Shortages stop pharmacies dispensing medication ‘at least once a day’ The results of a National Pharmacy Association survey showed that the vast majority of pharmacy owners said that they were unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day in the past year owing to medicines shortages.…
How community pharmacists are tackling a wave of abuse Threats, racist behaviour and physical violence are a regular part of working life for pharmacy teams across the country. Here’s how some are protecting themselves, the trade-offs of increased security and why broader action is needed.…
Discussions on community pharmacy reform to begin before end of June Exclusive: Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison says she will meet with pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock before the end of June 2026.…
PDA warns of ‘concerning’ decline in community pharmacists per pharmacy The number of full-time equivalent pharmacists working in community pharmacy has reduced from 20,255 in 2021 to 17,415 in 2025, a PDA report says.…
NHS England to provide national guidance to ICBs on commissioning pharmacist independent prescribing The government turned down a proposal for a national enhanced prescribing service, Community Pharmacy England director says.…
Office of Health Economics warns that contract margin write-off could be too low Exclusive: Thinktank says that £239m margin write-off agreed as part of the 2026/2027 pharmacy contract is “on the lower end of what is needed”.…
Pharmacy minister praises ‘strategic thinking’ on community pharmacy reform Speaking at a Westminster Hall debate, Stephen Kinnock thanked Community Pharmacy England for its "constructive engagement" on long term reform of community pharmacy.…
NHS-funded community independent prescribing announced as part of pharmacy contract Under the ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ for 2026/2027, the Department of Health and Social Care said pharmacists with independent prescribing qualifications will be able to “assess patients and prescribe medicines directly”.…
CCA calls for Pharmacy First to include independent prescribing The Company Chemists’ Association said that including pharmacist independent prescribing into Pharmacy First would enable pharmacists to “have the skills and tools to better meet patient needs”.…
CPE committee minutes reveal concerns over proposed regulatory changes following Jhoots failures Members of a Community Pharmacy England committee said regulatory changes should not be made until it is made clear that they were “needed and would address the issues”.…
