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Medicines

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Over 5,600 drug shortages reported to DHSC since October 2020

More than 5,600 drug shortages have been reported to the DHSC since October 2020, and the number of reported shortages is creeping up.

17 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Antidepressants prescribed in England on the rise, says latest data

About 23 million antidepressant items were prescribed to an estimated 6.9 million patients in England between April and June 2024.

13 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Rising drug prices in Northern Ireland ‘grossly unfair and unsustainable’

Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland wants a drug tariff specifically for the country as pharmacies continue to close.

06 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Number of items prescribed for dependency-forming medicines in England falls

NHS Business Services Authority said 7.1 million patients were prescribed the medicines, a 13 per cent decrease from 2015-16.

05 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Economics corner: Medicines shortage solutions?

Fragile at the best of times, the supply chain is now creaking. What can be done?

05 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Police officers in East Midlands being trained to use Naloxone to stop overdoses

Officers in Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering are carrying a Naloxone spray with them “having been trained and certified in its use.”

02 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Be aware of error in Diflucan patient leaflet, MHRA tells pharmacists

The MHRA said there was “no risk to product quality” and insisted the batches were not being recalled.

12 Aug 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Diabetes items prescribed in England rose by 21 million between 2016 and 2024

The NHS Business Services Authority said 71 million items were prescribed in 2023-24.

08 Aug 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Three HRT medicines today removed from prescription prepayment certificate

Bedol 2mg tablets, Climanor 5mg tablets and Clinorette tablets have been discontinued.

01 Aug 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Wholesalers profit from ‘desperate’ patients says pharmacist MP

Labour MP says her party 'must start really looking' at the drugs supply chain

26 Jul 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Labour must treat pharma wholesalers as business rates ‘special case’

The Healthcare Distribution Association said medicines distribution companies should not be “conflated" with other sectors.

25 Jul 2024 , 1 Min Article

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RPS concerned practices are deprioritising structured medication reviews

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has made a series of recommendations to ensure pharmacy teams are supported to deliver SMRs.

23 Jul 2024 , 2 Min Article

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Nine serious shortage protocols for widely prescribed antipsychotic

SSPs implemented amid ongoing supply disruption to Quetiapine tablets.

18 Jul 2024 , 2 Min Article

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RPS issues call for evidence on self-selection of P meds

The Society wants to hear from a wide range of pharmacists and pharmacy team members.

12 Jul 2024 , 2 Min Article

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New pregnancy prevention measures introduced for topiramate

Migraine and antiseizure medication topiramate (Topamax) must no longer be prescribed to women and girls unless they fulfil the requirements of a Pregnancy Prevention Programme

24 Jun 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy point of care testing contributes to massive drop in antibiotics use

Study looks at the impact of introducing point-of-care testing in primary care

20 Jun 2024 , 1 Min Article

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