Concern over ‘inappropriate’ flu vaccine being given to people aged over 65 years An NHS regional flu lead has warned that patients aged over 65 years who have been given the QIVe vaccine should be recalled and possibly revaccinated.…
Government grants record number of drug price concessions in September 2022 The list of 159 products with price concessions in September 2022 includes alendronic acid and aripiprazole.…
Oxybutynin is not suitable as over-the-counter medicine, say pharmacy bodies Pharmacy bodies say there is "mounting evidence" linking oxybutynin to cognitive decline and the progression of dementia.…
UK government is preparing guidance to help with type 2 diabetes medication supply issues Exclusive: Experts are "very concerned" about the shortages of semaglutide and dulaglutide and have warned it would be a lot of work to transfer patients to other medication options.…
The role of pharmacists in increasing patient access to ‘compassionate use’ programmes Pharmacists should be helping to ensure that 'compassionate use' regulations evolve to address urgent patient needs.…
Independent prescribing pharmacist numbers total 15,000, increasing by two-thirds in two years Exclusive: There were 14,635 independent prescribers on the pharmacy register in August 2022, compared with 8,806 independent prescribers in May 2020.…
NHS could introduce performers list for independent prescribing pharmacists A performers list for pharmacist prescribers would be in line with similar lists held for doctors and dentists.…
Electronic prescribing system cuts dispensing errors by almost half in one trust Exclusive: As a result of implementing an electronic prescribing and medicines administration system, East London NHS Foundation Trust reduced dispensing errors by 45% and saved more than £900,000 per year.…
‘Thousands’ of pharmacies at risk of closure without additional government funding, warns report Authors of a report on NHS community pharmacy have warned that the sector is facing an "economic crisis".…
Government shelves plan for ‘Pharmacy First’ service in England The delayed agreement for the remaining two years of the 'Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework' confirms an excess margin write-off, meaning pharmacies will keep £100m they would otherwise have had to repay.…