Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

RPS England supports NHS plan to reduce 'inappropriate' prescribing of addictive medicines

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has backed a new framework from NHS England to reduce inappropriate prescribing of addiction-causing medicines.

It believes that the new framework is a positive step towards improving patient care by supporting medicine reviews and shared decision making to help people reduce their use of medicines that are no longer providing much clinical benefit.


The society has also welcomed investment in innovative approaches to supporting patients and urged all pharmacists to refer people to such schemes.

Director for England at RPS, James Davies said: “Pharmacists are well-placed to help reduce inappropriate prescribing of high strength painkillers such as opioids and other addictive medicines.

“Pharmacy teams can also often spot repeat purchases of over the counter medicines by patients so are well placed to intervene and give advice on the management of chronic pain. Whilst opioids can play an important part in helping people with chronic pain there has long been a need for alternative approaches that are safer and more effective for patients.

“Pharmacists can improve patient care by conducting medication reviews to identify instances where opioids, benzodiazepines or other potentially addictive drugs are being prescribed inappropriately or in excessive quantities. They can then work with prescribers to adjust the patient’s medicines to reduce the risk of dependency or other adverse effects."

More For You

Kinnock highlights employers’ role in making community pharmacy jobs attractive

The new funding uplift our commitment to rebuilding the sector: Kinnock

Kinnock: ‘Employers have a key role in making community pharmacy jobs attractive’

Health minister Stephen Kinnock has emphasised that employers have a crucial role to play in retaining staff and making careers in community pharmacy more attractive.

His comments came in response to a written question from Victoria Collins MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for science and technology, who asked what steps the Department of Health and Social Care is taking to address staff shortages and prevent the closure of local pharmacies.

Keep ReadingShow less
MHRA approves Pfizer Hympavzi (marstacimab) for haemophilia treatment

Marstacimab is currently being assessed by NICE and the Scottish Medicines Consortium for use on the NHS

gettyimages

Marstacimab approved for haemophilia treatment, Pfizer aims for NHS availability

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Hympavzi(marstacimab) to prevent or reduce bleeding in patients aged 12 years and older, weighing at least 35kg, who have severe haemophilia A or B.

Developed by Pfizer scientists, this groundbreaking treatment is the first of its kind to target a protein involved in the blood clotting process.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Pope Francis

Pope Francis at the Vatican on December 4, 2024.

Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj offers condolences to Catholic community following Pope Francis' passing

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader and president of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), has expressed heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community worldwide following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday.

In a formal letter addressed to the members of the Roman Catholic Church, Mahant Swami Maharaj conveyed the deep sorrow of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu fellowship, acknowledging the Pope's passing as “a profound loss to the Catholic community and Christians around the world.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Pharmacies in Northern Ireland distribute free booklets to raise cancer awareness

Dr Anna Cullen, Public Health Registrar at the Public Health Agency and Clare Conroy, Community Pharmacist from Meigh Pharmacy in Co Down.

Photo credit: Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland

Pharmacies in Northern Ireland help raise cancer awareness

Community pharmacies across Northern Ireland are distributing a free information booklet to help raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and promote early diagnosis.

The initiative is part of the ‘Be Cancer Aware’ campaign, which has been running in pharmacies since April and will continue through May as part of the Living Well service.

Keep ReadingShow less
CPE invites pharmacy owners to share their views on new CPCF funding settlement

What do you think should be the next priority for the Government?

gettyimages

Pharmacy owners asked to share their views on new CPCF arrangements

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) is urging pharmacy owners to share their views on the new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) funding settlement ahead of its next full Committee meeting, scheduled for 30 April–1 May.

The Committee said it had agreed to the settlement "reluctantly," acknowledging that it represents a significant shift after years of real-terms funding cuts, while admitting that it’s “still not sufficient to match the continued scale of pressures facing pharmacy businesses.”

Keep ReadingShow less