Skip to content
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Seb James prescribes data sharing between NHS and community pharmacy for better health outcomes

Boots UK supremo Seb James has said better sharing of patient data between community pharmacy and the NHS could transform the way healthcare services are delivered in the country.

Speaking at a Digital Health Rewired event in London on Tuesday (14 March), he spoke of a recent study by Imperial College London which found that customer loyalty card data could be an early predictor of ovarian cancer.


The study tracked the spending of consenting Boots Advantage Card holders to investigate a link between a diagnosis of ovarian cancer and a pattern of buying over-the-counter pain and indigestion medications.

The managing director of Boots UK & ROI said: “Just as we can advise our customers which skincare product might be suitable for them – patient care should be personalised and seamless, offering complete continuity between hospital, GPs and the local pharmacy.

“Not only would this take critical strain out of the NHS system, but it would also crucially make it easier for patients to get access to the care and services they need. One way to help facilitate this is the better sharing of patient data between community pharmacy and the NHS. With patient consent, better data sharing could transform the way healthcare services are delivered.”

Diabetes screening

Boots is also planning to launch a new private pilot diabetes screening tests from May in seven stores across Manchester, London and Birmingham, cities with the most prevalence of diabetes case, with the possibility of spreading it across more stores next year.

James, who believes diabetes could be a particularly suitable area to benefit from greater data sharing between community pharmacy and the NHS, said that Boots could deliver these tests on behalf of the NHS and welcomes conversations with national and local service commissioners.

He said: “There are currently around 850,000 people living with undiagnosed diabetes and we want to help address that. As well as having community pharmacies like Boots perform screening tests, there could be an expanded role for diabetes management in community pharmacy.

"Our pharmacy team members could support with checks when patients collect their medicines and feed this information back to their GP via their patient record. That could be really powerful.”

James also revealed that Boots was extending its partnership with Our Future Health – a project that aims to create one of the most detailed pictures ever of people’s health to help transform the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases.

In a press release, Boots said since last year it has been raising awareness among its Advantage Card members to attract volunteers to take part in the initiative. During a pilot in 10 stores, Boots helped facilitate the recruitment of over 10,000 volunteers since last summer. The partnership which is now being extended to a further 10 stores this month will get another 70 stores to sign up by the end of the year.

Currently, community pharmacies in England do not have full read and write access to NHS patient health records.

More For You

AAH upgrades ordering portal, making procurement easier for pharmacies

AAH Cascade compares prices and availability across suppliers

AAH Warehouse

AAH upgrades ordering portal to improve product visibility

Leading pharmaceutical wholesaler AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd has introduced new digital functionalities to AAH Cascade, its independently managed ordering portal, making procurement easier and more cost-effective for pharmacies.

AAH Cascade compares product prices and availability across multiple suppliers, eliminating the need for manual searches.

Keep ReadingShow less
Majority of Brits neglect consistent skincare routine,  survey finds

On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Skincare: One in five Brits go to bed without washing their face daily, survey finds

Nearly two-thirds of Brits (60 per cent) neglect a consistent skincare routine,with almost one in five going to bed without washing their face daily, according to a new survey by consumer health company Kenvue.

The UK-wide survey of 2,000 people revealed that one-third of respondents (34 per cent) spend five minutes or less on their daily skincare routine. On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Keep ReadingShow less
Risk of pharmacy closures remains despite record funding uplift

Community pharmacy sector remains in a fragile position as the funding gap is still significant, says CCA.

gettyimages

Pharmacy closures still a risk as funding deal fails to cover costs – warns CCA

The community pharmacy sector has secured the largest funding uplift across the NHS, yet concerns remain that it may not be enough to prevent further closures and service reductions.

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has approved a £3.073 billion funding package for 2025/26, supplemented by an additional £215 million to support Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent Prescribing: Government aims to complete pathfinder programme evaluation by autumn 2025

Pharmacist prescribers at 210 ‘pathfinder’ sites were allowed to trial prescribing models within integrated primary care services.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Independent prescribing: Pathfinder programme evaluation to be completed by autumn, says Kinnock

Health minister Stephen Kinnock has revealed that the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme could be completed by Autumn 2025.

Kinnock was responding to a question from James Naish, Labour MP for Rushcliffe, who asked what steps the minister was taking to ensure continued support for the Pathfinder Programme and independent prescribing to maximise direct prescribing capacity in England.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free morning-after pill at pharmacies to end postcode lottery for patients

Pharmacy technicians will be allowed to supply of drospirenone for contraception under PGD,

gettyimages

Pharmacy contract: Free morning-after pill to be available at pharmacies soon

The UK government has announced that, for the first time ever, the ‘morning-after pill’ or emergency contraceptive pill will be available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a record £3.073 billion funding package for community pharmacies in 2025/26, alongside an additional £215 million to sustain Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less