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Health & NHS news

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Around 100 pharmacies in England to provide free cholesterol check-ups this autumn

A pilot will see pharmacies offer eligible patients a pin-prick test which will analyse cholesterol in seven minutes.

01 Sep 2026

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Lincolnshire Co-op partners with addiction service to improve naloxone access

Thirty-six pharmacies will supply Prenoxad naloxone to people at risk of an overdose alongside Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership.

21 Aug 2026

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MHRA encourages manufacturers to pursue microbiome medicine licences

Position paper sets out path to pursue licences for microbiota-based treatments

20 Aug 2026

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Prescription items for diabetes in England increased 135 per cent over 10 years

An NHS Business Services Authority report reveals 83 million items were prescribed to 4.1 million patients at a total cost of £2.3 billion in 2025-26.

20 Aug 2026

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Researchers says health checks have ‘significant survival benefit’ in identifying CVD

The study analysed electronic primary care records for 158,645 patients registered with GPs in Lambeth between 2009 and 2023.

18 Aug 2026

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Limiting BP checks to once every five years ‘retrograde’ say pharmacy bodies

NPA calls for impact assessment of decision to restrict blood pressure check access

12 Aug 2026

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MHRA approves second oral GLP-1, orforglipron, for weight loss

The MHRA has approved orforglipron (Foundayo) for use in weight management and type 2 diabetes

10 Aug 2026

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Patients allowed one hypertension check every five years as service spec updated

Off-site delivery of BP checking service capped at four days a year under new rules

07 Aug 2026

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DHSC issues eighth serious shortage protocol for Creon

The latest update, issued yesterday, extends the SSP, which was due to expire today, until Friday October 2, 2026.

07 Aug 2026

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A record-breaking two million women prescribed HRT in 2025-26

NHS prescribing of HRT up more than double compared to 2020, finds BSA

05 Aug 2026

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Pharmacies in England deliver nearly 90,000 meningitis B vaccines in two weeks

NHS England said pharmacies administered 89,261 first doses as of Friday, July 31. The catch-up programme began on July 20.

03 Aug 2026

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Puberty blockers trial to proceed after legal challenge quashed

Pathways trial at KCL designed with ‘conspicuous care’ finds High Court judge

03 Aug 2026

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Every pharmacy in England could have pharmacist prescriber by 2031 if Labour lays groundwork

The National Pharmacy Association today warned prescribing services must be commissioned “with sustainable payment models".

31 Jul 2026

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Over 300k women access free EHC from pharmacies in 5 months

NHSE publishes figures on morning after pill uptake

28 Jul 2026

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‘We’ve had no MenB vaccines delivered’: 85% of pharmacies face difficulties with service

Booking system and vaccine allocation emerge as key challenges in IPA survey

27 Jul 2026

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Prescribing of mental health medicines in England on the rise, figures show

The NHS Business Services Authority revealed 96 million antidepressant items were prescribed in 2025-26.

23 Jul 2026

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