New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed that London is potentially at risk of a measles resurgence.
UKHSA modelling suggests that, unless MMR vaccination rates improve, London could see a measles outbreak with tens of thousands of cases.“Those who have never received a measles vaccine (MMR) are at risk,” said UKHSA.MMR is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme. Parents whose infants missed out, or anyone of any age unvaccinated, are urged to come forward.Susceptibility is particularly high among 19 to 25 year olds, affected by unfounded stories in the early 2000s (‘Wakefield cohorts’) and some may still not be fully vaccinated.As part of continued efforts to protect people against getting measles, the NHS is launching a campaign encouraging people to check their vaccination status, with targeted outreach to groups in London.Data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a steady rise in measles cases this year. It shows, between 1 January and 30 June this year there have been 128 cases of measles, compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022, with 66 per cent of the cases detected in London although cases have been seen in all regions.The UKHSA assessment finds the risk of a measles epidemic across the UK is considered low. However, with lower current levels of coverage in London, a measles outbreak of between 40,000 and 160,000 cases could occur in the capital.The assessment also concludes that there is a high risk of cases linked to overseas travel leading to outbreaks in specific population groups such as young people and under-vaccinated communities.The risk in London is primarily due to low vaccination rates over several years, further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in some areas and groups where coverage of the first MMR dose at 2 years of age is as low as 69.5%.NHS England has launched a targeted national campaign to encourage uptake of the MMR vaccine, including targeted outreach work in London for those identified as at high risk and communities with the lowest uptake of vaccination.Search
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Chronic inflammation is linked to more than 50 per cent of all deaths worldwide and one in five cancers.
The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Guide - a useful resource for pharmacists to support patient health and wellbeing
May 09, 2025
When Hemant Patel was struck down by Covid, he was determined to discover what was it that led to the disease having a devastating impact on the lives of people who seemed be healthy – the culmination of his journey is the book, The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Guide.
“I was gasping for breath and counting the number of days I might be alive when I was infected with Covid,” reveals Patel.
“I was watching TV and two Covid-related stories came on the news. One was of a 70-year-old man returning home after spending time in hospital, and the other was of a 40-year-old marathon runner who died.
“My brain couldn’t comprehend that. I would have expected outcomes to be a bit different as I'm sure most people would have done.”
Patel was a colossal figure in the world of community pharmacy. He was the secretary of North East London’s Local Pharmaceutical Committee for 26 years and also served four terms as president of the then Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).
Hemant Patel
He passionately worked towards improving the health of patients, helping contractors develop new clinical services, including smoking cessation, sexual health, mental health support and the use of electrocardiogram devices within community pharmacy.
He used his vast knowledge and experience to look into the impact of Covid and discovered the profound impact inflammation plays on a person’s health and well-being.
In fact, chronic inflammation is linked to more than 50 per cent of all deaths worldwide and one in five cancers.
“I started investigating and I realised in the West, particularly, we are confused between physical fitness and resilience,” he said.
“What I learned from my extensive research is that you can be physically fit but immunologically not resilient. Then I said, ‘what do we need to do to become resilient? And the outcome is the book.”
As first-line healthcare providers, Patel believes the book will be an excellent resource for community pharmacists advising their patients on living healthier lives.
He’s received an overwhelmingly positive response from some pharmacists who have had an early read of the book which will be launched at the Sigma Conference in Baku next week.
Pic credit: iStock
“The Secretary of State (Wes Streeting) has said the government will be investing in prevention, not in treatment, because at the present time, there is more and more hospitals needed because we are being poisoned every single day.
“Pharmacists can be the force in the community that helps patients to change their lifestyles.”
Patel’s determination to write the book led him to become a certified health coach after he completed a course in integrative nutrition functional medicine.
“The common link for vast number of long-term conditions is inflammation,” he said.
“If you look at the prevalence of things like obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, mental illness - it has all increased since World War Two due to changes in our environment, food, water, the air we breathe, the stuff we spray on ourselves - all this is leading to toxicity and immunological response to it and it is slow and prolonged.
“If you look at carrots for example, it is estimated that it only contains 40 per cent of the nutrients it had some 60 years ago because the soil is being depleted. That is affecting the food. The food is affecting our bodies. When people say, eat healthily, nobody actually knows what's going on in their body.”
Pic credit: istock
There are 12 steps in the book that can be used to combat chronic inflammation and regain “internal balance”.
Patel gives evidence-based advice on ways to reduce inflammation, such as going for a walk in the park, meditation, getting regular sleep, switching to organic foods, eating more vegetables, reducing meat - particularly red meat, drinking filtered water.
He describes alcohol as “poison, – we use to clean our skin when we fall down and hurt”.
Two areas, for example, of scientifically-proven ways to reverse chronic inflammation relate to exercise and intermittent fasting – something which Patel himself has seen the benefits of.
“When you fast, instead of using energy to digest food, the body switches into clearing the mess in the body - it clears out the dead cells and recycles them. And much more importantly, new cells are produced when you are fasting through a process called autophagy.”
Autophagy is a natural process by which a cell breaks down old, damaged, unnecessary, or dysfunctional components within a cell and then repurposes those components for fuel and to build or maintain cells.
It also destroys disease-causing pathogens, like bacteria and viruses, that can harm cells and has been linked in playing a role in preventing and fighting diseases like Parkinson's disease and Crohn's disease.
As for exercise, Patel explains you don’t have to run a marathon to see benefits.
“When we use our muscles, the body releases a substance called myokines which is anti-inflammatory,” he said.
Pic credit: iStock
Patel has carried out extensive research into ancient cultures who he believes had a more holistic approach to health.
“The book looks areas such as Chinese culture and Ayurvedic cultures, we have a lot to learn from them,” he said.
“It’s a pity we have moved away from it because they look at the whole body. In the West, we look at each organ, so you've got a cardiologist, rheumatologist, you've got a kidney specialist, whereas in Ayurveda, they look at the whole body, and that is where the inflammation comes in.
“The inflammation doesn't just affect one part. When you go to a dodgy knee, the symptoms are being shown in your knee, but there is inflammation going on in the other parts of the body as well.”
Patel reveals he has seen first-hand the result diet and exercise has had on his own father’s life.
“My father and my uncle were twins, but they had different lifestyles. My father did not drink alcohol, stuck to vegetarian diet, and he would start his day with yoga. He's 94-years-old and can still touch the back of his head with his toes,” said Patel.
“My uncle put on a lot of weight. Ate nastas (wholesome breakfasts), salty foods. When you look at the health outcomes, my dad is healthy and alive, whilst my uncle died a year ago after being really ill for two years.
“Investing in health does two things - it extends the life and it improves the quality of your life towards the end of your life.”
As for Patel’s own health, at 71, he feels in the best shape he has for decades after implementing the strategies he has shared in the book.
“I had long Covid and I was in a bad state,” he said.
“When I got up in the morning, it was like I had drank a bottle of whiskey the night before. I was rested but my head wasn't clear. By lunchtime, I was fatigued and wanting to go to sleep. I was in so much pain constantly.
“Now my head is clear. My pain has eased up a lot. I'm sleeping much better and probably a better person to be around than before because I was just so irritable.
“Every single day, using my dad as an inspiration, I'm going to keep going.”
The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Guide is available to download as a free e-book from Amazon only between May 12-13th. Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6VLX2DC
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Pharma imports to US surged in March as drugmakers look to avoid tariffs
May 08, 2025
Pharmaceutical imports to the US surged in March as drugmakers stocked up ahead of potential US tariffs on their products, which have historically been exempt from such fees.
Total imports of pharmaceutical products exceeded $50 billion in the month - the equivalent of 20 per cent of all pharmaceutical imports in 2024, according to data from a U.S. Commerce Department report on Tuesday.
Imports jumped in particular from Ireland, the top drug exporter to the US. The country had a larger trade surplus than China with the US for the first time in March.
Imports of all goods from Ireland rose by about $15.5 billion from February, with drugs accounting for most of that.
"While we had known consumer goods accounted for the bulk of March's rise, we can now see pharmaceutical products were $20 billion higher - almost all of which were imported from Ireland," Matthew Martin, senior US economist at Oxford Economics, wrote following the report.
President Donald Trump has been threatening to levy tariffs on pharmaceuticals as part of a trade policy he says will increase domestic manufacturing of medicines.
Last month, the Trump administration launched a probe into imports of pharmaceuticals ahead of possibly imposing tariffs on the grounds that extensive reliance on foreign production of medicine is a national security threat.
Trump said on Monday he would make an announcement on the tariffs in the next two weeks. He also issued an executive order aimed at easing the regulatory burden in the US for producing drugs.
In recent months, drugmakers told Reuters they had taken the unusual step of sending more medicines by air to the US. Two of the biggest US drugmakers said on recent investor calls that they had stepped up efforts to bring in inventory as part of their preparation for tariffs.
"As you can imagine, we have done everything that we have to do to make sure that we mitigate, so that includes inventory, of course, and many other things," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on a company conference call. He said the company was increasing that inventory each month to make sure "we are well positioned."
Merck's primary exposure is through blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, the world's biggest-selling prescription medicine, much of which is produced in Ireland. The company said last month it had moved enough inventory to the US to protect it through year-end.
In addition to Ireland and other European Union countries, Oxford's Martin said the countries most at risk from the anticipated drug import levies include Singapore and Switzerland.
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The PDA wants investment to reach those who deliver services to patients every day
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Funding boost in Scotland “needs to work for not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too”, says PDA
May 08, 2025
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.”
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The surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”
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GP surgery upgrades to create 8.3 million more annual appointments
May 07, 2025
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.”
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Welsh pharmacies receive funding boost for clinical services
May 07, 2025
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."
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