Healthcare provision

The pharmacy funding boost is a step in the right direction but it will not go far enough

This month, our health policy columnist warns that while the latest pharmacy contract announcements are good news for pharmacy, the damage from years of underfunding may be difficult to undo.…

Regulators issue warning over prescription-only weight-loss drug advertisements

An enforcement notice has warned that prohibitions include non paid-for content on social media, sponsored searches on search engines and influencer marketing.…

Community pharmacy RSV expansion programme to be expanded four-fold

The Department of Health and Social Care said up to 200 community pharmacy sites could be commissioned to provide the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in 2025/2026.…

Regulator warns pharmacists to ensure patient safety when selling unregulated products

In a letter to pharmacy technicians and owners, the General Pharmaceutical Council has warned that non-medicinal and unlicensed products being supplied by pharmacies “have potentially caused serious harm”.…

NHS England sets target to save £1bn on medicines by 2029

Board papers published in March 2025 said that using “commercial capabilities” had realised close to £500m in medicines savings in 2023/2024.…

NICE recommends capivasertib for advanced breast cancer

Clinical trial results revealed that capivasertib, taken with fulvestrant, can provide advanced breast cancer patients with an additional four months before their cancer progresses.…

Stimulant and non-stimulant agents for ADHD

This medication guide details the different types of treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for both adults and children.…

Welsh community pharmacy to receive one-off £6m stability payment

The Welsh government's investment in community pharmacies is equivalent to an added 30p per prescription item dispensed in January, February and March 2025.…

Scottish government offers hospital pharmacists 8% pay increase over two years

The proposed pay offer to NHS Agenda for Change staff amounts to an £701m investment and is promised to remain above the consumer price index inflation rate in 2025/2026 and 2026/2027.…

NHS England to assess feasibility of a national inhaler recycling scheme

Health minister Karin Smyth said NHS England was “currently supporting the implementation of an inhaler recycling pilot to assess a national scheme’s feasibility and potential benefits”.…