NHS

Nine pharmacies in one city to offer contraception initiation service following successful pilot

The pharmacies will be offering tier 2 of the Community Pharmacy Contraception Service pilot scheme, allowing pharmacists to initiate the oral contraceptive pill without a patient needing to see a GP.…

Hydrocortisone manufacturers to be fined almost £130m after tribunal upholds ruling

The Competition and Markets Authority said NHS spending on hydrocortisone tablets rose from £0.5m per year to over £80m.…

NICE recommends drug treatment for long-term insomnia

Daridorexant has been recommended as a second-line treatment for long-term insomnia by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

Improving asthma care for children and young people

Considerations for pharmacists in helping young patients manage their asthma.…

NICE guidance ‘addresses the high unmet need’ for treatment of acute migraine

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended rimegepant for acute migraine — the first available oral treatment for the condition.…

Pharmacists asked for views on implementing pharmacogenetics in the NHS

Participants in a survey will be presented with a series of hypothetical options related to using pharmacogenetics in the prescribing process, as part of a pilot programme.…

‘Blanket switch’ to greener inhalers not recommended in prescribing guidance

The Scottish government has published a consultation on draft guidance emphasising that patients should only be switched to greener inhalers “if effectiveness, safety or adherence is not compromised”.…

NICE recommends tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes in final draft guidance

Following additional analyses and modelling of clinical and cost effectiveness, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes mellitus.…

Charting the course to advancing pharmacist prescribing

Attendees at a roundtable hosted by The Pharmaceutical Journal emphasised the need for robust training and support for newly qualified independent prescribers to ensure that individuals use their qualification.…

‘Limited’ supply of weight loss drug semaglutide launched in UK

Manufacturer Novo Nordisk said it will monitor demand and work with regulators to ensure Wegovy is accessible to eligible patients.…