Policy and politics

A 2.8% pay uplift recommendation reflects a tough economy for everyone

In this month’s health policy column, Andy Cowper warns that high gilts and low growth may mean pay parsimony for pharmacists, but questions whether more NHS strikes would have public backing.…

Evaluation report of community pharmacy clinical services delayed until spring 2025, says NHS England

Exclusive: NHS England said the delay is to avoid releasing an incomplete report, which could infer inaccurate suggestions relating to the pharmacy sector and damage patient confidence.…

Your views on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s royal college proposals

In this episode of The PJ Pod, we hear from the executive team at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society about its proposals to become a royal college, and from members with their opinions on the plans.…

Tackling pharmacy funding crisis crucial to NHS transformation priorities, CPE tells government

Responding to the consultation shaping the government's ten-year plan for the NHS, Community Pharmacy England called for investment to assure the sector’s “long-term stability”.…

Autumn budget could result in £200m additional annual costs for community pharmacies, finds analysis

Pharmacy bodies have called on the government to offset costs for community pharmacies related to increases in employers' national insurance contributions and the national living wage as it has done with the NHS.…

Patient communication will be essential for successful collective action

In this month’s health policy column, Andy Cowper outlines how pharmacies participating in the National Pharmacy Association’s advisory collective action can make their point to the government while keeping patients on side.…

Government should publish national strategy to tackle medicines shortages, says RPS

In ‘Medicines shortages policy: solutions for empty shelves’, published on 26 November 2024, the Society makes 20 recommendations to alleviate ongoing medicines shortages in the UK.…

Chief pharmaceutical officers say it is ‘entirely reasonable’ for pharmacists to take position on assisted dying bill

A joint statement warned that the outcome of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill must not undermine provision of good end-of-life care and work by palliative care clinicians.…

NICE may be ‘systematically undervaluing’ medicines for severe conditions, says ABPI

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is urging the government and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to “show greater flexibility when assessing medicines for severe conditions”.…

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.…