The Prime Minister has visited a pharmacy-led COVID-19 vaccination site at a Boots in his constituency as the multiple celebrates one year since it joined the national immunisation programme. 

The government will do “whatever it takes” to ensure free lateral flow tests remain in place for “as long as we need them”, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Michael Gove, has said. 

A former Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) board member has launched a petition asking the organisation “to take material steps to be transparent”, showing members and the wider pharmacy profession how it is governed. 

The European Commission’s proposed changes to the Northern Ireland protocol are encouraging, the National Pharmacy Association's (NPA) policy manager has said. 

The government should widen access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by making it available in community pharmacies “as soon as possible”, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said. 

The health secretary has praised community pharmacies for playing an “outstanding part” in helping to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

The MHRA is planning to consult on introducing a legal requirement for pharmacists to supply sodium valproate in its original pack in a bid to support its safe use, the DH said.

Pharmacy bodies have raised concerns over the increased costs pharmacies could face as chancellor Rishi Sunak announces the national minimum wage will rise from next April*.

Both the government and general practices have a “responsibility” to make it clear to people “why, under what circumstances, and how they need to use” pharmacies and NHS 111, a Conservative MP has said.

The UK “must” maintain the supply of medicines in Northern Ireland or “we’re going to see some pretty horrific consequences”, National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Mark Lyonette has warned.

Community pharmacy leaders must “influence” Treasury officials if they do not want further cuts to sector funding, the former PSNC CEO Simon Dukes has advised. 

The European Commission has proposed some changes to the Northern Ireland protocol to ensure the long-term “uninterrupted security of supply of medicines” from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.