GovernmentOrganization

Pharmacy technicians need more training if they are to supply medicines under patient group directions, says RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society supported proposed changes to regulations but said current preregistration training is not sufficient for pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under patient group directions.…

Government treated pharmacists with ‘double standards’ during COVID-19 pandemic, RPS tells inquiry

Community pharmacists were initially not included in a life assurance scheme for healthcare staff, excluded from a national PPE ordering system, and not included in a visa extension scheme.…

Roadmap to provide PrEP via community pharmacies will be ready by ‘end of the year’, government says

Health minister Neil O’Brien said the government’s HIV action plan implementation steering group was currently “working to develop a PrEP roadmap”.…

Welsh government backs RPS Wales plan to transform hospital pharmacy

The Welsh government has accepted all 36 recommendations made by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales in a review of hospital pharmacy in the country.…

Shortage of scabies treatment ‘likely to become a major public health issue’

The government has issued a medicine supply notification warning that permethrin 5% w/w cream will be “in limited supply until further notice due to an increase in demand”.…

‘Blanket switch’ to greener inhalers not recommended in prescribing guidance

The Scottish government has published a consultation on draft guidance emphasising that patients should only be switched to greener inhalers “if effectiveness, safety or adherence is not compromised”.…

RPS backs call to legalise safe consumption facilities for drug users

Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said that providing consumption facilities for drug users would “provide an opportunity for health professionals to engage in treatment and prevention”.…

Projects awarded £5m funding for AI and drone technology to tackle UK drug deaths

The funding will be used to develop prototype technologies to detect drug overdoses and deliver antidotes.…

Government launches ‘ambitious’ asymptomatic mpox transmission study

Results of the PRIME study will be used to inform the public health outbreak response to mpox, including future vaccination and testing strategies.…

For want of a jab… are vaccines out of fashion for NHS England?

This month, The Pharmaceutical Journal’s health policy columnist questions the government’s decisions to reduce the COVID-19 vaccination fee and delay the flu vaccination programme.…