It can be hard enough, even during an ordinary year, to recall in December what made the headlines in January and 2020 has, of course, not been an ordinary year.

Looking back at the stories C+D published at the start of the year, before COVID-19 had fully begun to impact the UK, it now seems hard to imagine that there was a time in 2020 when the pandemic was not the main topic of conversation.

In January, our most read story was the coverage of the outrage caused by disparaging comments about the pharmacy sector made on ITV’s This Morning programme – comments that led to thousands of complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom and strong reactions from the sector.

In February, meanwhile, the most read story on C+D was the news that a government proposal could see pharmacists fast-tracked to become doctors, something that triggered debate and divided opinion.

From March onwards, the pandemic dominated the C+D content, just as it dominated everyone's lives, although coverage of other topics of interest and relevance to community pharmacy naturally also continued.

How much do you remember of the pieces published on C+D this year and of the topics – COVID-19 aside – that most affected community pharmacy in 2020? Does anything that was in the headlines a few months ago already seem like a distant memory, or is it fresh in your mind?

Take a look at our list of the most read C+D stories of 2020 – month by month- and (re)read the content that most interested and engaged C+D readers this year.*

January  
ITV faces backlash for ‘outdated’ comments about ‘pretend doctors’
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/itv-faces-backlash-outdated-comments-about-pharmacists

February
Pharmacists could be fast-tracked as doctors under new government plan
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacists-could-be-fast-tracked-doctors-under-new-government-plan

March
COVID-19: Pharmacies will be able to supply POMs without prescription
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/covid19-pharmacies-to-supply-POMs-without-prescription  

April
'Exhausted pharmacists may end up getting the respect they deserve ’
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/opinion/covid-19-exhausted-pharmacists-are-earning-respect-they-deserve

May
‘Pharmacists are reconsidering their careers after DH mistreatment’
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/opinion/pharmacists-are-reconsidering-their-careers-after-dh-mistreatment

June
COVID-19: Boots to pay provisionally registered pharmacists £36k
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/covid-19-pharmacists-provisional-register-receive-36k-boots

July
Lloyds owner: ‘Risk of redundancy’ for some under proposed changes
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/lloyds-owner-risk-redundancy-some-under-proposed-changes

August
Well: 374 jobs at risk as non-pharmacist manager roles axed
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/well-374-jobs-risk-non-pharmacist-manager-roles-axed

September
Matt Hancock wants to ‘drive more money towards pharmacy’
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/matt-hancock-wants-drive-more-money-towards-pharmacy

October
Ex-Lloyds manager struck off for £400k theft restored to register
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/ex-lloyds-manager-struck-400k-theft-restored-register

November
COVID-19: Asymptomatic pharmacy staff to get at-home tests
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/covid-19-asymptomatic-pharmacy-staff-get-home-tests

December
Pharmacist struck off for defrauding NHS of £76k by modifying scripts
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacist-sentenced-defrauding-nhs-76k-struck-register

 *The information in these articles reflect the situation at the time of publication. Please remember that things may have changed since then.