Pharmacist training sites to receive backdated funding uplift
NHS England said that for the 2026/2027 academic year, eligible pharmacist training sites will receive a 3.3% increase in funding per trainee compared with 2025/2026.
Lost in fine print: how patient information leaflets are failing patients
Carlotta Eden looks at whether it is time for there to be a change in how patient information leaflets are presented in order to improve health literacy and cut down on accidental double dosing.
Shoppers support higher welfare standards
Shoppers would be willing to pay more for their weekly food shop to reduce animal welfare problems on farms, new research has found.
The future of facial aesthetics in dentistry: regulation, policy and clinical best practice
Ghostwritten content - can be verified by third party. “Dentists have a unique set of skills,” begins Dr Bob Khanna, principal and owner of The Dr Bob Khanna Training Institute and DrBK Clinic, at one of the 2026 Dentistry Show’s opening sessions in Birmingham.
Why are so many vets also elite runners?
Carlotta Eden delves into the reasons behind why ultramarathons and long-distance races are swarming with veterinary professionals
The hidden cost of HR – and what to do about it
Ghostwritten content - can be verified by third party. Agilio Veterinary on why good HR isn’t a back-office function, and the tool that’s changing how practices think about it.
Health officials warn over persistent rise in Shigella infections
In addition to rising Shigella case numbers, UK Health Security Agency data has highlighted increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance.
All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group publishes framework on self-administration of medicines in hospital
The guidance says that enabling patients to be involved in the management of their medicines can improve “adherence, safety and health literacy”.
Safety risks for hospital patients treated with insulin highlighted in report
According to a report by the Health Services Safety and Investigations Body, most inpatient diabetes care is delivered by non-specialist staff who “may lack confidence and/or competence” in diabetes management.
Petition urges government to extend NHS support fund to fully include pharmacy students
A petition has been launched calling on the UK government to extend the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) to fully include pharmacy students, stating that current support does not reflect the costs associated with their training.
GPhC announces 6% rise in registration fees
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced a 6% rise in its annual registration fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, effective September 2026.
Pharmacy teams subjected to racism, threats and violence
A survey conducted by Community Pharmacy England has revealed the regular extent of abuse against community pharmacy teams, including racist behaviour, threats and physical violence.
Pharmacists ‘perfectly placed’ to deliver nationally commissioned weight-loss service, MPs told
Community pharmacy is “perfectly placed” to help deliver a nationally commissioned weight management service, MPs heard during a Health and Social Care Committee session examining private provision of GLP-1 weight-loss medicines.
Experts back call to include pregnant women in clinical trials
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should be routinely included in clinical research, where safe and appropriate, the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) has said.
Community pharmacies urged to plan ahead for Easter bank holidays with methadone safety resources
The Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group resources have been developed to offer support for community pharmacy teams before, during and after bank holidays, when opening hours may differ and other commissioned services may close.
Scottish Parliament votes against assisted dying bill amid concerns over pharmacist protections
The bill was rejected by 69 votes to 57, after several MSPs cited concerns about the lack of safeguards for healthcare professionals who do not wish to participate in assisted dying.
Investing in education that benefits the whole profession
The SPVS Educational Trust is building on its long-standing support for the veterinary profession by funding innovative projects that deliver long-term, profession-wide benefit, writes Carlotta Eden.
Spotting gum disease in your pharmacy - and why it matters for heart health
Ghostwritten - can be verified by third party. With growing evidence on the associations between gum disease and cardiovascular health, pharmacists are in a unique position to spot the warning signs.
Coroner flags lack of clarity around expanded role of community pharmacists under Pharmacy First
A coroner has raised concerns about outdated methotrexate guidance and a lack of clarity around the role of community pharmacists under the Pharmacy First scheme, following the death of a patient.
Welsh parliament approves motion on assisted dying
Members of the Senedd have voted to support plans that would allow Welsh ministers to shape how assisted dying services could operate on the NHS in Wales if UK legislation on the issue is approved.The legislative consent motion linked to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed by 28 votes to 23, with 2 abstentions, on 24 February 2026.The bill, which is currently going through the Westminster parliament, would allow terminally ill adults to request medical assistance to end their lif...
Regulator sets acceptance criteria for fitness-to-practise complaints
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published acceptance criteria for fitness-to-practise (FtP) complaints for the first time, setting out which FtP concerns about pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacies will be taken forward for investigation.The criteria explain that a pharmacy professional’s fitness to practise can be called into question on specific legal grounds and states that not every error or concern will lead to a formal investigation. The regulator said...
Pharmacy owners warn of closures and cuts in open letter to health secretary
A letter sent to health secretary Wes Streeting on behalf of more than 3,000 community pharmacy owners in England has warned that services face being cut — or pharmacy businesses closed — without an increase to funding.The letter, coordinated by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and sent on 18 February 2026, said that two-thirds of pharmacies “are at real risk of imminent closure” and “face the reality of underfunding in a real and very brutal way”.The results of a survey conducted by the...
NICE widens access to SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1s in updated type 2 diabetes guidance
Newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) should be offered a sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor – which include dapagliflozin and empagliflozin – earlier in their treatment alongside metformin, updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said.In guidance published on 18 February 2026, NICE said that research has shown that SGLT-2 inhibitors not only control blood sugar but actively protect the heart and kidneys, whi...
Stopping antidepressants in pregnancy linked to higher risk of mental health emergencies
Women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy are almost twice as likely to have a mental health emergency as those who continue treatment, according to new research presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting on 11 February 2026.The study examined records from a state-based private insurance database for 3,983 patients who gave birth between January 2023 and December 2024. All patients had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety and were prescri...
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