More than a year has now passed since the first national lockdown in response to COVID-19. This has been a year that has tested all of us, both personally and professionally, and with the Five year forward view for mental health also ending in March 2021, I find myself reflecting on what we have achieved […]

Case study summary The Structured Medication Review (SMR) and Medicines Optimisation service comes into effect from October 2020 as part of the PCN Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES). Nipa Patel has over 20 years’ experience of working in community pharmacy, general practice and clinical commissioning groups (CCGS). This case study describes how care is being […]

High dose statins could be made available directly from high street pharmacies as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to cut heart disease and stroke, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has announced. In a new review confirmed today, England’s top pharmacist Dr Keith Ridge and newly-appointed director of primary care, Dr. Nikki Kanani, will […]

NHS chief Simon Stevens today called on tech firms to help the health service become a world leader in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. He also asked staff to work with us and share ideas on reforms to the payment systems that would help encourage and facilitate quicker adoption and expansion. The […]

The Independent Review of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services commissioned by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer of NHS England in April 2016 to help inform him about the future provision of clinical pharmacy services. NHS England intends to use the recommendations of the independent review to inform its approach to the commissioning of NHS community pharmacy services […]

Pharmacists will take on an expanded role at the heart of local primary care networks across the country, NHS England has confirmed. Following the new GP contract published today, patients across England will be able to get faster expert advice about their prescriptions and other treatment, with clinical pharmacists part of core practice teams. Following […]

Leading change A general practice nurse (GPN) at Lancaster Medical Practice addressed unwarranted variation relating to cancer care reviews through introducing a group consultation model at the surgery. This new approach has led to better outcomes for patients, better experiences for patients and staff, and better use of resources locally. Where to look There are […]

In Wessex, the model of bringing Directors of Children’s Services and their leadership teams together with leaders from local CCG groups to think whole system mental health transformation for children has been really successful, Andrea King explains how. We know that one in ten of all 5-16 year olds are thought to have a mental […]

The Chief Nursing Officer for England thanks all nurses for their significant contribution in providing safe, effective, compassionate care for patients and those they care for, ahead of International Nurses Day on Saturday 12 May: It fills me with pride when I see the fantastic work and world class care provided by nurses across the […]

ITN Productions and the NHS are partnering to produce a news and current affairs programme celebrating 70 years of the NHS. Drawing upon ITN’s 63 year heritage in storytelling, ’70 years of the NHS’ will be a long-form, online programme championing the NHS’s achievements since 1948. As well as looking back at the achievements and […]