Health and care policy

Scottish government pledges 120 more preregistration places over three years

The Scottish government has committed to creating 120 additional pharmacy preregistration training places over the next three years, as part of its health and social care workforce plan.…

GPs vote for pharmacists to have power to substitute medicines during shortages

GP representatives have voted in favour of giving pharmacists the ability to identify appropriate and available alternatives to medicines that are in short supply.…

‘Specialist pharmacies’ to dispense recreational drugs under Green Party government policy

Specially qualified pharmacists would be able to dispense recreational drugs over the counter under a Green Party government, according to the party’s latest drug policy.…

MPs call for drug consumption room pilots to overhaul ‘failing’ UK drugs policy

Drug consumption rooms should be introduced on a pilot basis in areas of high need, a report from the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee has said.…

Pharmacist consultation service risks putting ‘massive pressure’ on urgent care if too few pharmacies sign up

The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service needs at least 4,000 pharmacies to register by its go-live date of 29 October 2019 or referrals will “revert back” to general practice, a senior NHS England official has warned.…

E-prescribing in hospital: ten ways to make it a success

Some hospital trusts are making progress towards replacing paper prescriptions with their electronic counterparts, but others are yet to make the switch. Here are ten tips for successful implementation of electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems.…

The evolution of NHS 111

First piloted in 2011, the NHS 111 service is constantly evolving and pharmacists are being increasingly recognised for the role they can have within it. Although models across England, Scotland and Wales share the same general objectives, they have developed separately, resulting in different versi…

Keith Ridge: ‘This is the most fantastic time for pharmacy ever’

England’s chief pharmaceutical officer speaks about being in the driving seat during one of the most crucial times for pharmacy.…

Pharmacy technicians may take on greater role in dispensing under government proposals

Pharmacy technicians could play a bigger role in the dispensing process in community pharmacy under forthcoming government proposals, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed.…

‘A blessing and a curse’: the struggle to introduce e-prescribing

NHS England has set an ambitious target to be paperless by 2024, a major part of which is implementing electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems in hospitals. Although progress is being made, there remain challenges to overcome.…