NHS trusts

The virtual ward pharmacist: a new breed

Use of virtual wards, also known as ‘hospital at home’, is increasing across the NHS. With this expansion has come a new wave of job opportunities for pharmacists, but concerns remain over how this new breed of pharmacists will be resourced.…

Two thirds of homecare patient safety incidents linked to major provider

Exclusive: According to data from hospital trusts’ monthly reporting, homecare provider Sciensus was linked to 66% of patient safety incidents.…

Failing to deliver: the homecare services putting patients at risk

An investigation by The Pharmaceutical Journal has revealed hundreds of patient safety incidents caused by problematic homecare medicines services, leading to calls for improved regulation and overhauled delivery models.…

‘Groundbreaking’ electronic prescription service rolled out in six NHS hospital trusts

Exclusive: Six hospital trusts across England have begun using the electronic prescription service for secondary care, which was piloted during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

PJ view: Inequity of access to medicines for compassionate use must end

More than half of acute trusts lack a centralised database of medicines provided through compassionate use schemes, leaving a dearth of information that should be shared to help create fairer access to life-saving treatments.…

Second NHS trust trials drone deliveries for chemotherapy medicines

The trial will collect logistical data to ensure the drones can safely transport the medicine between hospital sites in Northumbria.…

When will England get a ‘Pharmacy First’ service?

Even though details are yet to be announced, a national minor ailments scheme may be on the cards for England. Here is a summary of what we know so far.…

Nearly a third of trusts meet NHS targets for discharge medicines service ahead of schedule

Speaking at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress, Wasim Baqir, senior NHS England pharmacist, said that up to 42,000 30-day readmissions could be avoided if every NHS trust hit the 1.5% referral target.…

NHS yet to introduce plans for zero emission ambulances despite COP26 pledge

Exclusive: The only fully electric ambulance has been used by the West Midlands Ambulance Service since October 2020.…

More than a third of NHS trusts have no ethnic minority pharmacists at senior levels

Exclusive: Of 87 NHS trusts and health boards across Great Britain that provided latest data, 34.5% do not employ pharmacists from ethnic minority backgrounds at NHS 'Agenda for change' band 8b or above.…