Europe's medicines regulator has added a rare nerve-damaging disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome, as a possible side-effect of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, regular safety updates from the watchdog showed on Wednesday.
The European Medicines Agency also tagged some other less severe side-effects to vaccines from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna as well as AstraZEneca's shot.
The insurance will be provided to members at cost, with no profit made by RPS.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a new professional liability insurance policy, designed to empower pharmacists to work confidently and deliver high-quality care, knowing they are protected.
Exclusively available to its members, the comprehensive and affordable insurance has been developed in collaboration with global professional services firm Aon.
RPS stated that professional liability insurance, also known as professional indemnity insurance or clinical indemnity, is essential for pharmacists to practice with assurance and provide the highest standard of patient care, regardless of setting, without concerns about potential liability.
The policy covers portfolio careers and prescribing as standard.
The decision to launch the policy follows feedback from RPS members and research conducted by the organisation in 2022.
The findings revealed that over half of the members surveyed had not switched their insurance provider in over a decade, as there are very few options in the market. Additionally, 76% supported the idea of RPS offering professional indemnity insurance.
RPS CEO Paul Bennet said: “The pharmacy landscape is changing rapidly. Advances in practice mean pharmacists are taking on expanded responsibilities to enhance patient care and we are proud to offer this new indemnity policy as part of our commitment to supporting their professional development and confidence.”
“By removing the barriers posed by uncertainty around liability, we aim to enable our members to practise at their full potential.”
“This insurance supports safer practice and reflects our dedication to supporting pharmacists to deliver the highest standard of care for patients."
Mark Riley-Pitt, UK head of health, social care and risk consulting, Aon added: “We have been pleased to collaborate closely with the RPS during the design of this insurance to ensure that it aligns with their members’ needs”.
The insurance will be provided to members at cost, with no profit made by RPS.
Existing RPS members (with some exceptions) will be covered wherever they work, whether or not they are prescribers, but can choose to opt out of the insurance.
New members will be offered the policy as part of their membership package.
This insurance package is not available to non-members.
The PDA wants investment to reach those who deliver services to patients every day
An increase in funding for community pharmacies in Scotland needs to lead to a greater focus on supporting pharmacists rather than “simply sustain business models”, according to the Pharmacy Defence Association (PDA).
Earlier this week, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) accepted the Scottish government’s initial financial offer for the 2025/26 fiscal year, securing a guaranteed minimum reimbursement of £120 million for community pharmacies — up from £110 million from 2024/25.
The PDA insisted the additional investment needs to be used to support the “wellbeing, professional development, and fair treatment of employed and locum pharmacists working on the front line”.
“Any new deal needs to work for the whole community pharmacy sector, not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too. We need investment that reaches those of us who deliver services to patients every day, so pharmacists and their teams can do their jobs safely, confidently, and with proper support,” said Maurice Hickey, head of Policy for PDA-Scotland.
The agreement marks the first phase of ongoing negotiations surrounding community pharmacy funding for the upcoming financial year.
CPS and the Scottish government agreed to begin negotiations with the initial focus on reimbursement arrangements to prevent a delay on this part of the deal, whilst discussions on the Global Sum element of remuneration continue.
The guaranteed reimbursement figure has seen steady increases in recent years, previously rising from £100 million in 2023/24 to £110 million in 2024/25.
In addition, the value mapped from the Scottish Drug Tariff has been increased by £20 million, from £80 million to £100 million, which CPS confirmed will be delivered as “guaranteed service income.”
“Scotland’s pharmacists continue to deliver essential community care under increasing pressure. Funding announcements must be measured not only by the figures involved but by their real-world impact on those providing patient-facing services,” the PDA said in a statement.
“Frontline pharmacists must feel the benefit of increased funding through improved working conditions, adequate staffing levels, protected time for clinical development, access for all pharmacists to independent prescriber training and recognition of their professional contribution.”
The surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”
Over 1,000 GP surgeries will have their premises modernised to meet the needs of a further 8.3 million appointments each year, the government has announced.
Backed by a cash injection of over £102 million, the surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”.
The government said this latest step is part of its £26 billion investment into the NHS and a part of its Plan for Change campaign to shift care out of hospital and into the community.
“It will be a long road, but this government is putting in the work to fix our NHS and make it fit for the future,” said health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said:
“These are simple fixes for our GP surgeries but for too long they were left to ruin, allowing waiting lists to build and stopping doctors treating more patients.
“It is only because of the necessary decisions we took in the Budget that we are able to invest in GP surgeries, start tackling the 8am scramble and deliver better services for patients.
“The extra investment and reform this government is making, as part of its Plan for Change, will transform our NHS so it can once again be there for you when you need it.”
Lord Darzi’s independent report found that outdated, inefficient buildings create barriers to delivering high-quality patient care and reduce staff productivity.
“Our last survey of members found that 2 in 5 GPs considered their premises unfit for purpose. This not only makes for a poor experience for both patients and practice staff, but it restricts the care and services a practice can provide. Nearly 90 per cent of respondents to our survey said their practice did not have enough consulting rooms, and three-quarters did not have enough space to take on additional GP trainees” said professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs.
“Today’s announcement is an encouraging interim measure that shows the government is listening and acknowledges that inadequate GP infrastructure needs to be addressed. We now need to see this followed up by further long-term investment.”
The investment will allow GP surgeries to create new consultation and treatment rooms whilst also making better use of existing space.
Projects will be delivered during the 2025 to 2026 financial year, with the first upgrades expected to begin in summer 2025.
In Norwich, Prospect Medical Practice - serving nearly 7,000 patients in some of the city’s most deprived areas - will create new clinical rooms to deliver more patient consultations.
In the Black Country, vacant office spaces in Harden Health Centre will be converted into clinical consulting rooms, allowing more patient access to primary care.
“Bringing GP premises up to a similar condition across England is important to improve patient experience of NHS services, while making primary care a better working environment as we seek to retain and recruit more staff,” said Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services.
“It will also help to create additional space and extend the capacity of current premises as we improve access further and bring care closer to the communities where people live as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.”
Opella launches as an independent company to redefine the future of self-care.
Opella has officially become a standalone company, following the completion of Sanofi’s sale of a controlling 50.0% stake to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).
Sanofi retains a significant shareholding with a 48.2% stake while Bpifrance holds the remaining 1.8% stake.
Headquartered in France, Opella is the third-largest global player in the global Over-The-Counter (OTC) and Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) sector, now valued at €190 billion. Its 100 brands – including Allegra/Allevia, Dulcolax, Buscopan and Cialis Together – are already trusted names in homes around the world.
As an independent company, Opella is set to redefine the future of self-care with a clear mission: “Health in Your Hands.”
“Going independent is not just a milestone. It is our moment,” said Julie Van Ongevalle, President and CEO of Opella.
“I am proud of our talented team of 11,000 who made this happen. With the right partners and a sharp focus, we are set to reshape how people everywhere manage their health – simply, confidently, and on their terms.”
Nick Linton, head of Opella UK, emphasised the company's ambitions to simplify self-care.
“Self-care in the UK is being redefined — fast. The responsibility for health is shifting, and people are stepping up. At Opella UK, we’re not just responding to that change — we’re driving it.”
“Today’s announcement marks our moment of independence, and we’re using it as a launchpad to innovate harder, connect deeper, and move faster.”
“Our mission is clear: to simplify healthcare to put health into people’s hands. We’re here to shake things up — and we’re just getting started.”
David Taylor, former chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble and current chairman of the Board of Delta and senior advisor to CD&R funds, has been appointed chairman of Opella’s Supervisory Board.
Taylor commented: “What drew me to Opella is a mission with meaning, a company with courage, a talented team, and a business ready to break new ground.”
“Opella is not here to tweak the system – but to reimagine it.”
As it steps into the next chapter with powerful backing, Opella plans to focus on strengthening its trusted brands and deepening its presence in key markets.
“This is more than independence. It is the freedom to act. The power to simplify. And the drive to redefine the future of selfcare,” the company noted.
The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service will be widely available
Two key clinical services will be available in 99 per cent of community pharmacies across Wales after a boost in funding.
The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service and the urinary tract infection (UTI) service have both benefitted from contractual negotiations between the Welsh Government and Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).
"This is fantastic news for patients, improving access to trusted, convenient care through their local community pharmacy. Community pharmacists already play a vital role in supporting their communities, and it’s encouraging to see that role increasingly recognised through investment in services such as STTT and the UTI,” said, Elen Jones, Royal Pharmaceutical Society director for Wales and England, said:
“Patient feedback on both services has been overwhelmingly positive. They not only provide care closer to home but also make the best use of pharmacists’ clinical expertise.”
Research has suggested that the treatments of STTT services in pharmacies has led to better use of antibiotics.
Research led by Dr. Efi Mantzourani found that 24 per cent of consultations through the Welsh pharmacy-led STTT service resulted in an antibiotic supply, compared to 39 per cent of GP consultations. For every 100 patients presenting with a sore throat at an STTT pharmacy, there was a reduction of approximately 15 to 18 antibiotic prescriptions.
Jones said this highlighted the critical role community pharmacy plays in the public health and called for that to reflected in improved funding for the sector.
"While this announcement is very welcome, it’s important to acknowledge that community pharmacy is under significant pressure,” she said.
“As we highlighted to politicians, together with CPW at the Senedd in 2024 and earlier this year following the results of our workforce wellbeing survey, pharmacy teams must be supported with adequate resources, protected time for training, and sustainable workloads to ensure these services can be delivered effectively and safely."
