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Pharmacists, councillors and NHS leaders came together at Portsmouth's first Community Pharmacy Summit to address some of the challenges facing community pharmacy locally. They explored ways to reduce the huge pressures on pharmacy, tackle abuse towards staff, enable pharmacists to undertake training to treat more illnesses, and to protect the current and future workforce. Portsmouth City Council, which hosted the Summit on Wednesday 15 November, also invited representatives from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and businesses to discuss new opportunities to work together. Held at Portsmouth Guildhall, the event was chaired by Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health and Care, and Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Transport.

There were an estimated 408,700 hospital admissions due to smoking in 2022-23, an increase of 4.8 per cent from 389,800 in 2021-22, latest statistics published by NHS England have shown. In 2020-21, there were 314,100 admissions attributed to smoking, which was consistent with fewer hospital admissions overall that year, according to the health service's Statistics on Public Health, 2023 report. However, smoking-related admissions in each of the past three years remained lower than in 2019-20, prior to the Covid pandemic, when there were 446,400 cases. Smoking accounted for around one in six (16 per cent) of all hospital admissions for respiratory diseases last year, eight per cent of all admissions for cancers and seven percent of admissions for cardiovascular diseases.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called its member to to express their views and fill out the Department of Health and Social Care's hub and spoke survey on the proposed model of dispensing. The Society has urged its members to fill out the survey before May 20. RPS president Claire Anderson said: "It is vital that RPS members have their say on issue that impact you in your roles. Currently only single legal entities can make use of this model of dispensing. "Our survey, which opened today, seeks your views and comments and will help to inform the RPS submission to this consultation." The consultation on the proposals to enable all community pharmacies to access hub and spoke dispensing published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will run for three months and will close on June 8, 2022.

Pharmacists with 'relevant experience in a pharmacy setting' can enroll for accredited independent prescribing course, as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has decided to scrap the requirement of spending at least two years on the register and having previous experience in a specified clinical or therapeutic area before enrolling for the course. The GPhC Council meeting held on Thursday instead proposed that applicants must have "relevant experience in a pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber." This experience and awareness will act as the basis of their prescribing practice whilst training. The regulator noted that the majority of stakeholder organisations, including the Chief Pharmaceutical Officers, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the statutory education bodies, were in favour of removing the requirement in a consultation on the topic. They highlighted that a specific two-year period was not in itself a robust indication of whether an individual was ready to become a prescriber. They also highlighted that the rapidly developing roles in the profession meant more pharmacists were likely to gain the necessary experience more quickly than in the past. A smaller number of organisations and a larger minority of individuals were opposed, citing that a specific two-year period gave pharmacists the time they needed to develop experience and confidence before being ready to enrol on a course.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published plans to amend current pharmacy legislation on dispensing errors and clarify how registered pharmacies are governed. The Department's response to a public consultation on rebalancing medicines legislation and pharmacy regulation programme first proposed in summer 2018 was delayed due to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme aims to clarify and strengthen the organisational governance arrangements of registered pharmacies, specifically to define and clarify the core purpose of the Responsible Pharmacist and Superintendent Pharmacist roles. It will also give the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) powers to define in professional standards how those roles are fulfilled.

Margaret MacRury has stepped down from her role as superintendent director for the Rowlands Pharmacy, which has a community pharmacy network in England,Scotland and Wales with more than 450 branches. MacRury, who served the role for a decade, will step down next month to focus on the pharmacy contract developments taking place in Scotland, Rowlands said in a statement. She will start her new role in February 2022. With MacRury leaving the position, Stephen Thomas, currently her deputy, will take up the role of superintendent for Rowlands. He has been with the multiple for nearly 18 years and has worked side-by-side with MacRury for the last decade. MacRury stated: "I know Stephen will continue that commitment to protecting patients and promoting the pharmacy sector.

The national pharmacy bodies has created 'Save Our Pharmacies' campaign website to give new focus to calls for fair pharmacy funding in England. The newly launched site contains key messages for public, politicians and stakeholders, and hosts campaign resources to be used by pharmacy teams. The pharmacy bodies encourage members of the public and pharmacy teams to show their support for the campaign on social media, as well as signing the petition and contacting their local MPs about fair funding. A further resource in the form of a window poster is being printed and will shortly be mailed out to all community pharmacies in England. It is the latest output of a joint programme of work being coordinated by PSNC, CCA, AIM and the NPA.

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The PSNC on Friday said it has warned the DHSC about the "very serious impact" of the limited supply of certain antibiotics on pharmacies who are "having to chase stock, purchase without sight of any concession prices, and cope with increasing patient questions and abuse." With higher than usual number of cases of scarlet fever, caused by invasive Group A Streptococci (iGAS) infections, being reported in children across the country, supplies of antibiotics for Group A Strep treatment have seen a surge in demand, leading to limited supply at certain wholesalers and pharmacies. PSNC has urged the DHSC to adopt measures that could help to manage the current crisis, such as allowing pharmacists more freedom to change strengths or formulations without prescriber approval, outside of Serious Shortage Protocols. It has also raised concerns on the significant rise in wholesale prices of many oral antibiotics as a result of the surge in demand and the ongoing supply disruptions. PSNC also said they have received reports of some suppliers putting up their prices for any oral antibiotics they do have in stock.

The Health and Social Care Secretary has announced over £175 million funding to boost genomics research in the UK. Through this funding, the government aims to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world. "Patients with cancer and children born with treatable rare genetic diseases are set to benefit from earlier diagnosis and faster access to treatment, following a £175 million boost to cutting-edge genomics research announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary today (Tuesday)," said DHSC. The funding will enable research which could deliver world-leading genomic healthcare to patients, which involves the study of people's DNA. "£105 million to be funded to kickstart a world-leading research study, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to explore the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to find and treat rare genetic diseases in newborn babies," said DHSC. "An initial £26 million to support an innovative cancer programme, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to evaluate cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis for cancer patients and use artificial intelligence to analyse a person's DNA, alongside other information such as routine scans.

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QuickBooks Payments. Remember, the optimal choice depends on your unique transaction volume, processing methods, budget, and industry risks.QuickBooks Payments for your business. Remember, the optimal choice depends on your unique transaction volume, processing methods, and budget considerations. By following these suggestions, you can still provide valuable information about QuickBooks credit card processing fees within the limitations of the request. Focus on specific aspects: Detailed breakdown of each fee type: Explain the nuances of standard fees, additional fees like instant deposits and dispute protection, and potential hidden charges. Strategies for high-volume businesses: Discuss tiered pricing structures, negotiating custom rates, and exploring alternative processors for significant transaction volumes. Impact on different industries: Analyze how fee structures vary for specific industries like restaurants, e-commerce, or professional services. Legal considerations for passing fees to customers: Provide insights into local regulations and best practices for transparently adding processing fees to invoices.

QuickBooks simplifies accepting credit cards in your business, but understanding the associated fees is crucial for informed financial decisions. This guide provides an overview of QuickBooks credit card Online and Desktop fee structures, highlighting key considerations and strategies for minimizing costs. QuickBooks Online: Standard Fees: Invoicing & Quick Requests: 2.99% per transaction for major cards. Card Reader (swiped): 2.5%. Keyed-in Payments: 3.5%. Digital Wallets: Same as invoices. Additional Fees: Instant Deposits: 1.75% on top of standard fees. Payment Dispute Protection: 0.99% - 1.99%. Minimizing Costs: Encourage swiped payments. Limit keyed-in entries. Explore higher-volume tiers for discounts. Compared with other processors. Consider passing fees to customers (legally). Additional Considerations: Interchange Fees: These fees set by card networks are not controlled by QuickBooks and can vary by card type and industry. Statement Fees: Some merchant service providers charge monthly statement fees. Chargeback Fees: Fees incurred if a customer disputes a transaction. Integration: Consider how the processing solution integrates with your accounting software. Security: Choose a processor with robust security measures. Customer Support: Reliable support is crucial for resolving issues.

QuickBooks simplifies accepting credit cards in your business, but understanding the associated fees is crucial for informed financial decisions. Accepting Quickbooks credit cards Processing Rates expands your customer base and streamlines payment, but understanding QuickBooks' intricate processing rates can feel like navigating a maze. QuickBooks Online: Standard Fees: Invoicing & Quick Requests: 2.99% per transaction for major cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express). Card Reader (swiped): 2.5%, generally the most cost-effective option. Keyed-in Payments: 3.5%, consider this option cautiously due to higher fees. Digital Wallets: Same rate as invoices for Apple Pay and Google Pay. Factors Influencing Your Rates: Processing Volume: Higher transaction volumes often unlock tiered pricing with reduced fees. Explore these options if your business scales. Card Network: Visa, Mastercard, etc., have varying interchange fees impacting your overall rate (not directly controlled by QuickBooks). Additional Services: Opting for features like Instant Deposits or Dispute Protection adds to your charges. Weigh the benefits against the cost.

QuickBooks credit card fees without further information. To create a valuable and relevant response, I need context on what aspect you'd like me to focus on. Any additional information you can provide will help me tailor the response to your specific needs.By utilizing these resources and tailoring your research to your specific situation, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your QuickBooks credit card processing fees and make informed financial decisions for your business. QuickBooks Online: Standard Fees: Invoicing & Quick Requests: 2.99% per transaction for major cards like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Card Reader (swiped): 2.5%, the most cost-effective method due to lower interchange fees. Keyed-in Payments: 3.5%, use cautiously due to higher fees and security concerns. Digital Wallets: Same rate as invoices for Apple Pay and Google Pay. Factors Affecting Your Rates: Processing Volume: Higher transaction volumes often unlock tiered pricing with reduced fees. Explore these options if your business scales. Card Network: Visa, Mastercard, etc., have varying interchange fees impacting your overall rate (not directly controlled by QuickBooks). Additional Services: Opting for features like Instant Deposits or Dispute Protection adds to your charges. Weigh the benefits against the cost.

"We need to fix the front door to our NHS by investing in community pharmacy," asserts Daisy Cooper as more and more pharmacies "worry about the future of their business." Reflecting on the challenges faced by pharmacists during the pandemic, she emphasised their pivotal role in launching vaccination schemes across communities and the larger role pharmacies play in complementing traditional NHS facilities. Cooper recalls her collaboration with local pharmacies in St. Albans, where she worked hand in glove with them to address challenges faced by pharmacists to obtain information from NHS England regarding protocols and procedures. She told Pharmacy Business reporter that she had to work out something "hand in glove to help them get those vaccinated schemes up and running, as pharmacies were desperate to take part in the vaccination scheme" in her constituency. Describing their unique selling point (USP), Cooper emphasised the convenience and immediacy of pharmacies located in high street areas and warned that pharmacy closures "should be a real wake up call for the government."

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published its general election manifesto highlighting some of the key challenges the next Government will face to support patients and the NHS. The manifesto calls on general election candidates to show their support to securing patient access to medicines, a better-connected NHS, enhancing accessible prescribing in local communities, and maximising health improvement through locally accessible pharmacy teams. Candidates are urged to called on the next Government, if elected, to support the pharmacy workforce to deliver patient care, unlock the potential of new advances in medicines, and continue to support funding for the UK science and research community. The manifesto highlights the need for investment in IT infrastructure to support a better-connected NHS to enable all health professionals to access and update a patient's record.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has finally published its response to the 2022 consultation on hub and spoke dispensing. Considering the consultation evidence and further discussions, the government has expressed its intention to progress the proposals for enabling hub and spoke models across different legal entities as soon as possible. This will be achieved by using the enabling powers outlined in Part 2 of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (MMDA) to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and the HMRs. Furthermore, the DHSC has decided to proceed with the implementation of the two models of hub and spoke dispensing that it consulted on. The government response to the consultation reads: "Having considered the responses, the government intend to proceed to implement the necessary changes to medicines legislation to remove the current restrictions that prevent the hub and spoke dispensing models from operating across different legal entities found in section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968.