Department of Health (England)

Government launches double consultation on dispensing errors legislation and role of responsible and superintendent pharmacists

The government has launched a consultation on extending the new defence for dispensing errors from community pharmacists to other parts of the profession, and a second consultation on clarification of how registered pharmacies should be governed.…

Government figures show drop in pharmacy numbers since funding cuts

The impact of the funding cuts to community pharmacy in England has been highlighted by figures showing a fall in the number of high street pharmacies.…

Hunt pledges to eradicate gender pay gap in NHS doctors

Health and social care secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into how much the NHS in England pays male and female doctors in an effort to eliminate the 15% gender pay gap. …

What would you like to see in the new community pharmacy contract?

While the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Department of Health and Social prepare for contract negotiations, The Pharmaceutical Journal asked community pharmacists on the frontline to redesign the contractual framework.…

Steve Brine open-minded on using cigarette packets to promote vaping

Pharmacy minister Steve Brine has said he would consider suggestions on how to use cigarette packets to promote e-cigarettes.…

Pharmacy minister says government willing to open negotiations on new pharmacy contract

Pharmacy minister Steve Brine has revealed that the Department of Health and Social Care will open negotiations on moving from a contract that rewards the dispensing of higher volumes of medicines to one that rewards care provided for patients.…

Review of 2013 NHS regulations highlights concerns around misuse by distance selling pharmacies

A post-implementation review of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, has revealed that a small proportion of distance selling pharmacies (DSPs) have been misusing the DSP exemption in order to supply local, rather than national, delivery services.…

Community pharmacy funding to stay at 2017/2018 levels until negotiations begin with DHSC

The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that community pharmacy fees and allowances will not change from April 2018 as part of interim funding arrangements for 2018/2019.…

Now could be the time for LTC management

Could the time finally have come for community pharmacy to show that it can manage long-term conditions?…

Q&A: Dame Sally Davies — protecting antibiotics for the future

Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England and chief medical advisor to the UK government, is well known for issuing stark warnings on the careless use of antibiotics.…