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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has unveiled its Carbon Net Zero Action Plan for sustainable pharmacy regulation, aiming to achieve carbon net zero by 2040. The action plan focuses on three main elements: setting an example, incorporating sustainability into regulatory standards, and fostering collaboration for sustainable pharmacy care. Roz Gittins, Chief Pharmacy Officer at the GPhC, emphasised the urgent need for pharmacy sector to embrace sustainable healthcare practices. "Climate change is a global emergency and has been declared the biggest threat to public health," she said, adding that it not only poses health risks but also amplifies existing health inequalities, with immediate consequences for patients, the public and health services. She highlighted that the GPhC is actively engaged in addressing climate change, both as an employer and regulator. "Our aim is to positively influence the pharmacy sector to embrace climate action and sustainable healthcare principles in line with our vision to have safe and effective pharmacy care at the heart of healthier communities," Gittins said.

Prescribing in pharmacies is an emerging opportunity, and I'm passionate about supporting proper governance arrangements for businesses. But does the governance and administrative burden reduce if your business is not doing the prescribing? Recently, I've come across several independent pharmacy businesses across the UK who have been approached by prescribing clinics to dispense medicines for their patients. While these partnerships can present lucrative opportunities, they also come with significant responsibilities and potential risks. Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists must be fully aware of the guidance set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and ensure that all requisite checks are performed to maintain compliance and safeguard patient safety. The growing trend of prescribing clinic collaborations For one reason or another, private prescribing clinics are sprouting up all over the place, offering specialised services such as weight management, hormone therapy, or dermatological treatments. These are quickly becoming a prominent feature in our healthcare landscape. Many of these clinics lack in-house dispensing capabilities, leading them to seek partnerships with pharmacies to satisfy a growing number of consumers. In the current economic climate, these collaborations can offer a new revenue stream and an expanded patient base. However, with these opportunities come responsibilities that must not be overlooked.

As the new school year approaches parents won't just be in a flurry of buying new pencil cases and the next size up in shoes but also will be looking to stock their cupboard for their health needs for the next year. Along with the Supermarket's Back-to-School sales there is also the opportunity to help parents with a clever display of the top needed cupboard accessories with some smart recommendations to help with choices. Looking at the UK retail market it is also worth considering that we are seeing a push for sustainability in products with those touting green credentials starting to stand out from the competitors but with a backdrop of rising prices making price perhaps more important than ever. Cuts and scrapes One to definitely think about in the children's health range for back to school is plasters and wound cleaning preparations for those inevitable playground grazed knees, cuts and scrapes. With a focus on sustainability and some strong green credentials Elastoplast Green and Protect should be considered for any back to school health display with eco-friendly construction and a climate neutral product but there is also Patch Kids Bamboo Sensitive Plasters which boast being home compostable.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has welcomed the appointment of Michael Matheson MSP as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care in Scotland. Commenting on the announcement Laura Wilson, Director of RPS Scotland, said: "I would like to congratulate Michael Matheson on being appointed to this position. NHS recovery is vitally important, and pharmacy has a huge amount to offer this agenda. "Our current priorities include enabling pharmacists to take leadership of prescribing in all care settings, tackling health inequalities and advocating for change, implementing shared patient records between healthcare professionals to provide high-quality, person centred and safe patient care, improving pharmacists' wellbeing and tackling the climate emergency by encouraging sustainable and green prescribing across Scotland.

Members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) highlighted the work of pharmacists in making medicines use and the whole NHS more environmentally sustainable at the Welsh Senedd this week. Politicians present were informed that around 25 per cent of the NHS' carbon emissions result from medicines use, and therefore pharmacists' expert skills are crucial for reducing these emissions. RPS Wales Director, Elen Jones, was among the RPS staff who attended the event, which was co-hosted with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Commenting on the event, Elen said: "It was great to get so many productive conversations with the politicians to highlight the great work pharmacists are already doing in the sustainability field and to explain what further steps are required to reduce the negative environmental and ecological impact of medicines."