Health & NHS news

Services,

Pharmacy First challenges: NHS 111 ‘referring dog bites and malaria patients’

Pharmacists air their frustration with inappropriate NHS 111 referrals

07 May 2026

Public health,

Pharmacies delivered over 230,000 Pharmacy First consultations in Devon last year

There was a 154 per cent increase on 2024 in patients’ use of pharmacies’ free blood pressure checks and contraceptive services.

01 May 2026

Sertraline batch recalled after pack found containing citalopram

Patient complains after finding citalopram blister strip in prescribed sertraline pack

28 Apr 2026

Government embarks on meningitis drive in Dorset after discovery of three cases

The UK Health Security Agency is working with Dorset Council, the NHS and “local partners” to vaccinate pupils.

24 Apr 2026

Medicines,

Pharmacies in Wales supply medicines ordered by optometrists

The new NHS service allows pharmacies to supply the products without a GP prescription and free of charge.

21 Apr 2026

Public health,

Labour pledges to commission pharmacies to provide catch-up HPV vaccines

NPA chief executive Henry Gregg urged Labour to commission pharmacies “to take part in all national vaccination campaigns”.

20 Apr 2026

‘Localised approach not enough’: New meningitis outbreak in Dorset

IPA comments as three MenB cases confirmed in Weymouth

17 Apr 2026

Maximum weekly Wegovy dose to be available as a single injection

MHRA announces approval of single-injection 7.2mg Wegovy pen

15 Apr 2026

‘Not genuine’: eBay takes down over 200 erectile dysfunction drug listings

MHRA reminds public that ED drugs can only be dispensed by registered pharmacies

13 Apr 2026

NHS spends £2m on Pharmacy First advertising ‘rerun’

Kinnock reveals amount spent to repeat Pharmacy First awareness campaign in 2025-26

13 Apr 2026

Labour announces US pharma partnership alongside new NICE approval approach

Government claims thousands will benefit from zero-tariff deal with US

09 Apr 2026

Iran war may be driving up drugs prices

Sector figures warn of fallout from US-Iran war

01 Apr 2026

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Medicines,

Pharmacies remain on frontline of shortages crisis warns RPS

New report paints stark picture of continuing widespread medicines shortages, diverting pharmacists from patient-facing care.

24 Mar 2026

Education & training,

CPPSG focuses on methadone in new Bank Holiday resource

The Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group has released two resources to support pharmacy teams with opioid treatment programmes.

18 Mar 2026

Vaccinations,

Pharmacies flooded with meningitis queries as outbreak strain confirmed

Some pharmacies received 30 meningitis vaccine requests this morning says NPA.

17 Mar 2026