Politics
The previous health secretary revealed NHSE’s “lack of enthusiasm” in supporting community pharmacy is “inbuilt” and it is “by tradition, really very tight on pharmacists” during his evidence at the latest Covid-19 Inquiry hearing.
Pharmacy collective action would put strain on GPs who are “already struggling to keep up with appointments”, a GP practice has told C+D.
The UK chief pharmaceutical officers (CPhOs) have set boundaries around pharmacist involvement in the assisted dying debate, amid calls for a “clear” role for pharmacists in the Scottish assisted dying bill.
The government has introduced draft legislation to “permanently cut business rates” for pharmacies and other high-street retailers from 2026 as it continues to come under fire over its recent budget tax hikes, it has revealed.
A US community pharmacy body has welcomed the nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary under Donald Trump’s new administration, despite his controversial comments about vaccines.
Community pharmacists are set to meet with a Northern Ireland Office (NIO) minister to discuss the sector’s funding crisis after the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA) ballot received near unanimous support in favour of collective action.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has admitted that the system is “no longer supporting” pharmacists, amid overwhelming support for pharmacy collective action.
The new end-of-life bill has revealed that pharmacy technicians will play a role in assisted dying if passed, but healthcare professionals will be under “no obligation” to take part.
MPs have urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and “invest” in community pharmacies as concerns grow about the upcoming hike in employer National Insurance Contributions.
Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan has voiced concerns about the “decline of community pharmacies” in his first parliamentary speech.
The national living wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour from April next year, the Chancellor has confirmed in her first budget.
The NPA has urged the government to include pharmacies in “any support” given to the NHS after media reports have suggested today’s budget will include a rise in employers’ National Insurance (NI).
A new health and social care committee (HSCC) member has stressed that the committee will ensure the government’s months-long NHS consultation makes “some proper changes” amid concerns that it will just result in “more and more paperwork”.
Stephen Kinnock has visited a community pharmacy for the “first” time since his appointment as pharmacy minister in July to “better understand the challenges” facing the sector.
The pharmacy minister has told MPs that community pharmacies’ “decisions to close reflect many factors” amid concerns about the declining numbers in the sector.
Just days after the government issued a “rallying cry” for ideas to save the NHS, it has been flooded with proposals for the pharmacy sector…
The pharmacy minister has said that government drug reimbursement does not aim to price match “every product” dispensed by pharmacists but rather “aims overall to reimburse” pharmacies.
The government has launched a months-long consultation asking the “entire nation” to help shape plans to “overhaul” the NHS.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has highlighted the Labour government’s commitment to increasing the role of community pharmacies to MPs.
The previous health secretary has slated Wes Streeting for “casting doubt” on Pharmacy First, while he has asked her “how many pharmacies went bust on her watch”.