It is "astonishing" that community pharmacies in England carried out an estimated 65 million consultations in a year without dedicated funding, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has said.

Following Boots’ decision to raise its starting salary for newly qualified pharmacists, Lloydspharmacy, Superdrug and Rowlands have told C+D what they offer pharmacists at the beginning of their career. 

The health secretary has pledged that pharmacy will be first on the list of the government’s planned reforms to primary care, so what do sector bodies want to see from this overhaul?

Pharmacy is not the only sector dealing with increasing demand for locums and rising hourly rates – with pressures being felt across primary care, the pharmacy minister has told C+D.

In an exclusive interview with C+D, pharmacy minister Maria Caulfield reveals her vision for the sector, the “unrecognised” work of pharmacists and how she plans to tackle growing violence and abuse against pharmacy teams 

Blister pack services should be appropriately funded by commissioners to ensure pharmacies can continue offering them, the Association of Independent Multiple pharmacies (AIMp) has said.

PDA Union members working at Lloydspharmacy have voted to reject the multiple’s offer of a 3% pay increase, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has confirmed to C+D. 

The DH has confirmed plans to raise payments made by drug companies in the statutory scheme for branded medicines to 24.4% for 2023, despite clear warnings from the pharmaceutical industry against the hike.

Lloydspharmacy has offered a 3% salary increase “for all members” as its “final offer”, following pay talks with Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) Union officials.