Healthcare provision

Repeated use of antibiotics increases inflammatory bowel disease risk, study suggests

Patients aged 40 to 60 years who had been prescribed antibiotics showed the highest risk for inflammatory bowel disease.…

Patient safety alert issued as hospital pharmacists report oxygen cylinder shortages

The National Patient Safety Alert states that "there is a need to conserve oxygen cylinder use to ensure a robust supply chain process".…

Pharmacy teams could visit community and faith groups to cut health inequalities, says Royal Pharmaceutical Society

A position paper published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society suggests how organisations can work together to address health inequalities.…

We audited our vancomycin patients, with some surprising results

When an audit of 25 patients found that none were given vancomycin in accordance with trust guidelines, Uwaise Rehman and colleagues uncovered a number of reasons why.…

First electronic prescriptions in Wales to be sent from GPs to pharmacies by autumn 2023

Eluned Morgan, minister for health and social services, said that NHS Wales was working with community pharmacy IT system providers to encourage them to minimise the use of paper.…

Quarter of hospitalised patients taking clozapine admitted with infection, study finds

Researchers found 25% of patients hospitalised while taking clozapine had an infection, and highlighted that safety protocols around the drug tend to focus on other side effects.…

Three-quarters of public support pharmacists prescribing their medication, survey results show

Of more than 2,000 respondents to a survey inviting people to give their views on community pharmacy, 77% said they were highly confident in pharmacists prescribing medication.…

Highlights of 2022: a letter from the three Royal Pharmaceutical Society national pharmacy board chairs

A central focus for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England in 2022 was the development of our 'Vision for pharmacy professional practice', in partnership with The King’s Fund. This report, published on 14 December 2022, sets out how pharmacy teams can support better patient care and hel…

Research, CPD and Learning: 2022 in review

Celebrating the highlights from 2022 and a look ahead to 2023.…

Employers should take ‘challenging situations’ into account if complaints are made about pharmacy staff this winter

The General Pharmaceutical Council and UK chief pharmaceutical officers have written to pharmacy teams to reassure them as the NHS faces huge pressures.…