Sexual health The impact of poor sexual and reproductive health is wide ranging. Unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and fertility challenges have significant physical and psychological…

The PJ's collection of resources on sexual and reproductive health helps pharmacists provide confidential advice and refer to related services

#sexualhealth #reproductivehealth #ukpharmacy

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#ukpharmacy #pharmaceuticalscience

Our #QuoteoftheWeek is from #OrlaghMcGarrity, senior antimicrobial pharmacist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust on 'game-changing' rapid urine test could select the correct antibiotic for patients with urinary tract infections

#ukpharmacy

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Some pathfinder sites capped or closed as national funding ends Some community pharmacy prescribing sites have had consultation numbers capped or have been closed completely, as national funding to support the sites came to an end on 31 March 2026. The…

Some community pharmacy prescribing sites have had consultation numbers capped or have been closed completely, as national funding to support the sites came to an end on 31 March 2026

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy

News round-up: long COVID, chikungunya and free supplies of ciprofloxacin This week, The Pharmaceutical Journal has reported on the expanded use of Wegovy (semaglutide; Novo Nordisk) in the NHS for patients at risk of stroke or heart attack, research that confirms COVID-19…

#ThePJ's Weekly #HealthNewsRoundUp — long COVID, #chikungunya and free supplies of ciprofloxacin

#ukpharmacy #longCOVID

Director of pharmacy appointed for Royal College of Pharmacy The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed Justine Scanlan as director of pharmacy, ahead of the Society’s transition to become the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) on 15 April 2026. In…

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has appointed Justine Scanlan as director of pharmacy, ahead of the Society’s transition to become the Royal College of Pharmacy on 15 April 2026

#ukpharmacy #RCPharms

Genomics implementation in practice: opportunities, progress and challenges Genomics is now an established area of the NHS, rather than a purely aspirational idea. In England, the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) — established in 2018 — has been tasked with implementing…

In this blog article, #AdrushaRamsunder and #RachelPalmer explore what progress has been made towards a genomics population health service, what challenges need to be overcome and what is the role of pharmacy?

#ukpharmacy #pharmacogenomics

NICE opens consultation on previously-rejected Alzheimer’s treatments donanemab and lecanemab The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has opened a consultation on its third version of draft guidance for Alzheimer’s treatments donanemab (Kisunla; Eli Lilly) and lecanemab…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has opened a consultation on its third version of draft guidance for Alzheimer’s treatments donanemab and lecanemab

#ukpharmacy #Alzheimersdisease

‘Game-changing’ urine test could identify correct antibiotic for UTI within hours Study findings have suggested that a rapid urine test could select the correct antibiotic for patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) within hours. Publishing the results of their study in JAC…

Study findings have suggested that a rapid urine test could select the correct antibiotic for patients with urinary tract infections within hours

#ukpharmacy #UTI

Weight-loss drug to be offered to patients at risk of stroke or heart attack Wegovy (semaglutide) can now be offered to patients at risk of stroke or heart attack, under new guidance issued by the National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE). Delivered as an…

Wegovy (semaglutide) can now be offered to patients at risk of stroke or heart attack, under new guidance issued by the National Institute for health and Care Excellence

#ukpharmacy #weightloss #stroke #heartattack

Menopause symptoms: recognition, diagnosis and treatment strategies Menopause is a natural biological transition that signifies the end of ovarian follicular activity and the cessation of menstruation​1​. It is defined retrospectively after 12 consecutive months of…

This learning article offers an overview of how pharmacists can support women when making decisions about their menopause care

#ukpharmacy #menopause

PJ view: Pharmacies can help improve vaccine uptake — why does the system make it so difficult? Amid ongoing measles outbreaks in London and the West Midlands, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launched ‘Stay strong, get vaccinated’ on 16 February 2026 — a national campaign…

In this editorial, we emphasise that community pharmacies can and should be called upon to administer essential vaccines, especially during outbreaks, but fair funding is essential

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy #vaccination

Coroner highlights delays in pharmacies processing repeat prescriptions after patient death A coroner has raised concerns over delays in some pharmacies processing repeat prescriptions, after a patient died from an epileptic seizure after running out of his epilepsy medication. Emma…

A coroner has raised concerns over delays in some pharmacies processing repeat prescriptions, after a patient died from an epileptic seizure after running out of his epilepsy medication

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy #epilepsy

COVID-19 vaccines not associated with sudden death in healthy young people Study results suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in healthy young patients. Publishing the findings of the study in PLoS Medicine on 19…

Study results suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in healthy young patients

#ukpharmacy #COVID19 #cardiacdeath

Government and industry taskforce to increase innovation in UK medicines A taskforce has been set up by government and industry to consider new ideas to increase access to medicines in the UK, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has confirmed. In…

A taskforce has been set up by government and industry to consider new ideas to increase access to medicines in the UK, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has confirmed

#ukpharmacy #lifesciences

PJ view: Medicines security must become a national priority Amid global conflict, Mark Samuels, chief executive of Medicines UK, warned earlier this month that Britain is “one step away” from medicines shortages if instability persists. The complex nature of…

Our latest editorial highlights that the government must take further urgent action to shore up medicines supply in the face of ongoing geo-political instability

#ukpharmacy #medicinessecurity

Pharmacy Inside Jobs: emergency department pharmacist In this episode of Pharmacy Inside Jobs, Alex Clabburn, senior editor — research and learning — talks to Shane Kailla, a principal pharmacist and advanced clinical practitioner working in acute and…

In our latest #PJPod episode focusing on #PharmacyInsideJobs, #ShaneKailla tells us more about his role as a pharmacist working in the emergency department and what it takes to get a new service off the ground

#ukpharmacy #emergencydepartment

Health officials warn over persistent rise in Shigella infections Sexually transmitted Shigella infections in England remain at high levels, with more than 2,500 cases reported in 2025, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In research and…

Sexually transmitted Shigella infections in England remain at high levels, with more than 2,500 cases reported in 2025, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency

#ukpharmacy #shigella #bacterialinfection

All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group publishes framework on self-administration of medicines in hospital A framework setting out standardised guidance on the self-administration of medicines in hospital has been published by the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group. The ‘All-Wales self-administration of…

A framework setting out standardised guidance on the self-administration of medicines in hospital has been published by the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group

#ukpharmacy #selfadministration #hospitalpharmacy

Safety risks for hospital patients treated with insulin highlighted in report Risks to patients with diabetes requiring insulin during hospital admissions in England — including cases where patients have come to harm or died when their condition was not appropriately managed —…

Risks to patients with diabetes requiring insulin during hospital admissions in England have been identified in a report published by the Health Services Safety and Investigations Body

#ukpharmacy #insulin #diabetes

Pharmacy contract for 2026/2027 delayed The ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ (CPCF) for 2026/2027 will not be in place for the start of the financial year, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has announced. In a statement published…

The ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ for 2026/2027 will not be in place for the start of the financial year, Community Pharmacy England has announced

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy

Health news round-up: antidepressants, hospital admissions and rheumatology workforce This week, The Pharmaceutical Journal has reported on slow progress on medicines shortages, new guidance on chronic pain and a newly approved head and neck cancer treatment that will improve the…

Health news round-up: #antidepressants, hospital admissions and rheumatology workforce

A weekly summary of important developments in pharmacy and health news that you may have missed

#ukpharmacy #rheumatology #hospitalpharmacy

Petition urges government to extend NHS support fund to fully include pharmacy students A petition has been launched calling on the UK government to extend the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) to fully include pharmacy students, stating that current support does not reflect the costs…

A petition has been launched calling on the UK government to extend the NHS Learning Support Fund to fully include pharmacy students, stating that current support does not reflect the costs associated with their training

#ukpharmacy #pharmacyeducation

President elected for Royal College of Pharmacy Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS’s) English Pharmacy Board, has been elected as president of the future Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm). In a statement published on 27…

Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Pharmacy Board, has been elected as president of the future Royal College of Pharmacy

#ukpharmacy #RCPharm

Hormone hesitancy: why are women moving away from hormonal contraception? Since it was first made available on the NHS in 1961, there is no doubt that ‘the pill’ has been a stalwart of contraception.  More than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy — when taken correctly —…

Data show use of hormonal contraceptives has decreased by more than 60% over the past decade. In our latest feature, #SophieWillis investigates why so many women are moving away from these methods?

#ukpharmacy #contraception

GPhC announces 6% rise in registration fees The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced a 6% rise in its annual registration fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, effective September 2026. In a statement…

The General Pharmaceutical Council has announced a 6% rise in its annual registration fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, effective September 2026

#ukpharmacy #pharmacyeducation

First neighbourhood health centres to open by 2027 The government has announced that the first 27 neighbourhood health centres will open by 2027 in areas of England most affected by deprivation. A statement — published jointly by the Department of…

The government has announced that the first 27 neighbourhood health centres will open by 2027 in areas of England most affected by deprivation

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy

Pharmacy teams subjected to racism, threats and violence A survey conducted by Community Pharmacy England has revealed the regular extent of abuse against community pharmacy teams, including racist behaviour, threats and physical violence. Results of the…

A survey conducted by Community Pharmacy England has revealed the regular extent of abuse against community pharmacy teams, including racist behaviour, threats and physical violence

#ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy

Pharmacy research: driving safer outcomes in substance misuse As chief scientist of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), I witness daily how pharmacy professionals combine expertise in medicines, strong research capability and front line care. In the complex…

Here, #AmiraGuirguis emphasises that research offers a crucial opportunity in shaping healthcare policy and practice, particularly in the developing landscape of substance misuse

#ukpharmacy #substancemisuse

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New training standards for overseas pharmacists to include prescribing The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has set out proposed changes to registration routes for internationally qualified pharmacists, which would halve the length of training from two years to one…

The General Pharmaceutical Council has set out proposed changes to registration routes for internationally qualified pharmacists, which would halve the length of training from two years to one and embed independent prescribing in the programme

#ukpharmacy #pharmacytraining

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