Pharmacy Magazine Podcast: Talking Pharmacy

This episode of the Category Insight podcast is sponsored by E45. We speak to Medhia Sarwar, Medical Advisor at Karo Healthcare with more than 10 years' experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Please note speakers views are their own.

England's community pharmacy prescribing service finally goes live. Or does it? The Editors try – and fail – to unpick the confusing, complicated and completely convoluted clinical pathways. At just £17 per eligible consultation and myriad hoops to jump through before pharmacists can even start prescribing, is anyone going to bother? Plus another pharmacy chain insolvency, the ASA cracks down...

Catch up on the big pharmacy stories of the week – in just two minutes.

Before the Editors pack their bags for this weekend's Pharmacy Show, they kick the tyres of the latest pharmacy workforce report, welcome a new broom at Boots, lament the GPhC's continuing tardiness in clearing fitness to practise cases and celebrate the wonderful finalists in this year's Independent Pharmacy Awards. Plus cardiac screening by Puri Pharmacy at Southall FC. Back of the n...

The expansion of Pharmacy First in England is the big news this week. With details still thin on the ground, the Editors unpack what the prescribing pathways could look like and why this development could prove pivotal for community pharmacy. Also in this episode: polypharmacy, cholesterol testing and a pharmacy pushing the boundaries in Woking.

Catch up on our most-read pharmacy stories of the week before the bank holiday – in just two minutes.

The Editors discuss why some pharmacists are reluctant first-aiders, the devastating impact of rising numbers of pharmacy insolvencies, why the new service specification for England's hypertension service may be missing the bigger picture and one pharmacy's lease nightmare in Hillingdon.

Community pharmacy is moving from the sidelines to the heart of neighbourhood NHS care. Pharmacy Magazine's Richard Thomas talks to NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight leaders about how pharmacies in the region are influencing local decisions, improving access and successfully delivering care closer to home.

Drones, prescribing turf wars, concordats, pharmacy deserts and Mrs Montague's aspirin tablets – the Editors cover the ground in this week's episode.

Catch up on our most read stories of the week so far – in just two minutes.

The new contractual framework in England – is it progressive, pragmatic or perilous for the sector? The global sum receives amuch-needed double-digit boost but why does the deal fall so far short on prescribing? Does it go at least some way to plugging the funding hole? How far down the road has it kicked reimbursement reform? Listen to this episode to find out the verdict of the Editors.

The Editors are back with Good Week Bad Week: prescribing predicaments, ICBs in meltdown, CPC highlights, howlers from NHS 111 call handlers and ex-ministerial musings – all feature, and lots more. Check it out!

All you need to know from the Pharmacy Magazine clinical team – who’s eligible for the MenB vaccine, what pharmacists should prioritise and what red flags to look out for, plus latest case numbers and what might happen next.

Our new group clinical editor, Ross Ferguson, joins the team to discuss why the shortage of DPPs is severely disrupting this year's foundation training year, transparency at CPE (or lack thereof), the funding crisis in Wales – and a famous pharmacist celebrates 50 years in business.

Why threatening legal action before funding negotiations is a bad idea, pharmacist independent prescribers eyeing up private services and happy retirement to Boots magnate Ornella Barra. Plus Henry Gregg, Shilpa Shah, Harry McQuillan and Janet Morrison on the year ahead in pharmacy.

It's the first pod of the year, so what better time for the Editors to peer review into their crystal ball and give their pharmacy predictions, good and bad, for 2026 – but do you agree? Send in a VoiceNote to pm@1530.com and let us know!

Rob Darracott talks to Sir Hugh Taylor, independent chair of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board , about the importance of professional leadership, the work of the Board to further collaboration among UK pharmacy’s  professional leadership bodies and specialist groups, and what a Royal College of Pharmacy should mean for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. 

In Halloween week, grab your broomsticks as the CIG editors stir the cauldron of pharmacy news to see what’s been bubbling over the past week – antidepressant side-effects, black market GLP-1s and the dearth of practice research in the community sector all cast a spell...

This episode focuses on smoking cessation in the pharmacy.

Catch up on our most read pharmacy stories of the week – in just two minutes.

The CIG editors are back to discuss the dramatically falling rates of locum pay, why depression is such a welcome addition to the New Medicine Service – and we celebrate the very best of independent community pharmacy in this year's Independent Pharmacy Awards. See you at the Pharmacy Show!

In a packed edition, Numark chair Harry McQuillan joins the CIG editors in a Good Week Bad Week special to discuss a possible upside to the Mounjaro chaos, whatever happened to ICB breach notices and whether centralised dispensing is the solution to pharmacy's capacity problems. Plus Daniel Lee of HubRx on the possibilities offered by hub & spoke. It's a bumper episode, so let us know your vie...

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