National Pharmacy Association

Health secretary refuses to commit on repayment of pandemic advance funding

Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, told an audience of pharmacists that he could not make a commitment on whether, or how, £370 million in advance funding given to community pharmacies in England to help them manage through the COVID-19 pandemic should be repaid.…

Pharmacy delivery drivers to be trained to spot loneliness in older patients

Community pharmacy drivers who deliver prescriptions to patients’ homes are to be trained to spot signs of loneliness and isolation in frail older people in a pilot being developed in Wales.…

Funding needed for community pharmacists to tackle patients’ smoking and drinking, say pharmacy bodies

Community pharmacists need adequate funding and resources if they’re to discuss patients’ drinking, smoking and wellbeing, pharmacy organisations have said in response to a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence consultation.…

Patient safety incidents reported to NPA rise by 25% in three months

The National Pharmacy Association has reported a 25% increase in the total number of patient safety incidents between July 2019 and September 2019.…

Pharmacy bodies publish joint general election manifesto

A national minor ailments service should be commissioned across England, according to a community pharmacy election manifesto published jointly by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the National Pharmacy Association and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.…

DOACs account for ‘notable number’ of medication errors

A “notable number” of medication errors involving direct oral anticoagulants occurred in the first quarter of 2019, according to the National Pharmacy Association’s Medication Safety Officer update for April–June 2019.…

Pharmacists advised to check legal status of CBD products before supply or risk indemnity breach

Pharmacists selling or supplying cannabis-based products for medicinal use or cannabidiol-containing products must check the status of the product or risk not being protected by indemnity insurance, the National Pharmacy Association has warned.…

NPA chair who stepped aside during CMA investigation leaves association’s board

The former chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), who stepped aside during a competition law investigation into a company that lists him as a director, is to leave the NPA board.…

Better price concession system among NPA demands for community pharmacy contract negotiations

The National Pharmacy Association has outlined a list of eight demands for the next community pharmacy contract in a letter sent to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.…

NPA chair steps aside during competition law investigation

Nitin Sodha has stepped aside as chair of the National Pharmacy Association amid investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority relating to allegations of “illegal market sharing” against a drug company that lists Sodha as a director.…