Government

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.…

Regulators set out support for in-orbit pharmaceutical manufacturing

In a joint statement, UK regulators said that the production of materials and products in space have the potential to offer higher quality medicines compared with those made on Earth.…

Government to implement changes to NICE cost-effectiveness threshold

The Department of Health and Social Care “acknowledged the concerns” raised in a consultation on the changes “regarding potential political interference in NICE's work and methods”.…

Community pharmacy contract negotiations begin in England

“Detailed discussions” are underway with the Department of Health and Social Care, according to Community Pharmacy England.…

Welsh parliament approves motion on assisted dying

The vote would allow Welsh ministers to shape how assisted dying services could operate on the NHS in Wales if UK legislation on the issue is approved.…

GPs should have dedicated, monitored email address for pharmacy communications, says new contract

The contract has also requested that GPs reconfirm a patient’s nominated pharmacy whenever a new prescription is issued.…

RPS backs consensus statement on assisted dying protections for clinicians in Scotland

In a letter to the Scottish government, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has expressed concern that conscientious objection could be removed from the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.…

GPs to get extra money for ‘progress’ in childhood vaccinations

The Department of Health and Social Care said that the updated GP contract for 2026/2027 will offer incentive payments to practices that make improvements towards hitting vaccination rate targets.…

Government to ‘strengthen’ out-of-hours support for palliative care services

In response to a House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee evaluation of palliative care services in England, the government said integrated palliative care services are “central to the shift towards community-based care”.…

Pharmacy owners warn of closures and cuts in open letter to health secretary

In a letter to health secretary Wes Streeting, the National Pharmacy Association claimed that two-thirds of pharmacies are at risk of imminent closure.…