Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

HRT Taskforce head Madelaine McTernan returns working fulltime for vaccine taskforce

The Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Taskforce head Madelaine McTernan has returned to working full time as the director general of the Vaccine Taskforce for autumn booster campaign preparation.

She has presented a few key recommendations to help ensure continued HRT supply to meet rising demand. “Improved access to data on prescriptions to more easily see where there are shortfalls between HRT packs prescribed and HRT packs supplied by manufacturers,” she suggested. “Taking lessons from the HRT supply chain work to inform broader medicine supply work.”


Madelaine said: “I am pleased to see the situation with HRT supply is improving across the country. I want to thank suppliers and manufacturers for their engagement and positive action to tackle this serious issue.

“I have presented my key learnings on how the department can continue to manage HRT supply and work with the industry as it continues efforts to meet rising demand.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said: “Access to HRT has improved following decisive actions to increase supply and manage demand including issuing serious shortage protocols (SSPs) on HRT products to limit dispensing to 3 months’ supply and allow specified alternative products to be supplied if necessary.”

“Following positive engagement across the supply chain, suppliers have also moved to secure additional stock and expedite deliveries of HRT products experiencing supply issues. Suppliers are building future capacity to support continued growth in demand.”

Then Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Women’s health is a priority for this government, and we are ensuring everyone who needs HRT is able to access it.

“Madelaine’s work and that of her taskforce and the department has been vital, and her recommendations will ensure progress in HRT supply continues.”

The taskforce has held two roundtables and has ongoing discussions with key suppliers to understand issues and engage on plans to meet demand.

It has issued SSPs to restrict dispensing of certain products to 3 months and allow pharmacists to substitute certain products for alternatives.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has delivered workshops to ensure manufacturers and pharmacists are aware of guidance to help them manage stock levels and worked with the NHS to understand and communicate the role of formularies (a list of recommended medicines) in terms of access to HRT.

The government has also taken action to reduce costs of HRT. The creation of a prepayment certificate will mean women can access HRT on a month-by-month basis if needed, easing pressure on supply, paying a one-off charge equivalent to 2 single prescription charges (currently £18.70) for all their HRT prescriptions for a year. This system will be implemented by April 2023.

Dame Lesley Regan has also been appointed the first ever Women’s Health ambassador for England to support in the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy and improve women’s experiences of the health and care system in England.

More For You

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) chief executive Janet Morrison was one of the signatories of the statement

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) chief executive Janet Morrison was one of the signatories of the statement

Primary care leaders join forces in effort to 'transform investment into primary care'

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has teamed up with other national primary care bodies to urge the government to allocate more funds towards the sector.

In a joint statement released on the back of the government’s spending review, last week, the organisations welcomed the government’s continued determination to ‘shift care from hospitals to community and from sickness to prevention’ but warned that this would not be possible ‘without further investment in primary care’.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cancer patients warned against using weight-loss jabs

Macmillan Cancer Support said there is not enough evidence on how the weight-loss jabs might affect anti-cancer treatments.

iStock

Cancer patients warned against using weight-loss jabs

Cancer patients have been advised to consult their doctor before taking any weight-loss jabs.

Macmillan Cancer Support has issued this advisory following a surge in calls by cancer patients asking whether they can take fat loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kamson Pharmacy to deliver more clinical services after installing hub and spoke technology

The FLOWRx auto hub in the new Kamson warehouse in Uckfield.

Kamson Pharmacy to deliver more clinical services after installing hub and spoke technology


Kamsons Pharmacy has announced that it has implemented a state-of-the-art hub and spoke dispensing model with the aim of freeing up more time to deliver clinical services.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS group aims to tackle barriers holding back black pharmacy students

Work is underway to improve inclusivity in teaching

Pic credit: iStock

RPS group aims to tackle barriers holding back black pharmacy students

A cross-sector group aimed at tackling barriers that block the progression of black students and trainee pharmacists held its first meeting this week.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has created the Differential Attainment Oversight Group to address issues that black or black British African student pharmacists and foundation trainees face such as limited access to work experience, financial support and visible role models in education and training.

Keep ReadingShow less
Older adult organizing medicine bottles in a cool, dry storage area during warm weather.

People are being advised to keep medicine below 25° C

Pic credit: iStock

Pharmacies advise patients on storing medicines safely during heatwave

Patients are being given important advice and guidance on the impact heat can have on their medicine and where to keep different medicines as the UK goes through a heatwave.

People are being advised to keep medicine below 25° C if they are able to, unless storage instructions state it needs to be kept at an alternative temperature, such as drugs that need to be refrigerated.

Keep ReadingShow less