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 on promoting weight loss POMs and the shambolic ICB reorganisation goes from bad to worse. There's also an epic Monty Python fail. Meaning of Brian, anyone?

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 net!

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.