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O'Briens Pharmacy Group has sold Bispham Pharmacy as part of a strategic review of its nine-site portfolio, now reduced to eight, across the Fylde coast region. Christie and Co, the property adviser, recently announced that the group's popular Blackpool pharmacy business has been acquired by first-time buyer, Arif Bhuriya. Bispham Pharmacy, which dispenses around 4,500 items per month, is situated in the heart of Bispham's commercial centre, opposite a bustling shopping area. The community pharmacy has been in this location since February 2021, following a minor contract relocation. O'Briens Pharmacy Group provides pharmacy services across Fleetwood, Thornton-Cleveleys, Bispham, Burscough, Liverpool, and surrounding areas. Aisling O'Brien, owner of O'Briens Pharmacy, explained the rationale behind selling the Bispham site: "When we had a strategic review of our group, we saw Bispham as an ideal site to dispose of, knowing it would fare much better in the current climate as an owner-operated site.

In its response to a Freedom of Information Request (FOI), the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has confirmed a net decrease of 101 pharmacies in England - with 371 closures and 270 new contracts. Meanwhile, the General Pharmaceutical Council data projected a drop of 43 registered pharmacies in England, Wales, and Scotland for the year ending March 31, 2023, compared to the preceding period. The data, released by business advisor Christie & Co in its annual pharmacy market review on Sept. 5, revealed a total of 14,328 pharmacies across all four UK country regions as of March 31, 2023, indicating a 0.3 per cent decrease from the previous year. Corporate operators experienced a net reduction of 249 pharmacies, while the total number of independent operators remained consistent with 2022. According to the study, the corporate sector saw the most substantial shift, with a 13.7 per cent reduction in businesses operating 300 or more pharmacies. Following closely, groups managing 11 to 15 pharmacies experienced a 5.6 per cent decrease. Christie & Co attributed this shift in group size to operators acquiring additional pharmacies through corporate disposal opportunities throughout the year.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from improperly disposed inhalers, patients are being encouraged to return their used or expired inhalers to designated community pharmacies. A community pharmacy initiative in NHS Lothian has resulted in an impressive 300 per cent surge in the number of inhalers returned to community pharmacies for sustainable disposal. The initiative involved placing stickers on dispensing bags, encouraging patients to bring back their used inhalers to the pharmacy. Between February and May 2024, five community pharmacies in and around Edinburgh participated in this sustainability project and provided data. The data showed a significant increase in inhaler returns, with 20 inhalers being returned in the two weeks before the stickers were introduced, compared to 80 in the two weeks after the project concluded-a 300 per cent increase over the 10-week period.

The pharmacy market in England has seen a significant transformation in recent years, driven by a trend of large-scale disposals by corporate operators. Jonathan Board, Director - Pharmacy, Christie & Co, has told Pharmacy Business that several corporate operators are looking to sell off their marginal or non-performing assets while independent operators are eager to acquire and enhance businesses further. Due to their scale, corporate operators are compelled to adopt a 'one size fits all' approach. However, Jonathan believes this puts them at a disadvantage compared to many independent operators who are better positioned to meet local patient and community needs, delivering a more personalised approach to patient engagement, and a variety of other services "As such, where corporate disposals have taken place, there has been a steady stream of independent operators eager to take over and develop the businesses further," he said.

Pharmacy sales specialist, Hutchings Consultants has revealed its market predictions for the next 12 months in a new report. The broker is anticipating that both independent group operators and corporate owners will continue to reassess their existing portfolios in 2024, making strategic disposals of varying sizes. "This is likely to result in transaction volumes remaining high for the foreseeable future," stated the report authored by Paul Steet, Associate Director, Hutchings Consultants. Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework negotiations will be the most notable opportunity for the sector to capitalise upon this year, the broker said, adding that it's "a belated opportunity for the sector to secure a vital uplift to the contract's fixed global sum."

The NHS in Suffolk and North East Essex has launched a new campaign to reduce the amount of unused medicines that cost the NHS around £300 million a year. Across the UK, it is estimated that £100 million worth of medicines are returned to pharmacies, with an additional £90 million of unused prescription medicines stored in homes. Through social media, posters, and videos, people are encouraged to return unused prescriptions to pharmacies and avoid stockpiling or throwing them away. Reducing medicines waste not only saves money that can be reinvested into patient care within the NHS, but it's also better for the environment. Tania Farrow, who is leading the campaign on behalf of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), highlighted that everyone has a part to play in reducing medicines waste.

NHS England has updated its 'Green plan guidance', outlining key actions for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and trusts to help achieve net zero carbon emissions. Among the recommended measures to reduce emissions from the medicines supply chain, organisations are asked to encourage patients to return used or expired inhalers to community pharmacies for appropriate disposal. Medicines account for approximately 25 per cent of NHS emissions, with a small number of medications contributing a large portion of this. For example, anaesthetic gases account for 2 per cent of NHS emissions, while inhalers contribute 3 per cent. The updated guidance says that organisations should build on ongoing progress in reducing these "point of use" emissions, while improving patient care and reducing waste. To address emissions from the medicines supply chain, the guidance recommends: Supporting high-quality, lower-carbon respiratory care Optimising inhaler choice by considering clinical appropriateness, the environmental impact of inhalers and patient preference Improving inhaler use and adherence Promoting the appropriate disposal of inhalers Addressing overprescribing and oversupply while ensuring support for patients in greatest need

To combat the effects of climate change, the Integrated Care System (ICS) in South East London (SEL) has initiated a pioneering inhaler recycling project. Supported by NHS England and spanning 20 community pharmacies across the region, the project marks the first nationally-funded pilot of its kind in England, targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from improperly disposed inhalers. The project, which commenced at King's College Hospital in February 2024, focuses on the recycling of pressurised metered-dose inhalers. These inhalers, due to their propellant content, contribute significantly to environmental harm, emitting gases equivalent to driving 71.8 miles in a standard petrol car.