Urgent and emergency care

NHS looks to pharmacy as it faces a tough winter

As winter demands on the NHS rise, pharmacists are being reallocated to offer ward-based prescribing and seven-day pharmacy services to relieve the pressure. …

Winter pressure fears after highest ever emergency hospital admissions

Emergency hospital admissions have reached their highest level since data collection began, leading to fears that the NHS could face even more severe winter pressures than in previous years.…

Pharmacy urgent medicine supply service extended by a further six months

The NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service has been extended for a further six months, the pharmacy minister Steve Brine has confirmed.…

Chief pharmaceutical officer ‘hopeful’ urgent medicines service will be renewed

Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer, has said it would be “difficult to justify” not renewing the NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service in community pharmacies as it has become an important part of the services they offer patients.…

Referrals to pharmacy from NHS 111 more than doubled since 2015

NHS 111 referrals to pharmacy have more than doubled since 2015, according to data from NHS England.…

Avoidable emergency readmissions to hospital rise by over 40%

The number of patients being readmitted to hospital in an emergency with potentially preventable conditions has grown significantly over the past seven years, an analysis from the Nuffield Trust has revealed.…

Australian paramedics first to use droperidol to safely calm violent patients on drugs and alcohol

Paramedics in Australia have become the first to use new antidopaminergic drug droperidol to quickly and safely calm patients who have become violent under the influence of alcohol and drugs.…

Boots now selling cheaper morning after pill at all stores

A cheaper generic emergency hormonal contraceptive is now available at all UK branches of Boots, three months later than originally promised…

Urgent medicine pharmacy service prevents a quarter of patients from going without drugs

Just under one in four patients would have gone without their medicine if a pharmacist had not supplied it via the NHS Urgent Medicines Supply Advanced Service…

Pharmacy teams given dental advice to treat patients in the community

Dental and pharmacy teams have produced factsheets for pharmacies across Health Education England’s London and south east England area…