PJ view: An evidence-based approach to policy reform is needed from Streeting With another NHS reform on the cards from new health secretary Wes Streeting, now is the time for an evidence-based approach to strategic planning to counter ideological policies of the past.…
The 2024 general election manifestos are lacking on ambitions for pharmacy This month, our health policy columnist looks at where pharmacy stands in each of the major political party manifestos.…
Labour Party promises ‘more pharmacists independent prescribing rights’ in manifesto The Labour Party plans to address pressure on GP surgeries by improving access to treatment through new routes, such as through a Community Pharmacy Prescribing Service.…
Conservative Party pledges to expand Pharmacy First funding to £250m a year The Conservatives say they would expand the areas offered under Pharmacy First to include menopause support, contraception and treatment for chest infection.…
Liberal Democrats pledge ‘fairer long-term funding model’ for community pharmacies in general election manifesto In the first of the major political party manifestos to be published in advance of the general election, the Liberal Democrats also said they would aim to speed up access to new treatments.…
To DPP or not to DPP: who trains the trainers? The Pharmaceutical Journal’s health policy columnist considers the value of incentivising designated prescribing practitioners to supervise trainee pharmacists from 2025.…
Subscription model for antimicrobials could be expanded in new UK five-year AMR plan 'Confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029', published by the UK government on 8 May 2024, builds on the existing 20-year antimicrobial resistance strategy published in 2019.…
NHS data reveal net loss of more than 400 community pharmacies England over the past year The Company Chemists' Association says that 35% of pharmacy closures since 2015/2016 have happened in the top 20% of the most deprived parts of the country.…
Pharmacists certified 1.4% of ‘fit notes’ from GP practices, NHS data show In the same period, 91.3% of fit notes were certified by doctors, 6.7% by nurses, 0.6% by physiotherapists and 0.03% by occupational therapists.…
PJ view: Pharmacy technicians are vital in efforts to rescue pharmacists from their workload Pharmacy technicians are best placed to take on more responsibility to alleviate workforce pressures across all pharmacy sectors.…