GovernmentOrganization

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”.…

CPE committee minutes reveal concerns over proposed regulatory changes following Jhoots failures

Members of a Community Pharmacy England committee said regulatory changes should not be made until it is made clear that they were “needed and would address the issues”.…

MHRA is ‘exploring legislative actions’ to restrict paracetamol sales, says health minister

Health minister Preet Kaur Gill said that the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency took the disproportionate sale of paracetamol seriously.…

James Murray appointed as health secretary

The appointment follows that of Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, as health minister on 12 May 2026.…

Pharmacy sector warns of ‘more uncertainty’ as Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary

Having “lost confidence” in the prime minister's leadership, Wes Streeting‘s letter to Keir Starmer highlighted a lack of vision and direction.…

King’s speech promises single patient record within two years for certain patients

Proposed legislation announced by King Charles III will combine health and social care records into one place “to improve patient safety and experience”.…

National formulary should be integrated into electronic prescribing, paediatric bodies say

A joint position statement recommended that British National Formulary for Children-based dosing should be used to calculate paediatric doses and set safety dose limits for electronic prescribing systems.…

Legislation to speed up clinical trials comes into force

The law change enables researchers to simultaneously apply for ethics and regulatory approval for new clinical trials of investigational medicinal products.…