Pharmacy bodies

Staffing costs ‘unsustainable’ for half of pharmacy businesses

In Community Pharmacy England's 2025 pharmacy pressures survey report, the negotiating body called for increased funding to support recruitment and retain pharmacy staff.…

Unlocking pharmacists’ potential needs investment, RPS says

In response to the government's call for evidence on the NHS ten-year workforce plan, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said there is a need for pharmacist independent prescribers to be integrated across all sectors.…

New HIV diagnoses fall by almost 20% in one year

Public Health Wales data show that the number of new HIV cases fell to 73 in 2024, from 91 confirmed cases in 2023.…

NHS pay rise above 2.5% would mean ‘trade-offs’ in its health commitments, government says

In evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body, the Department of Health and Social Care said that a pay rise above 2.5% “would inevitably have an impact on healthcare delivery”.…

Measuring antidepressant symptoms instead of summary scores could show quicker response

Researchers found that the use of combined symptom scoring, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire, could mask improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms.…

National community pharmacy prescribing service to be negotiated from 2026

In a letter sent to integrated care boards, NHS England also said that they should agree locally which ‘Independent prescribing in community pharmacy pathfinder programme’ sites will be continued after 31 December 2025.…

Pharmacy bodies join forces to urge pharmacy minister ‘to close £2.6bn funding gap’

Senior figures from pharmacy bodies also told pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock that “with the right support” pharmacies can contribute toward the aims of NHS's ten-year health plan via the expansion of services and the shifting of care into the community.…

More than one-third of people in Scotland used Pharmacy First in 2024/2025

A report by Public Health Scotland also revealed that in 2024/2025, the number of people who used Pharmacy First Scotland at least once in year increased by more than 50% compared with 2021/2022.…

BMA says GPs will signpost patients to pharmacies

A letter sent by the British Medical Association to health secretary Wes Streeting follows a previous letter in which it told members not to direct patients to Pharmacy First.…

‘Record number’ of prescriptions dispensed in England in 2024/2025 despite reduction in number of pharmacies

Data from the NHS Business Services Authority show that 2024/2025 was the fourth consecutive year that the number of prescriptions dispensed from community pharmacies in England has risen.…