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NHS England's decision to forgo commissioning puberty suppressing hormones (PSH) for children and young people, citing insufficient evidence of their safety and clinical effectiveness, follows a comprehensive review conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2020. The clinical report underscores that "PSH treatment options will not be part of routine commissioning" for people under the age of 18 in England grappling with gender incongruence or dysphoria. The NHS England review analysed nine observational studies on Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone Analogues (GnRHa) and found no statistically significant difference in gender dysphoria, mental health, body image, and psychosocial functioning among children and adolescents treated with GnRHa. Duncan Rudkin, chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), acknowledged the challenges faced by pharmacy professionals regarding prescriptions for puberty suppressing hormones, stating:

Amidst the pervasive prevalence of pain, with 93% of the global populace experiencing it annually and 1 in 3 enduring daily discomfort, there persists a reluctance to address and treat pain proactively. This leads to a heightened burden of suffering among individuals. Join us for an enlightening 1-hour Pain Management Webinar, meticulously crafted to equip you and your team with vital strategies to comprehend, manage, and alleviate pain in patients' daily lives. Delve into topics such as the pharmacist's evolving role, understanding pain assessment, and Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign, aimed at fostering better patient conversations. Tailored for pharmacists in GB dealing with acute or chronic pain, this webinar promises to enhance patient care and contribute positively to their well-being. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Register now to secure your spot at this impactful event!

Amidst the pervasive prevalence of pain, with 93% of the global populace experiencing it annually and 1 in 3 enduring daily discomfort, there persists a reluctance to address and treat pain proactively. This leads to a heightened burden of suffering among individuals. Join us for an enlightening 1-hour Pain Management Webinar, meticulously crafted to equip you and your team with vital strategies to comprehend, manage, and alleviate pain in patients' daily lives. Delve into topics such as the pharmacist's evolving role, understanding pain assessment, and Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign, aimed at fostering better patient conversations. Tailored for pharmacists in GB dealing with acute or chronic pain, this webinar promises to enhance patient care and contribute positively to their well-being. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Register now to secure your spot at this impactful event!

The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has cautioned men on valproate to talk to their healthcare professional about their treatment, if they want to start a family in the next year. The warning came after a new study, commissioned by the European Medicines Agency, suggested that children fathered by men who took the anti-seizure medicine in the three months prior to conception may be at higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. Around five in 100 children born to fathers treated with valproate around conception were diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, compared to three in 100 children whose fathers were taking other antiseizure medicines (lamotrigine or levetiracetam). However, the risk is believed to be much smaller than the risk associated with valproate in pregnancy.

Shabbir Jafferali, owner of Wilmshurst Pharmacy in Lancing, is one of 28 remarkable individuals who will be recognised with the prestigious British Citizen Award (BCA) at the Palace of Westminster on Thursday, January 18. The BCA, in partnership with One Stop, recognises exceptional people around the UK who are making a difference in their communities. Sussex Express, which first broke the news, stated that Shabbir has been working as a community pharmacist for over 40 years, providing not only health care, but a listening ear and selfless community care. He treats everyone who use his pharmacy with sensitivity and care, and takes the time to know the names and ailments of his customers as well as their personal circumstances.

The King's condition is "benign" and he will be treated in the hospital next week for a "corrective procedure", Buckingham Palace said a statement released on Wednesday. "In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate," the Palace said. Because of the upcoming surgery, Charles had to postpone all meetings and events planned for this week. The Palace informed that the King's public engagements will be "postponed for a short period of recuperation." Charles, 75, wanted to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage more men who may be experiencing symptoms to get their conditions checked.

Pharmacy2U has joined thousands of pharmacists in launching the new NHS Pharmacy First service in England. The new service, which was first launched on 31 January 2024, enables pharmacists to treat seven common health conditions without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. Over 95 per cent of all community pharmacies in the country (10,265 in total) have signed up to provide the service, which is aimed at easing pressure on GP services while giving patients quick and accessible care. Under the Pharmacy First service, the online pharmacy is offering same-day appointments to manage six conditions: sinusitis, an infected insect bite, sore throat, UTIs, shingles and impetigo. Pharmacy2U's CEO Kevin Heath said that they support the initiative fully and that the service will play a major role in providing patients easy and direct access to pharmacists.

The National Health Services England (NHSE) is poised to revolutionise diabetes management with the introduction of the 'artificial pancreas', also known as the Hybrid Closed Loop system, to treat type 1 diabetes. This pioneering initiative, endorsed by the National Institute of Health Care and Excellence (NICE), represents a global first in healthcare innovation. With 269,095 individuals grappling with type 1 diabetes in England, the Hybrid Closed Loop system is set to cater to tens of thousands of children and adults across the nation. This cutting-edge device operates by seamlessly monitoring blood glucose levels and autonomously adjusting insulin dosage through a pump, by eliminating the need for regular insulin injections. Furthermore, it holds the promise of averting life-threatening hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemia episodes, mitigating significant risks associated with the condition. To facilitate the identification of beneficiaries, NHSE has allocated a substantial sum of £2.5 million, ensuring that those who could benefit from this innovative solution receive the necessary support.

The outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) in the UK, which is associated with contaminated eye gels imported from India, has led to the death of one person, and many others falling ill, according to a government report. Bcc is a group of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are widely found within the environment. Although it rarely causes infection, it can result in severe ones in individuals with compromised immune systems and those living with cystic fibrosis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. Between January 2023 and February 2024, there were 52 confirmed and six probable cases across the UK linked to the bacteria outbreak, as revealed in the Health Protection Report published by UKHSA. Forty-one of these cases were hospital inpatients, 38 of which were in critical-care settings. Twenty-five cases were considered to have "clinically significant infections attributable to Bcc", out of which 11 had eye infections, nine had respiratory infections and four had bacteremia (bacteria entering the bloodstream). Two individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) were infected, and while one was treated, the other died, with the report indicating Bcc infection to have "contributed to the death."

A final review of gender services provided by the NHS has uncovered significant shortcomings, leaving thousands of vulnerable children questioning their gender identity without adequate support. The report, led by Dr. Hilary Cass, a prominent consultant paediatrician, highlights the use of unproven treatments and the detrimental impact of the polarized trans debate on gender care provision. The investigation, commissioned by NHS England in 2020, focused on the Tavistock and Portman NHS mental health trust's gender identity development services (Gids), which treated around 9,000 children and young people between 2009 and 2020. Shockingly, the review found that despite limited evidence of effectiveness and potential health risks, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones were routinely administered. Dr. Cass emphasized that the "rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. The effect on cognitive and psychosexual development remains unknown."

We all know that pain is a universal experience. The management of pain remains a significant challenge worldwide. The ever-growing statistics reveal the importance of pain. There persists concern about inertia in both acknowledging and effectively treating it. According to the Global Pain Index, a comprehensive social study conducted with 19,000 consumers in 2020, a staggering 93% of the world's population experiences pain within a year, with 1 in 3 individuals grappling with it daily.

Patients are highly satisfied with the new Pharmacy First service, which enables pharmacists to assess and treat patients for seven common conditions, according to a survey by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Nearly 100 NPA members participated in the snapshot poll conducted at the end of the first full week of the service. Nine in ten respondents (87 per cent) said that "most or all patients expressed satisfaction" with the service they received. However, many independent community pharmacy owners are facing challenges in implementing the service. While 56 per cent of pharmacy owners surveyed expressed feeling "motivated" by the new service, a larger proportion (70 per cent) indicated being "under additional pressure." More than 30 per cent of the respondents found implementation of the service "harder" than they had expected.

Local pharmacists in England can now evaluate and provide treatment for patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women under the age of 65, without the need for a GP appointment. The 'ByeByeUTI' scheme has been expanded across the country, following a successful pilot across North East and North Cumbria. More than 30,000 women have been treated for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at local pharmacies since the pilot scheme was launched in July 2022 as part of the NHS and government's primary care access recovery plan, according to NHS England. The expansion of pharmacy services not only enhances patients' access to care but also frees up tens of thousands of GP appointments at the same time. Dr Faisel Baig, Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS England North East and Yorkshire, said that the rollout of this service across the whole region will enable many more women to receive "faster and easier" access to advice and treatment.

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has raised concerned about rising cases of scabies in the UK, and suggested that the current shortage of medicines is contributing to the outbreak. Usually, this skin condition is treated using topical creams or oral medication in more severe cases, but shortage of scabies drugs has been reported since May 2023. Both permethrin 5% cream and malathion liquid, which are two main topical treatments for scabies, are in limited supply in the U.K. Paula Geanau, a spokesperson for BAD, told Fox News Digital on Friday (19 January) that the rate of scabies is double the seasonal average, with three cases per 100,000 of the population recorded at the end of November by the Royal College of GPs.

The UK government on Wednesday (7 February) announced a new plan to ensure faster, simpler and fairer access to NHS dental care across England. Supported by £200m of funding, the plan aims to deliver more than 1.5 million additional NHS dentistry treatments or up to 2.5 million NHS dental appointments for patients over the next 12 months NHS dentists will be offered a 'new patient' payment of between £15-£50, depending on treatment need, to treat new patients who have not seen a dentist in two years or more. Additionally, one-off payments of up to £20,000 will be given to around 240 dentists for working in under-served areas for up to three years. This is to "attract new NHS dentists and improve access to dental care in areas with the highest demand," NHS England said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have been tasked to evaluate the impact, safety and effectiveness of the Pharmacy First service, which was launched across England in January 2024. They have been awarded £2.4million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to generate evidence on the new service that allows pharmacies to provide advice and treatment for seven common conditions without the need for a GP appointment. After consultation, if necessary, a community pharmacist can supply some prescription-only medicines to treat earache, sore throat, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites or uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. The LSHTM researcher team will be working together with experts at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Universities of Oxford, Manchester and Nottingham on the project. Dr Rebecca Glover, assistant professor in Antimicrobial Resistance at LSHTM, who will lead the three-year project, said they will evaluate "Pharmacy First's impact on GPs and the wider NHS, pharmacy services and patients."

To maximise the benefits of the Pharmacy First service for patients, the NHS, and community pharmacies, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has advised the community pharmacists to to establish a robust relationship between community pharmacies and local general practices. The news comes after several reports highlighted issues regarding GP referrals for the seven minor ailment conditions under the Pharmacy First services. According to the reports, many pharmacists claimed that "many GPs in England are not sending patients to them to be treated - and that some are refusing to participate at all in the "groundbreaking" Pharmacy First scheme". In response to foster better relationship with the GPs, CPE has said that strong local collaborations will enable general practice teams to confidently refer patients to the Pharmacy First and other community pharmacy services where appropriate. Moreover, the organisation emphasised implementation of long-term changes in practice will take time. The current focus on integrating GP referrals to Pharmacy First will likely require sustained effort over several months or longer.

As whooping cough cases rise sharply across the UK, the NHS has reactivated the serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for clarithromycin - a commonly prescribed antibiotic to treat this bacterial infection. Pharmacy bodies had recently warned that community pharmacies were struggling to obtain source clarithromycin for patients. Two SSPs, covering clarithromycin 125mg/5mL and 250mg/5mL oral suspensions, were reactivated on 22 May 2024, and extended until 21 June 2024. These protocols state that for every 5mL of clarithromycin 125mg/5mL oral suspension, pharmacy contractors must supply 2.5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension; and for every 5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension, one clarithromycin 250mg tablet must be supplied. The SSPs apply to cross-border prescriptions, both NHS and private.

NHS England has confirmed the initial sites that will test and implement Martha's Rule in the first phase of the programme. This follows the announcement in February regarding NHSE funding for the major patient safety initiative for this financial year. The scheme is named after Martha Mills, who died from sepsis at the age of 13 in 2021. She had been treated at King's College Hospital, London, where a failure to escalate her to intensive care and a lack of response to her family's concerns about her deteriorating condition contributed to her death. Martha's Rule aims to provide a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an urgent review if their or their loved one's condition deteriorates and they are concerned this is not being responded to. NHS England on Monday (27 May) announced that the scheme will be implemented at 143 hospital sites across the country by March 2025.

Thousands of cancer patients in England are set to gain fast-tracked access to personalised cancer vaccine trials through a new National Health Service(NHS) initiative, the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. This groundbreaking service aims to find new life-saving treatments by matching eligible patients with clinical trials across the country. The first patient to receive a personalised vaccine for bowel cancer is Elliot Phebve, a 55-year-old lecturer, treated at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Phebve, diagnosed through a routine health check, underwent surgery and chemotherapy before joining the trial. Sponsored by German biotech company BioNTech SE, the colorectal cancer vaccine trial is one of several taking place across NHS trusts.