The Pharmaceutical Journal
@pharmaj.bsky.social
Established in 1841 as the RPS's official journal, The PJ is a trusted source of news, analysis, learning and research on pharmacy, medicines and pharmaceutical sciences https://pharmaceutical-journal.com https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/pj-app-faqs
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No formal impact assessment was conducted for the introduction of community pharmacy prescribing in the latest pharmacy contract, despite concerns that inadequate funding could lead to a “postcode lottery of patient access”, The Pharmaceutical Journal has learned #ukpharmacy buff.ly/ifWlM53
Government did not conduct impact assessment for community pharmacy prescribing
No formal impact assessment was conducted for the introduction of community pharmacy prescribing in the ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ (CPCF) for 2026/2027, despite concerns that…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
A total of 16,900,477 items classified as antihistamines were prescribed and dispensed in the community in England during 2025/2026, according to analysis by the NHS Business Services Authority #ukpharmacy #allergy buff.ly/EyCIju1
Antihistamine prescribing increased by 18% in five years
A total of 16,900,477 items classified as antihistamines were prescribed and dispensed in the community in England during 2025/2026 — an 18.2% increase from the 14,296,821 items dispensed in…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
Our latest learning article offers an overview of the considerations for prescribing medicines with the risk of dependency, including monitoring, discontinuation and the optimisation of therapeutic outcomes #ukpharmacy #addiction #prescribing buff.ly/8wSHq4C
Best practice for prescribing drugs with dependence potential
Introduction Medications associated with physical dependence and withdrawal — including opioids, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, gabapentinoids, antidepressants and psychomotor stimulants — are widely…
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In this comment piece, #MatthewJAyre explains that medication errors disproportionately affect patients with mental illness but pharmacists’ expertise in psychopharmacology could help tailor prescribing to better meet individual patient needs #ukpharmacy #psychopharmacology buff.ly/07cHzx3
How pharmacists can transform prescribing safety in psychiatry
Medication-related harm remains a critical challenge in global healthcare settings, with preventable harm affecting about 1 in 20 patients globally, disproportionately affecting patients prescribed…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
In this comment piece, #MatthewJAyre explains that medication errors disproportionately affect patients with mental illness but pharmacists’ expertise in psychopharmacology could help tailor prescribing to better meet individual patient needs #ukpharmacy #psychopharmacology buff.ly/07cHzx3
How pharmacists can transform prescribing safety in psychiatry
Medication-related harm remains a critical challenge in global healthcare settings, with preventable harm affecting about 1 in 20 patients globally, disproportionately affecting patients prescribed…
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Our collection of resources dedicated to #gastrointestinal conditions has been organised into three categories, alongside a self-assessment quiz to consolidate your learning #GI #GIhealth buff.ly/EWQF6OC
Gastrointestinal conditions
Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are made up of a range of conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. Conditions can be categorised as functional, where the GI tract looks…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
Consensus guidelines for the use of GLP-1 medications in pregnancy, breastfeeding and postpartum has been published following an international review #ukpharmacy #weightloss #pregnancy buff.ly/sJl3jOM
Incretin-based weight-loss drugs should not be deliberately continued in pregnancy, consensus guidelines state
Consensus guidelines for the use of GLP-1 medications in pregnancy, breastfeeding and postpartum has been published following an international review. The systematic scoping review and consensus…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
The National Pharmacy Association has called for community pharmacies to be commissioned to provide an annual meningococcal B disease vaccination campaign, after thousands of young people received jabs in the first two weeks of a pharmacy-led campaign #ukpharmacy #MenB #vaccination buff.ly/2JGz4ry
Delivery of 90,000 meningitis B vaccinations for young people prompts call for annual campaign
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called for community pharmacies to be commissioned to provide an annual meningococcal B disease (MenB) vaccination campaign, after thousands of young…
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In our latest blog article, #IvanWall and #BerniceWright examine if virtual reality technology will enable the UK to meet the demands of training in the pharmaceutical industry and medicines manufacturing #ukpharmacy #VR #AR buff.ly/2y7nHmS
Virtual reality holds the promise of filling medicines manufacturing workforce gaps
Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need for a robust and effective medicines manufacturing sector. The lack of a trained and experienced workforce was one of the factors leading to…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
#ThePJ's collection of #mentalhealth content is categorised into nine categories, which cover the most common conditions as well as the main themes, debates and context, including a self-assessment quiz to test your knowledge pharmaceutical-journal.com/mental-health
Mental health
Medicines are a primary treatment tool for many mental health conditions. For pharmacists to use their expert skills to help patients who have mental health challenges, it is vital for them to have a…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
The use of integrated digital tools in primary care can significantly reduce medication errors, according to a study funded by the Department of Health and Social Care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research #ukpharmacy #generalpractice #medicationerrors buff.ly/hS0iW9J
Digital systems in general practice could reduce medication errors
The use of integrated digital tools in primary care can significantly reduce medication errors, according to a study funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) through the National…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
A once-weekly tablet could maintain HIV control as well as existing daily treatment, according to the results of a phase III international study #ukpharmacy #HIV buff.ly/F9XUGNT
Once-weekly HIV pill performs as well as daily treatment in phase III study
A once-weekly tablet could maintain HIV control as well as existing daily treatment, according to the results of a phase III international study. The study’s findings were published in the New…
pharmaceutical-journal.com
A new treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been simultaneously recommended for use on the NHS in England and Wales by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency #ukpharmacy #HCM
NICE recommends heart drug aficamten with simultaneous MHRA approval
A new treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been simultaneously recommended for use on the NHS in England and Wales by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence…
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Our latest learning article provides an overview of the symptoms, management options and prescribing considerations for acute kidney injury #ukpharmacy #AKI #renal
Acute kidney injury: causes, diagnosis and management
Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious, broad clinical syndrome associated with increased short-term mortality and long-term morbidity. AKI is defined as an abrupt decrease in kidney…
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In this feature article #KatherinePrice examines what is being done to ensure hospitals can store medicines safely as heatwaves become more prevalent and what steps are pharmacists taking to maintain medicines integrity in the short term? #ukpharmacy
How pharmacists are storing medicines in soaring temperatures
Even with optimal efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures are expected to keep increasing1. Incidences of overheating in English hospitals nearly doubled between 2016/2017…
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This extensive resource collection has been organised into five sections: upper respiratory infections, lower respiratory infections, asthma, other chronic respiratory conditions and inhaler prescribing. Read more ⬇️ #respiratorydisease #COPD #asthma
Respiratory tract diseases
Respiratory tract diseases are common in the UK, affecting one in five people. Conditions such as lung cancer, COPD and pneumonia account for 20% of all UK deaths. These and other respiratory…
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Our #QuoteoftheWeek is from #VeronicaSanna, a pharmacist at Pharmacy Plus Health in West Yorkshire, on more than 1 million contraception appointments delivered by pharmacies in six months #ukpharmacy #contraception buff.ly/2DDND14
Search for your next career move on #PJJobs, which has an unrivalled track record in helping pharmacists and pharmacy technicians find their perfect job #pharmacyrecruitment #pharmacyjobs
PJ Jobs | Search for your next career move
Search for your next career move, or upload your CV now and let employers find you
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Each integrated care board (ICB) or ICB cluster will receive £51,000 to support the implementation of independent prescribing from autumn 2026 #ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy #prescribing
ICBs funded for independent prescribing implementation
Each integrated care board (ICB) or ICB cluster will receive £51,000 to support the implementation of independent prescribing from autumn 2026. In a letter sent to ICBs in England on 31 July 2026,…
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Women who reach menopause before the age of 40 years face a meaningfully higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those who go through menopause after the age of 45 years, according to the results of a study #ukpharmacy #menopause #highbloodpressure
Premature menopause increases risk of high blood pressure, study finds
Women who reach menopause before the age of 40 years face a meaningfully higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those who go through menopause after the age of 45 years,…
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Pharmacies could work with local governments to improve vaccination uptake in rural areas, the Local Government Association has advised #ukpharmacy #vaccination #communitypharmacy
Local governments advised to work with pharmacies to improve rural vaccination rates
Pharmacies could work with local governments to improve vaccination uptake in rural areas, the national membership body for local authorities in England has advised. In a guide for local councils,…
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In our latest #PJPod episode focusing on #PharmacyInsideJobs, #MarkStuart explains how he went from pharmacist volunteer to superintendent of the Olympic Games and reveals the key role pharmacists play in supporting athletes #ukpharmacy #sportspharmacy
Pharmacy Inside Jobs: sports pharmacist
In this episode of Pharmacy Inside Jobs, Joanna Robertson, senior clinical reporter, talks to Mark Stuart, a sports pharmacist whose 25-year career has spanned Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth…
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Pharmacists should be well placed to spot conditions that cause #pain and properly assist patients with appropriate self-management Click below to access our collection of resources relating to pain management, including a self-assessment #ukpharamcy
Pain management
Pain can be described as acute or chronic, depending on the duration of the pain and the nature of its onset. Conditions that cause pain can be a source of significant morbidity for patients and the…
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The number of items of dependency forming medications prescribed in England fell in 2025/2026, continuing a downward trend since 2016/2017, the latest figures from the NHS Business Services Authority have shown #ukpharmacy #addiction #dependencyformingmedicines
Prescribing of dependency forming medicines 'moving in the right direction' but challenges remain
The number of items of dependency forming medications prescribed in England fell in 2025/2026, continuing a downward trend since 2016/2017, the latest figures from the NHS Business Services Authority…
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Nearly one in five UK adults would share weight-loss injections with friends or family, a survey commissioned by Pharmacy2U has revealed #ukpharmacy #weightloss
Around one in five adults would share weight-loss jabs with friends, survey finds
Nearly one in five UK adults would share weight-loss injections with friends or family, a survey commissioned by Pharmacy2U has revealed. Results of the survey, shared with The Pharmaceutical Journal…
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Pharmaceutical companies Lilly and Eisai are in talks with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence around potential NHS use of their Alzheimer’s disease treatments, after NICE committees met for the fourth time to discuss the drugs #ukpharmacy #Alzheimersdisease
Pharmaceutical companies in talks with NICE about access to Alzheimer's drugs
Pharmaceutical companies Lilly and Eisai are in talks with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) around potential NHS use of their Alzheimer’s disease treatments, after NICE…
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In our latest news analysis piece, #ElisabethMahase examines prime minister Andy Burnham's plans to devolve power and how the Manchester health model he oversaw could impact pharmacies across England #ukpharmacy #communitypharmacy
Devolution revolution: what could Andy Burnham mean for community pharmacy?
One week after winning the intense Makerfield by-election in June 2026, former health secretary and now prime minister Andy Burnham set out one key part of his vision for the country: devolution.…
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Our #minorailments collection has been mapped to cover the conditions specified by the Welsh common minor ailments service, NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and #PharmacyFirst in England. Click below to find out more, and to take our self-assessment quiz 👇
Minor ailments
Pharmacists have a leading role within primary care in the treatment of many common minor ailments with services expanding across the UK. In order to provide effective advice and treatment for…
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A report has not found sufficient evidence to say that bladder anticholinergic medicines increase the risk of dementia; however, a small increased risk cannot be ruled out, it said. #ukpharmacy #dementia #antichoinergics
MHRA report finds insufficient data on bladder anticholinergics dementia risk
A report has not found sufficient evidence to say that bladder anticholinergic medicines increase the risk of dementia; however, a small increased risk cannot be ruled out, it said. In a public…
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