Health & NHS news

Pharmacists analyse substances as part of London’s first drug-checking service

Pharmacists will test substances handed over by the public to help build early warning systems and reduce harm.

12 Mar 2026

NPA teams up with kidney charity to warn against NSAID over-reliance

Kidney Care UK and NPA teaming up on March awareness campaign

12 Mar 2026

Medicines,

Weight loss drugs available in fish and chip shops – tighter regulation needed

The London Assembly Health Committee urged Labour to halt the supply of medicines through illicit markets.

11 Mar 2026

Financial Management & Funding,

Numark chair hopes latest pharmacy funding talks include national prescribing service

Numark chair Harry McQuillan said England could follow an NHS prescribing service such as Scotland’s Pharmacy First Plus.

05 Mar 2026

Vaccinations,

Record numbers recorded as pharmacies expand vaccination role

Community pharmacies delivered almost half of all Covid jabs during autumn campaign.

04 Mar 2026

Public health,

DHSC urges parents to protect children through vaccination

More children’s lives would be saved if they were vaccinated is message in new childhood immunisation campaign.

17 Feb 2026

Clinical services,

Asda looks at where the ISSUES IS for Pharmacy First

Asda Pharmacy launches ISSUES IS awareness campaign to drive uptake of Pharmacy First services.

17 Feb 2026

Pharmacy First advertising campaign saw intent to use service reach 37%

Pharmacy minister shares findings from public-facing advertising campaign

12 Feb 2026

Patient safety commissioner to grill Starmer on valproate compensation

Two years after Hughes report, timeline for financial redress still 'starkly absent'

05 Feb 2026

Pharmacies to have expanded role in cancer diagnosis

National cancer plan mentions pharmacy several times including involvement in heartburn health pilot.

04 Feb 2026

DH must be more transparent with pharmacies, warns Lords shortages report

Government communication with pharmacies and hospitals 'unacceptable' finds Lords committee

04 Feb 2026

Policy,

Tobacco company levy could fund pharmacy stop smoking services

A ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco companies could support walk-in ‘stop smoking’ services in pharmacies , says a policy paper from AstraZeneca.

03 Feb 2026

MHRA re-issues GLP-1 product information to strengthen pancreatitis warning

Watchdog updates patient information to highlight 'rare' risk of severe pancreatitis