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A new report has highlighted that while NHS trusts are well placed to drive the new Labour government's desired healthcare transformation, additional resources are essential to fully realise this vision. Published by NHS Providers, the report explored how trusts are innovating and adapting to deliver the three key shifts outlined by the government: from hospital to community-based cafe, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. Titled "Providers Deliver: shifting care upstream," the report cited some successful approaches trusts have taken to ensure patients can get the care they need in the right place at the right time. Examples include: Tackling the wider determinants of health to improve patient flow - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Reducing demand for emergency care by providing support at home - East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Improving mental health crisis care from the ground up - North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Harnessing a culture of continuous improvement to deliver care in the right place - Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Taking the next step from hospital at home to early intervention - Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

In a significant move to enhance the working conditions of over 50,000 postgraduate doctors in the National Health Service, NHS England has unveiled a series of measures aimed at providing greater choice and opportunities to the new entrants in the medical profession. With flexible rotas, reducing payroll errors, and easing the financial burden of course fees, the NHS has taken steps to address the issues faced by junior doctors in order to support their well-being. In recent announcement, 83 per cent of senior doctors and dentists accepted the government's pay offer. Alongside the junior doctors who still fighting for fair pay and recognition, the senior medical professionals demanded that the authorities help them tackle issues pertaining underfunding and overworking in the NHS. Junior doctors in training also often face challenges with frequent moves between trusts, leading to short notice changes in work schedules and duplicated inductions when transitioning to new hospitals. As a measure taken by the health serivces, the committee aims to review the minimum legal requirements for statutory and mandatory training, potentially halving the time burden for such training and allowing doctors to spend more time caring for patients as part of the long-term workforce plan.

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

People in the UK have a high level of trust in pharmacies and many are keen on seeing the Pharmacy First initiative expanded, according to the 2024 STADA Health Report published today (24 June). The 10th annual health report by global healthcare leader STADA Arzneimittel AG, the parent company of Thornton & Ross, involved a survey of over 46,000 respondents across 23 countries, including 2,000 participants from the UK. The UK data showed an overwhelming trust in UK pharmacies, with 94 per cent of those surveyed (more than nine out of 10 Brits) saying they have only ever had good advice from a pharmacist. The report also indicated a strong desire for the Pharmacy First scheme to be expanded, with 44 per cent of respondents advocating for an increase in pharmacists' scope of responsibilities to support doctors.

Change is sweeping through Westminster as the newly elected Labour government makes strategic cabinet appointments following their landslide victory in the general election held on Thursday, July 4. With Sir Keir Starmer stepping in as the new Prime Minister and Wes Streeting assuming the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care role, the announcement of Karin Smyth and Stephen Kinnock as health ministers on Monday marked a pivotal moment in Labour's healthcare agenda. Who is the new Minister of State for Health? Karin Smyth, the Labour MP for Bristol South, has been appointed as Minister of State for Health. Smyth has a robust background in healthcare, having served as a shadow spokesperson on health since December 2021. Her previous roles include Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland and Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. Before her parliamentary career, Smyth worked as an NHS Manager and held a non-executive director position at an NHS Trust.

A Middlesbrough pharmacy worker has raised nearly £1,000 for cancer support by participating in 'Brave the Shave,' a charity fundraising campaign organised in memory of some of her colleagues who lost their battle with cancer. Sam Smith, a trainee pharmacy technician at the University Hospital of North Tees shaved off her blue hair to support two cancer services: the cancer information centre at her hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support. The 34-year-old's brave decision began this summer after she commented about shaving her head to cope with the heat. A colleague jokingly offered her £5 to follow through, which sparked the idea to turn the gesture into a charity fundraiser - Brave the Shave. In a video shared by the University, Sam is seen getting her head shaved at the hospital while her pharmacy colleagues cheer her on. Teesside pharmacy worker raises nearly £1,000 for cancer support by shaving off her blue locks Sporting a bald head, Sam said: "It doesn't feel like my head right now but it's very liberating. "I said I wouldn't do it for anything less than £300 so to raise just shy of £1,000 is amazing. Thank you to everybody who has donated - you've made it all worth it."

Pharmacy First has demonstrated the enormous value of community pharmacy in providing accessible front-line care. However, pharmacists continue to face several challenges in delivering the service. "Pharmacy First is a success, but it needs proper support to reach its full potential," said Numark chairman Harry McQuillan. In the first year alone, community pharmacies in England delivered an incredible 2 million consultations, highlighting the vital role pharmacists and their teams play in supporting the NHS. "This significant number shows the high demand for accessible healthcare and the trust patients place in their local pharmacy teams. It's clear that when empowered, community pharmacy delivers," McQuillan told Pharmacy Business. Key challenges in providing the service While Numark members have embraced Pharmacy First, McQuillan pointed out several challenges that persist: "Workforce capacity continues to be a concern, with patient demand sometimes outpacing available resources. "The administrative burden, particularly around IT interoperability, data capture, and reimbursement processes, adds complexity." "Additionally, some geographical areas are still struggling with public awareness, meaning more work is needed to ensure patients understand when and how they can access Pharmacy First."

Pharmacy owners will be given additional time to claim for the provision of four services if IT issues, outside their control, prevent timely submissions. Effective February 2025, this provision applies to Hypertension Case-Finding, Pharmacy Contraception Service, Pharmacy First, and Smoking Cessation Services. Currently, claims must be submitted via the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal by the 5th of the following month, with late claims accepted only within three months of the actual submission date. Under the new rule, pharmacy owners will have an additional twelve months (from the date by which the claim should have been submitted) to claim payment if they can provide evidence of an IT issue beyond their control that delayed the claim submission. This new provision will be included in Part VIC of the February 2025 Drug Tariff, which will also have a clarification about de-registration from the four advanced services. The clarification will state that pharmacy owners who de-register from providing one of these services cannot re-register for four months after their 30-day notice period ends.

Community pharmacy continues to play a crucial role in providing patients with access to essential NHS care through the Pharmacy First service, especially when other parts of the healthcare system are difficult to reach. According to the Company Chemists' Association (CCA), the sector delivered an estimated 65,000 Pharmacy First consultations in the week leading up to Christmas, marking a 10 per cent increase compared to previous weeks. At a Rowland's Pharmacy in Warsop, Mansfield, pharmacist Taseta saw a notable rise in the number of patients seeking consultations for sore throats, particularly among school children and staff. The pharmacy also experienced an increase in urinary tract infection (UTI) consultations, while earache cases remained consistent. Taseta explained the surge, noting, "Lots of people do not want to be ill over Christmas so [they] wanted easy and quick access to care, which we could do in the pharmacy." They also saw more patients engaging with the Pharmacy Contraception Service, which Taseta attributed to time constraints at the local surgery.