NHS employers in England to be measured on staff wellbeing standards The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England have announced standards to address problems in six areas, including workplace racism, violence and sexual harassment.…
UK signs up to European rare diseases network The National Institute for Health and Care Research said membership of the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance will open “new pathways for UK researchers to participate in international clinical trials”.…
Patients could get NHS medicines months earlier under fast-track pilots The Department of Health and Social Care said the pilots will test new approaches to medicines pricing, access and adoption as early as September 2026.…
Community pharmacies receive government obesity care funding The announcement is part of a UK-wide programme of innovative schemes that could include the provision of weight-loss drugs.…
Government pledges to provide legal guidance on 24/7 palliative care The government said it was “committed” to publishing a modern services framework on palliative care provision to improve access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care.…
Assisted dying Bill reintroduced to Parliament The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been reintroduced by Lauren Edwards, Labour MP for Rochester and Strood.…
Branded medicines levy cut under statutory scheme The Department of Health and Social Care said that the new 16.5% levy, a fall from the previous year’s 24.3%, will take effect from 1 July 2026.…
NHS-funded community independent prescribing announced as part of pharmacy contract Under the ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ for 2026/2027, the Department of Health and Social Care said pharmacists with independent prescribing qualifications will be able to “assess patients and prescribe medicines directly”.…
CCA calls for Pharmacy First to include independent prescribing The Company Chemists’ Association said that including pharmacist independent prescribing into Pharmacy First would enable pharmacists to “have the skills and tools to better meet patient needs”.…
UK government rules out appointment of valproate tsar Health minister Preet Kaur Gill confirmed in a parliamentary answer that the Department of Health and Social Care “does not at present intend to appoint a senior team or a tsar in relation to those affected by sodium valproate”.…
