NHS

Collaboration not competition: the NHS masterplan to keep patients out of hospital

Health challenges and inequalities have been exacerbated by COVID-19, meaning providing joined up health and social care that keeps people out of hospital is more important than ever, and is central to the government’s blueprint for the NHS in England. Pharmacy teams are already playing an integra…

RPS joins APTUK and NHS England to launch action plan for inclusive pharmacy practice

The joint plan will include actions that pharmacy teams should incorporate into practice to “benefit the health of our diverse communities”.…

Government proposal of 1% pay rise for NHS staff ‘callous’, hospital pharmacists’ body says

The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists has criticised the proposal, saying that it will "continue to make the case strongly" for NHS staff in England to be given a higher pay rise.…

Everything you need to know about the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme

Here is what we know so far about how the NHS plans to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine.…

Pharmacy contractors asked to audit patient consultations for ‘improper referrals’ from GPs and NHS 111

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee’s second pharmacy advice audit will take place in the week of 25 January 2021.…

Late-night pharmacy offers to vaccinate until 22:30 as it joins COVID-19 programme

Woolwich Late Night Pharmacy in Greenwich, London, would consider administering COVID-19 vaccinations until 22:30 at night, if required.…

Gillian Leng: ‘COVID-19 has been a strain, but also an opportunity’

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s new chief executive, Gillian Leng, took the helm in April 2020. She speaks to us about what lessons the organisation has taken away from the past year.…

First antimicrobial drugs purchased via new ‘subscription’ payment model

The first antimicrobial drugs have been purchased via the UK’s new ‘subscription-type’ payment model.…

Half of pharmacist training places remain unfilled through Oriel recruitment system

Demand for pharmacist trainees has exceeded supply, with just 51% of training places filled through the Oriel preregistration recruitment platform.…

Hundreds of community pharmacies apply to run COVID-19 vaccination sites, say negotiators

Hundreds of community pharmacies have submitted expressions of interest to NHS England to run designated vaccination sites, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has said.…