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A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has highlighted concerning trends in the community pharmacy sector. The survey published on July 18 and conducted over two days in June this year reveals the subsequent challenges patients face due to the increasing pharmacy closure rates. The survey findings, conducted among 2,183 UK adults, indicates that 18 per cent of the respondents reported at least one pharmacy closure in their local area within the past year. Specifically, 12 per cent respondents noted closure of one pharmacy, while 6 per cent observed the shutdown of more than one. These closures are distributed across various regions, underscoring a nationwide issue rather than an isolated one.

As local GP services face increasing pressure, the role of pharmacists in managing minor ailments such as cold and cough has become more crucial than ever. Considering environmental and lifestyle factors, such as pollution levels, pollen counts, smoking, and diet, is essential for the effective management of respiratory conditions. In this article, experts explain how pharmacists can leverage these factors to provide more comprehensive advice to patients for managing cold and cough symptoms. Dr Roger Henderson, GP and spokesperson for Olbas, says: "Environmental factors play a critical role in the exacerbation and management of respiratory conditions. For example, high pollution levels can aggravate cold and cough symptoms, particularly in areas where air quality can drastically fluctuate. "By assessing real-time pollution data, pharmacists can advise patients to take precautions on days when pollution levels are high." Air pollution is well known to increase the risk of certain respiratory diseases.

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.

A new report has suggested that adopting hub and spoke dispensing model could be a realistic and affordable option for many pharmacies across the UK, not just a select few. The report released by Centred Solutions highlighted several evidence-based benefits of this model, including a return on investment (ROI) within two years for an average pharmacy, debunking the skepticism that has long surrounded the model. Analysis by the software and technology company found that the ROI, from setting up a hub and all operational costs (excluding transport), can be achieved through either re-directing time saved into delivering services, improving resource efficiencies, or a combination of both. One of the key findings is the 81 per cent reduction in payroll costs per item-from 99p in a pharmacy to just 19p in a hub. The report also revealed that by shifting to a hub and spoke model, pharmacies could offload 50 per cent of total dispensing volumes (70-80 per cent of repeat dispensing) from their branches, creating much-needed capacity. The report also projected an average stock reduction of 50 per cent in the first year for pharmacy branches moving to this model of dispensing.

In a significant event organised by Eastern Eye (EE), a sister publication of Pharmacy Business, political leaders gathered on July 1st to address pressing issues affecting the Asian community The EE election debate aimed to amplify their political voice and encourage participation in the political process. The debate, moderated by Barnie Choudhury, Editor of Eastern Eye, saw prominent figures including Andrew Boff AM of the Conservative Party, Anneliese Dodds represented Labour as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, and Lord Richard Newby from the Liberal Democrats engaged in a robust discussion. They fielded questions on various issues affecting the UK, including economic and social inequality, immigration, health inequalities, and funding cuts to community pharmacies. Amid an audience that included stakeholders from the pharmacy sector, a notable query focused on each party's stance on the role of community pharmacies and their commitment to funding these vital services.

Addressing the recent announcement made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to claw back £9 million per month from community pharmacy contractors, the Chairman of Numark, Harry McQuillan has expressed deep concerns over the financial implications on the sector. The claw back follows an error in the July calculations of Category M medicine prices, which led to increase in the reimbursements made to community pharmacies. Beginning August, the DHSC is set to claw back the amount. McQuillan criticised the decision, highlighting the severe strain it places on already financially vulnerable community pharmacies. Calling it "a severe blow to an already financially strained sector", McQuillan emphasised that the additional burden has the potential to threaten the viability of many pharmacies. "Community pharmacies are the frontline of our healthcare system, by penalising these pharmacies for an error not of their making, the Department of Health is jeopardising the foundation of local healthcare delivery," McQuillan criticised. Addressing the recent announcement made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to claw back £9 million per month from community pharmacy contractors, the Chairman of Numark, Harry McQuillan has expressed deep concerns over the financial implications on the sector. The claw back follows an error in the July calculations of Category M medicine prices, which led to increase in the reimbursements made to community pharmacies. Beginning August, the DHSC is set to claw back the amount. McQuillan criticised the decision, highlighting the severe strain it places on already financially vulnerable community pharmacies. Calling it "a severe blow to an already financially strained sector", McQuillan emphasised that the additional burden has the potential to threaten the viability of many pharmacies. "Community pharmacies are the frontline of our healthcare system, by penalising these pharmacies for an error not of thei

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has urged pharmacy owners to maintain the safety of their services while managing the additional workload brought on by the collective action of GP services, starting today (Thursday, 1 August). General practices across England have begun implementing a work-to-rule strategy indefinitely, following a ballot of GP partners conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA). Under this approach, GP practices will strictly adhere to contracted hours and duties, performing only the tasks specified in their NHS contract. With fewer GP appointments available, it is anticipated that more patients will turn to their community pharmacies for help and advice. Therefore, CPE has stressed the importance of pharmacy owners maintaining the safety of their services, with a focus on the safe supply of medicines, during this period of GP collective action.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has strongly condemned recent acts of racism, violence, and disorder caused by far-right, anti-immigrant protestors across the UK. Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at GPhC, expressed deep concern for the safety of pharmacy teams, particularly those from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. He said: "We strongly condemn the racism, violence and disorder caused by a small minority of the population that has taken place over recent days." "We understand that pharmacy teams serving our communities may feel especially vulnerable at this time." "Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those who trained abroad, make an enormous contribution to our pharmacy and health services and they should never have to feel fear when going to work.

A snap survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) revealed that over half of community pharmacy teams have felt unsafe in the past week due to ongoing riots across the country. The survey, which included responses from approximately 350 community pharmacies, also found that one in three pharmacies had considered closing because of safety concerns, while 13 per cent of pharmacy teams reported experiencing racist comments during this period. According to the NPA, over 40 per cent of pharmacists are of South Asian, Black, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, with the majority of independent community pharmacy owners believed to be of South Asian heritage. The association reports that businesses had been vandalised during the riots, leading some pharmacies to reduce their opening hours or close entirely, following advice from the police and local authorities. Despite a recent decline in disorder over the last few days, police have been advised to remain on high alert over the weekend.

On June 3, Synnovis, a pathology laboratory serving several NHS organisations in South East London, was targeted by a ransomware attack. This cyber incident has disrupted vital blood testing services, crucial for a range of medical treatments, and raised significant concerns over data security. NHS England confirmed that a cybercriminal group, Qilin, published data online, claiming it was stolen from Synnovis. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are currently working to authenticate the data and understand its contents. A helpline has been established to address patient concerns, and NHS England urges patients to attend their appointments unless otherwise directed. The attack has rendered some of the NHS's blood testing systems inoperable, causing substantial disruption to medical services in South East London.

Expressing apprehension over the concerning decline in the nursing workforce, Sir Julian Hartley, CEO of NHS Providers, urged the forthcoming government to bolster investment in nursing education and enhance support for student nurses. Recent analysis from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has projected that the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will fall short by 10,000 new nurses by 2025. Commenting on the RCN analysis, Sir Hartley underscored the critical importance of having an adequate number of nurses to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. "Without enough nurses, the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care is compromised," he said. He cautioned that the predicted shortfall in nurses would exacerbate existing pressures on the NHS, resulting in long waiting times, delayed treatments and staff burnout.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, has cautioned that while weight loss drugs hold significant potential to enhance many patients' lives, they are not without risks. She also expressed concern that expanding the roll out of tirzepatide at the scale proposed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) would have "significant practical and resource implications for the NHS and primary care." The final draft guidance from NICE, published on 5 December, suggests that around 220,000 people living with obesity will be offered the weekly injection, along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, over the next three years. Marketed under the brand name Mounjaro by Eli Lilly, tirzepatide is recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 and at least one weight-related illness. Accepting the request from NHS England to roll out the medication over 12 years, the NICE guidance proposes to prioritise those with the highest clinical need.

The UK is far behind comparable nations in spending on medicines and community pharmacies, according to a new analysis by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Published today, the report highlights that Britain ranks among the worst countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for access to pharmacies, with fewer pharmacies per 100,000 people than countries like Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, France, and many others. On average, a UK pharmacy serves around 5,700 patients, far more than those in France (3,238 patients) and the Republic of Ireland (2,500 patients), where an average pharmacy caters to less than half the number of patients served in the UK. All comparable countries manage fewer patients per pharmacy. The NPA analysis also found that the UK spends less per capita on medicines than nations such as Australia, Ireland, Japan, the US, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Germany spends twice as much as the UK, while the US spends nearly three times more.

The UK retail sector faced significant challenges in 2024, but 2025 is expected to be an even tougher year for retailers. Nearly 13,500 retail stores permanently shut their doors in the last 12 months -an average of 37 closures each day-according to provisional data from the Centre for Retail Research. This figure represents a notable 28.4 per cent increase from the 10,494 closures recorded in 2023, although it remains below the annual closure rates observed between 2019 and 2022. Independent retailers, typically small businesses with one to five stores, accounted for over 84 per cent of all closures during 2024. This marked a sharp 45 per cent surge in shutdowns for independents compared to the previous year when they were responsible for 74.5 per cent of closures, totalling 7,793 stores. The group's research director, Prof Joshua Bamfield told the Guardian: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called on the NHS and the Department of Health to immediately publish the government-commissioned analysis of pharmacy underfunding and reveal the true scale of the crisis. Commissioned by NHS England, the long-awaited independent review is expected to "lay bare the perilous financial state" of community pharmacies, which is a vital part of the nation's health infrastructure. However, the NPA is concerned that the government may delay its release until after current funding consultations are concluded. The NPA argued that the public needs to understand the fragile nature of the pharmacy network before any new deal can be agreed. It has also warned health officials not to hide "the true scale of funding needed to reverse a decade of swingeing cuts", which has forced record numbers of pharmacy closures. NPA chair Nick Kaye said: "It would be a scandal to keep that evidence buried secret and leave MPs, pharmacies and the public in the dark." He acknowledged that the new government has inherited a crisis in pharmacy funding and emphasised that it will need to take "strong action" to maintain access to medicines.

A new analysis by the Nuffield Trust has revealed that NHS trusts in England are experiencing their worst financial deterioration in a decade, raising concerns that the government's reform plans could be at risk. The report found that the NHS trust sector, which makes up three-quarters of NHS day to day spending, recorded a £1.2 billion overspend last year, amounting to 0.9% of income in 2023/24. This is double the previous year's overspend, recorded at £448 million, and significantly worse than the modest financial surpluses seen in 2020/21 and 2021/22. The sector is in "as precarious a position it was in immediately prior to the pandemic," the report said. NHS trusts in the most deprived areas suffered the worst financial deterioration in 2023-24, with North West and Midlands reported the deepest deficits, accounting for 2.2% and 1.5% of revenues, respectively. The North East and Yorkshire have also seen the steepest declines in financial health since 2022/23. The underlying gap between stable incomes and outgoings across the provider sector was at least £4.5 billion last year.