This site is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals only

NHS & health news

inhaler-spacer-summary

New spacer prescribing guidance aims to tackle rising asthma deaths

Just 1 in 10 respiratory HCPs believe NHS spacer prescribing is consistent, finds survey

07 Jul 2026

pharmacist-summary

Expect a ‘hybrid’ commissioning model for prescribing service, say experts

CCA conference hears views on how community pharmacy prescribing will be commissioned

03 Jul 2026

ehc-summary

EHC should be sold from shops ‘like paracetamol’ say sexual health doctors

Reclassify morning after pill as a GSL medicine, urges CoSRH

02 Jul 2026

drone-summary

Patients will get their drugs from drones, not pharmacies, says NHS chair

‘A natural step’ to rely on drones to deliver ‘overall majority’ of medicines says NHSE chair

01 Jul 2026

tablet-summary

A quarter of NI women are on antidepressants, pharmacy report reveals

Latest DH report reveals 26% of NI women are prescribed an antidepressant

26 Jun 2026

prescriptions-1280

Number of PPCs on the rise but medical exemption certificates fall

The NHS Business Services Authority said 436,000 medical exemption certificates were issued in 2025-26.

25 Jun 2026

care-home-summary

NHS spend on liquid paracetamol for care home patients up 240%

Unit costs double as patient numbers and average daily dose increase

11 Jun 2026

flu-vaccine-summary

New Seqirus flu vaccine for over-50s gets MHRA approval

Aujemflu approval follows trial involving more than 7,600 over-50s

04 Jun 2026

doctor-with-tablet-summary

Health secretary defends single patient record amid privacy concerns

SPR will include ‘clear control over who can read what’ says James Murray

03 Jun 2026

white-tablets-summary

10 million at risk of codeine dependency, ITV documentary claims

Survey for ITV suggests many take codeine for longer than recommended

01 Jun 2026

hypertension-capsule-summary

Hypertension drug recalled after wrong strength found in pack

Ramipril batch recalled after HCP found quadruple-strength capsules in pack

29 May 2026

kid-sick-bed-1280

NPA urges Labour to commission pharmacies to vaccinate school age children

The National Pharmacy Association said an “outdated” childhood vaccine programme may result in future disease outbreaks.

26 May 2026

stormont-summary

NI minister announces £42m investment to launch electronic prescriptions

DH investment will end paper prescriptions and launch digital services hub

26 May 2026

pharmacist-refusing-to-dispense-1280

Labour warns pharmacies will break the law if they refuse to dispense loss-making drugs

The Department of Health and Social Care told ICP that dispensing at a loss was “not a valid reason for refusing to dispense".

22 May 2026

migraine-1280

CCA report calls on Labour to add acute headaches and migraine to Pharmacy First

The report said patients can access treatments for headaches from pharmacies but their options for treating migraines were “limited".

20 May 2026

analysis-of-water-in-river-summary

Pharmacy academics tackle medicines water pollution in £1.2m project

Project will compare drugs detected in Scottish waters with prescribing data

20 May 2026

Change privacy settings