NHS England

A third of pharmacy technicians close to changing career, survey reveals

Study authors say the issue could lie in a lack of adequate support and recognition of pharmacy technicians’ value, leading to job dissatisfaction.…

Smoking cessation drug to be provided on NHS three years after its withdrawal over carcinogen concerns

NHS England says generic varenicline could help more than 85,000 people stop smoking each year.…

NICE recommends cognitive behavioural therapy for treatment of menopause symptoms

The guidance says menopause-specific cognitive behavioural therapy can be used in addition to hormone replacement therapy or as an alternative.…

More appeals to open pharmacies turned down in 2024 than in each of two previous years

Exclusive: Out of the 103 appeals ruled on by NHS Resolution between October 2021 and September 2024, 60% were rejected.…

Lack of joined-up working between pharmacy and general practice is ‘nonsensical’, says former BMA chair

Speaking at a House of Commons event, Chaand Nagpaul called for pharmacy and GP contracts to be aligned “for certain pathways of care”.…

Pharmacy access to GP records still in pilot phase, says NHS England

GP Connect will initially give pharmacists access to GP records, including medications, observations and investigations, with second-phase access to GP consultations and immunisations.…

RPS to survey members before responding to government consultation on NHS ten-year plan

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said it wants the government to place supporting patient access to community pharmacies at the heart of any increase in neighbourhood health services.…

Pathfinder sites report 28-minute consultation times, finds NHS England analysis

Figures show that more than 1,000 consultations have been completed under the independent prescribing programme, with almost one third resulting in a prescription.…

Manufacturers repay nearly £600m to NHS in first three months of new voluntary pricing scheme

The first repayment of the new scheme was larger than all quarterly payments under VPAS between 2019 and 2022.…

Increase in Pharmacy First monthly payment threshold delayed to January 2025

The minimum monthly activity requirement will increase to 25 in January and February, before being increased to 30 consultations by March 2025, “as planned”.…