Primary care

Designated prescribing practitioners in primary care to be funded under ARRS scheme

Liz Fidler, senior adviser on pharmacy technicians at NHS England, also announced planned growth in trainee pharmacy technician apprenticeships.…

Antipsychotic drugs in dementia treatment associated with range of adverse reactions

Experts say the findings suggest that the risks of prescribing antipsychotics in people with dementia “may be more severe than previously understood”.…

Pharmacists certified 1.4% of ‘fit notes’ from GP practices, NHS data show

In the same period, 91.3% of fit notes were certified by doctors, 6.7% by nurses, 0.6% by physiotherapists and 0.03% by occupational therapists.…

More than 40% of people with ADHD waiting at least two years to access mental health service, study finds

Healthcare professionals, integrated care board commissioners and people with lived experience of ADHD all reported extended wait times for adult mental health services.…

An ‘Argos’ model could give patients the access to medicines they deserve

Medicine shortages have been an ongoing issue for several years, but Liz Breen argues that lessons in transparent supply chains, learned from practices in Spain and Sweden, could alleviate pressures in the UK.…

Structured medication reviews increase in primary care despite end of financial incentive 

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS England data show there was a 15% increase in structured medication reviews in the 2023/2024 financial year up to February 2024, compared with the year before.…

‘Trailblazing’ community pharmacy hearing health service to be discontinued

NHS South West London Integrated Care Board says it is unable to find the required funding to continue the ‘Hearing health pathway pilot’, despite treating more than 5,000 patients during the first year.…

Case-based learning: chronic breathlessness in adults

The causes and management of breathlessness in adults, with a focus on chronic breathlessness.…

NHS England says PCNs should work with community pharmacy ‘in the best interests of patient care’

In the primary care networks contract specification for 2024/2025, NHS England said they must work with other community service providers to “successfully manage the health and care needs of the populations they serve”.…

Pharmacy technicians enabled to administer and supply medicines under patient group directions

The government said 84% of consultation respondents agreed with adding pharmacy technicians to the list of healthcare professionals permitted to supply and administer medicines under a patient group direction.…