Wales

Welsh Government acts to relieve COVID pressure on pharmacies

CPhO Andrew Evans: “I remain incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of every community pharmacy team in Wales."

Drug deaths in England and Wales hit record levels

Misuse of heroin pushes drug misuse deaths up by 17 per cent to 2,917.

Record number of pre-reg pharmacists to train in Wales

A record 155 trainee pharmacists accept pre-registration places in Wales for 2020-21 - a 60 per cent increase on 2019-20.

New director for Wales starts at GPhC

Liam Anstey appointed as GPhC's director for Wales.

Minor ailments visits double in a single year in Wales

A document from Statistics for Wales revealed that 43,158 CAS consultations were made in 2018-19, up from 16,087 in 2017-18.

Sixteen month sentence for 76k fraud pharmacist

A pharmacist has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for overcharging the NHS £76,475 for prescription medicines.

Move to give Welsh pharmacies needs-based contracts

The Welsh Government is consulting on proposed changes to the criteria for awarding pharmacy contracts.

Sore throat service to run in 50% of Welsh pharmacies

A sore throat test-and-treat service will be rolled out across 50 per cent of pharmacies in Wales this winter, Vaughan Gething said.

Cuts and more cuts

Wednesday November 2

I am at the LPC Conference at the Congress Centre in London today and am surprised the health minister, David Mowat, attends and is robust in announcing that cuts will go ahead in the face of a lukewarm reception from delegates. He states an intention to move community pharmacy into a future shaped around services largely commissioned locally, admitting that this will be easier to bring about in some areas than others.

Sue Sharpe speaks of betrayal by the DH’s disregard of the value of community pharmacy and dismissal of concerns of patients who rely on the care provided by community pharmacy teams.

Sore Throat Test and Treat, and other news

NPA believes Sore Throat Test and Treat service is conflicted by funding cuts

Hats off to Wales

For some, there’s better news “We’re recognising that it’s about quality, regarding community pharmacy remuneration. The health minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething, announced that, unlike in England, funding for community pharmacy wil lnot be cut. Hurrah!

Instead, pharmacists in Wales will be rewarded for improving medicines safety and for providing clinical services. That’s not to say the pharmacy contract in Wales won’t change; it almost certainly will, but clinical services will take priority over dispensing. MrGething said: "We're recognising that it's about quality, not just quantity.”

No funding cuts for pharmacies in Wales

Welsh Government pledges continued support for community pharmacy

No funding cuts for pharmacies in Wales

Welsh Government pledges continued support for community pharmacy

Lung cancer awareness campaign in all Welsh pharmacies

Community pharmacies in Wales take part in campaign to improve early detection of lung cancer

Suzanne Scott-Thomas re-elected chair of Welsh Board

Suzanne Scott-Thomas re-elected as chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board, Paul Harris as vice-chair