England

Over 3,000 more pharmacists needed in general practice to tackle GP shortages, says think tank report

A minimum of 3,000 extra pharmacists are needed in general practice across England by 2024 to help tackle rising patient demand and GP shortages, a report compiled by three major think-tanks warns.…

Huge cuts to smoking cessation funding in England, survey results show

Cuts to public health grants in England have led to a 9% reduction in specialist smoking cessation services between 2017 and 2018, a survey from Action on Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK has found.…

New hepatitis C infections have dropped almost 70% in HIV+ men in London since 2015, study shows

Incidence of hepatitis C has fallen by almost 70% in HIV positive men who have sex with men living in London since 2015, according to research presented at a major HIV conference.…

More patient involvement needed as NHS proposes further restrictions on prescribing, RPS says

Patients should be represented on the NHS England working group that issues guidance on items that should not be routinely prescribed in primary care, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said.…

English Pharmacy Board election 2019

The scheme for the 2019 election provides for five places on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society English Pharmacy Board for Members or Fellows who work or live wholly or mainly in England, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Full details of eligibility criteria are set out at https://www.…

Charity launches campaign to stop prescription charges for people with asthma

Asthma UK is calling for Matt Hancock, health and social care secretary, to stop “unfair” prescription charges in England, so that people with asthma no longer have to “pay to breathe”.…

Prescription fees set to increase to £9 from April 2019

Prescription charges in England are set to increase from £8.80 to £9 as of 1 April 2019, the government has announced.…

Medication errors: where do they happen?

Reducing medicines-related harm requires a clear understanding of where and when errors occur. This visual summary shows the latest estimates in England per year.…

English Pharmacy Board meeting: 31 January 2019

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS’s) English Pharmacy Board (EPB) held its first meeting of the year on 31 January 2019, at the Society’s London headquarters.…

Opioid prescribing highest in more deprived regions of England, study shows

Opioid prescribing in general practice is highest in the North West of England and the East Midlands, mirroring general geographical health inequalities, a study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy has found.…