affordable medicines supply.…

Published: 11 March 2026

News

Coroner says ICB should consider remedies for long-term opioid use on ‘regional basis’

A patient who had been prescribed opioids since 2011 died after taking a higher than prescribed dose of fentanyl, alongside prescribed codeine.…

Published: 10 March 2026

News

NHS proposes removing masculinising and feminising hormones as routine treatments for under-18s

In consultation documents, NHS England said it had concluded there was not enough evidence to suggest that feminising and masculinising medicines are safe or clinically effective enough for the treatment to be routinely available for children and young people.…

Published: 10 March 2026

News

Pharmacies to signpost Enfield families towards vaccinations amid measles outbreak

The London Assembly Health Committee heard that Enfield Council intended to use pharmacies to inform residents that the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.…

Published: 9 March 2026