Health & NHS news

England HIV Patient safety Antidepressants Health secretary PrEP CPCF

antidepressants

Medicines,

Number of antidepressant items prescribed increased by 300,000 between March and June

The NHS Business Services Authority said 23,400,000 items were prescribed to 7,030,000 patients in the first financial quarter of 2025-26.

16 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health,

Out of date laws leave patients waiting three weeks for medicines, warns NPA

A survey of 400 NPA members revealed patients’ health is being jeopardised by delays to drugs supply and inadequacies of The Medicines Act 1968.

16 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health,

Figures show 16.5 million items for dependency-forming drugs prescribed in Q.1

The NHS Business Services Authority said 4.37 million patients in England were prescribed the medicines between April and June 2025.

15 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

Jeremy Hunt 1280.jpg

Financial Management & Funding,

I wish pharmacy had more resources when funding was cut, says former health secretary

Jeremy Hunt displayed regret about the Conservative Government’s decision to slash pharmacy funding in December 2015.

12 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

Digital & technology,

Patients in UK put pharmacists before AI, says report

Despite the major Government push to digitise healthcare and integrate artificial intelligence into NHS services, UK patients are showing strong resistance to AI consultations and instead placing growing trust in community pharmacists, according to the latest STADA Health Report.

04 Sep 2025 , 4 Min Article

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Policy,

CPS launches manifesto ahead of Scottish Parliament elections

CPS manifesto identifies four policy priorities where investment and commitment from the Scottish Government are needed.

02 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

Clinical services,

Changes to three CPCF services due to come into effect in October

Changes to England's Pharmacy First, PCS and NMS due in October subject to clinical IT systems being ready on schedule.

02 Sep 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Public health,

CPE indicates it will push Labour to include pharmacies in NHS chickenpox programme

The first ever NHS chickenpox vaccination programme is expected to start in England in January next year.

01 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

Infections & antimicrobial stewardship,

Approval for first new UTI antibiotic in decades

Gepotidacin as effective as the frontline antibiotic for UTIs, trials showed

29 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

diabetes-injections-summary

Diabetes,

NHS diabetes budget soars as Mounjaro spend up 340-fold

Mounjaro 'emerges as new cost driver' in latest NHSBSA annual report

21 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Cardiovascular diseases,

East London pharmacies pilot rapid cholesterol testing

Pharmacies in Barts Health NHS Trust offering cholesterol results in 7 minutes

19 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

Public health,

Pharmacies across UK to play role in Labour’s £85m obesity programme

Labour is committing £50 million into the scheme, which could start next summer, while pharmaceutical company Lilly is investing £35 million.

12 Aug 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Digital & technology,

NHS app prescription tracker used by nearly 400,000 people since launch, claims NHSE

National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said the service must be "rolled out equitably to all pharmacies".

11 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

ozempic-summary

Public health,

Criminals selling fake ‘DIY’ GLP-1 kits with syringe and powder separated

Northern Ireland officials warn of worrying new trend as DIY 'skinny jabs' seized

08 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

viagra-tablets-summary

Regulations,

Fake Viagra tablets the most frequently intercepted drug by border forces

Viagra, Cialis and Tramadol top the counterfeit seizures league table

07 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

Public health,

Over 500 pharmacies in Northern Ireland sign up to Move More, Feel Better campaign

The scheme will see pharmacies display campaign materials and offer leaflets to the public with tips on becoming more active.

06 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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