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Joanna Robertson

@joanna-journals.bsky.social
379 followers 747 following 119 posts

Journalist @pharmaj.bsky.social www.pharmaceutical-journal.com #Pharmsky 🦋 Community pharmacy feed ➡️ bsky.app/profile/joanna-journals.bs… 🦋GP / PCN pharmacy feed ➡️ bsky.app/profile/joanna-journals.bs…

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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Delighted to share a @pharmaj.bsky.social podcast I’ve been working on about community pharmacist prescribing in England. Give it a listen and let me know what you think! pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feat...
pharmaceutical-journal.com
What’s next for a community pharmacist prescribing service in England?
Over the past two years, around 200 community pharmacies in England have been involved in NHS England’s ‘Community pharmacy independent prescribing pathfinder programme’, trialling different clinical ...
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
I asked CPhO for England David Webb about rumoured plans to deliver NHS weight loss jabs through community pharmacy. He said the service would be delivered through general practice in the first instance, but there is an ‘ambition’ to explore other routes of delivery. #cpcongress #PharmSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Seen media reports about weight-loss jabs being available on the NHS from high-street pharmacies? The government confirmed that these reports are 'speculative' but England's community pharmacy negotiator told us that it would be open to discussing such a plan. Read everything we know so far ⬇️
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
BREAKING: Hub and spoke changes expected to come into force in October #PharmSky #CommunityPharmacy #HubAndSpoke
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Reposted by Joanna Robertson
The Pharmacist @thepharmacistnews.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Harry McQuillan was the chief executive of Scotland's pharmacy negotiator for more than 17 years. In this interview with The Pharmacist, the now chair of Numark shared his reflections on the new deal in England. Read more: buff.ly/HUDvjpf #PharmSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
There are so many changes to the pharmacy sector in the coming years - from hub and spoke and automation to skills mix, more services and prescribing. It was fascinating to speak to leaders within the sector about what this could look like for contractors.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
The Pharmacist is on BlueSky! 🦋 UK community / GP / PCN pharmacists - give us a follow ➡️@thepharmacistnews.bsky.social And please spread the word with your #PharmSky networks!
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
We're surveying UK #PCN and #GeneralPractice #pharmacists to find out what you think about morale, premises, assisted dying and more. This will help us cover issues that are vital to the future of practice pharmacy. #PharmSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
The pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock has promised a 'major new funding package' for community pharmacy that is due to be announced 'shortly'. #PharmSky www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/ministe...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Minister promises 'major new funding package' for community pharmacy
The pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock has promised a 'major new funding package' for community pharmacy that is due to be announced 'shortly'.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Community pharmacy funding negotiations have concluded, with the deal set to be announced on Monday, Community Pharmacy England has said. Read more ⬇️ www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin... #PharmSky
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Community pharmacy negotiations concluded, announcement set for Monday
Community pharmacy funding negotiations have concluded, with the deal set to be announced on Monday, Community Pharmacy England has said.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
BREAKING: Economic analysis of community pharmacy published www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin... #PharmSky
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Economic analysis of community pharmacy published
The economic analysis of community pharmacy in England has been published by its authors Frontier Economics.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
#PharmSky Pharmacy minister calls NPA action 'premature and unnecessary' www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/pharmac...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Pharmacy minister calls NPA action 'premature and unnecessary'
The pharmacy minister has called the NPA's proposed collective action 'premature, unnecessary and detrimental to community pharmacy patients'.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
BREAKING: RPS to become Royal College of Pharmacy after member vote www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Community pharmacies are still waiting for their new contract deal, which will be informed by the economic analysis of community pharmacy, commissioned by Frontier Economics. #PharmSky #MedSky #GPSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
At 8:30 on a Saturday morning in a small town in County Durham, a queue is already forming outside contractor Kevin Simpson's pharmacy. Within an hour, 'there'll be 20 people stood waiting for attention', Kevin tells The Pharmacist.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has advised its members in England to reduce their opening hours, as a funding deal for the sector has still not yet been announced. #PharmSky #PharmacyFunding #PharmacyContract
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Pharmacists in general practice are popular with patients and with GP employers – but their recruitment from a struggling community pharmacy sector has left its mark. #PharmSky #MedSky #GPSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
#PharmSky news this week on The Pharmacist: 💸 Contractors are still awaiting the community pharmacy 24/25 and 25/26 funding arrangements, with the pharmacy minister 'unable' to give an update (www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/pharmac...).
thepharmacist.co.uk
Pharmacy minister 'unable' to give contract negotiations update
Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock was unable to answer two questions related to community pharmacy negotiations
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
A little foray into entertainment writing with this interview with Amit Dhand about his major new BBC drama #Virdee. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/community/in...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Amit Dhand and Virdee: The community pharmacist turned TV crime writer
The Pharmacist speaks to Amit Dhand, pharmacist and crime writer whose Virdee series has been turned into a major new BBC drama.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Great to have @grahamstretch.pharmsky.app writing for The Pharmacist about why GP/PCN pharmacists should consider hosting a trainee, what foundation trainee pharmacists can do, and how to get employers & local partners on board. #PharmSky #PrimaryCare #GPSky www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Foundation trainee pharmacists in general practice: what's in it for me?
PCPA president Graham Stretch shares why pharmacists working in general practice or PCN should consider hosting a trainee pharmacist.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
BREAKING: Community pharmacy contract negotiations have now begun for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 agreements, the government has announced. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin...
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Pharmacy contract negotiations begin for 2024/25 and 2025/26
Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework negotiations have now begun, the government has announced today
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Prescribers should be required to conduct a 'full two-way consultation' with patients before supplying weight loss injections and other 'higher risk' medication, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has said. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/clinical/dia...
thepharmacist.co.uk
'Full two-way consultation' for weight loss jabs should be required, says NPA
Regulatory guidance should set out an expectation for prescribers to conduct a 'full two-way consultation' with patients before supplying weight-loss injections, the NPA said.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
All pharmacy team members have been asked to feed into a vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
thepharmacist.co.uk
'Wide range of views' sought on pharmacy professional leadership
All pharmacy team members have been asked to feed into a vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
My colleagues at Cogora have put together this report into the general practice workforce - including the changing landscape of pharmacists working in general practice and its impact on the community sector. Give it a read and let me know your thoughts! www.thepharmacist.co.uk/investigatio...
thepharmacist.co.uk
GP practices sound alarm over pharmacist recruitment struggles in new report
GP practices across England are struggling to recruit pharmacists because of local ‘competition’ and issues related to pay
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Almost every area in England has seen a drop in pharmacy provision between 2022 and 2024, new analysis shows. Find out how many pharmacies per 100,000 people your area has on my visualisation below, and head to www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/pharmac... for my full write-up of the NPA analysis.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
The government is considering enabling pharmacists to substitute a different dose or formulation in specified circumstances, it has confirmed.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
BREAKING: The government has responded to recommendations made by a parliamentary committee's report on pharmacy in May. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin...
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Government 'partially accepts' pharmacy funding recommendations
The government has responded to recommendations made by a parliamentary committee's report on pharmacy in May.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
An exclusive for The Pharmacist published today Seven in 10 pharmacists working in general practice or primary care networks (PCNs) see themselves working in the sector in five years' time, our snapshot survey suggested. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Majority of practice pharmacists plan to stay in sector in five years' time
Seven in ten general practice or PCN pharmacists see themselves working in the sector in five years' time, our snapshot survey suggested.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
BREAKING GPs have been offered a contract for the next financial year while pharmacies are still waiting for theirs that should have begun in April this year. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin...
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Outrage as GPs offered 25/26 contract while pharmacies still waiting for 24/25
GPs in England have received a contract offer for the next financial year, starting in April 2025, the government has announced.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting is 'working through' a funding package to stabilise the community pharmacy sector, he has said. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/streeti... #PharmSky
thepharmacist.co.uk
Streeting 'working on' funding package to stabilise community pharmacy
Health and Social Care secretary Wes Streeting is 'working through' a funding package to stabilise the community pharmacy sector and 'create a more stable foundation from which to build a better futur...
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
BREAKING: Pharmacy contract negotiations to start 'early in the new year' www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/breakin...
thepharmacist.co.uk
BREAKING: Pharmacy contract negotiations to start 'early in the new year'
Negotiations for the community pharmacy contract in England won't begin until next year, pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock has confirmed.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
BREAKING: Multi-sector pharmacist training no longer mandatory for 2026/27 www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Multi-sector pharmacist training no longer mandatory for 2026/27
Pharmacy employers will not have to offer multi-sector training placements in 2026/27, NHS England (NHSE) has announced.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Non-clinical pharmacy managers in England could come under the scope of regulation proposals launched by the Department of Health and Social Care. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Non-clinical pharmacy managers could be regulated under new government proposals
Non-clinical pharmacy managers in England could come under the scope of regulation proposals launched by DHSC last week.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
This week I spoke to James Davies from the RPS about 'concerning reports' of 'increasing numbers of websites that appear to the public to be reputable pharmacies providing medicines but are not registered with the GPhC'.
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Reposted by Joanna Robertson
Medical Journalists' Association @mja-uk.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Medicines shortages ‘increasing tensions’ between GPs and pharmacists. Detail here from @joanna-journals.bsky.social www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinica...
pulsetoday.co.uk
Medicines shortages 'increasing tensions' between GPs and pharmacists
Medicines shortages are increasing professional tensions between GPs and pharmacy teams, a report has warned.
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Reposted by Joanna Robertson
Claire Anderson @clairewynn.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Read the new RPs report "Medicines Shortages: Solutions for empty shelves" shortages/,https://www.rpharms.com/medicinesshortages
rpharms.com
Medicines Shortages
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society report on what is causing UK medicines shortages, their impact on patients, pharmacists and healthcare professionals, and what more can be done to mitigate and manage ...
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Paul Rees is set to step down from his role as chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and become the interim chief executive and registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) from January. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/paul-re...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Paul Rees to leave NPA for nursing regulator
Paul Rees is set to step down from his role as chief executive of the NPA to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) from January.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Looking for UK community pharmacists to follow? Try this starter pack - and let me know who I've missed! go.bsky.app/2psS5VG #PharmSky #MedSky #GPSky
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Hello #PharmSky bluesky-ers 🦋 I'm following and sharing UK primary care / GPP / PCN pharmacy news here: bsky.app/profile/joan... Who else should I add? Please add people and follow the list!
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Reposted by Joanna Robertson
Helen Hương Kilminster @hpillminster.pharmsky.app · 14/11/2024
This was only a matter of time. I hope good honest conversations takes place so that patient care is not compromised. Local LMC met yesterday for GP collective action and planned steps to be agreed. My head is already overthinking. #PharmSky #MedSky #GPSky www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Pharmacies vote to reduce services in first protest action
Pharmacists in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to reduce opening hours and stop home deliveries.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Pharmacy owners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted in favour of taking collective action, according to a ballot carried out by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/pharmac...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Pharmacy owners vote overwhelmingly in favour of collective action
Pharmacy owners have voted in favour of taking collective action, according to a ballot carried out by the NPA.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
As the RCGP reports 'regional spikes' in scabies cases, I spoke to two pharmacists who told me the over-the-counter treatment is too expensive for some patients, causing some to visit the GP to get it on prescription instead. Read more on The Pharmacist 👉 www.thepharmacist.co.uk/clinical/der...
thepharmacist.co.uk
'Regional spikes' in scabies reported
Pharmacists have highlighted the cost to patients of treating scabies, as the RCGP has reported 'regional spikes' in cases.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
Almost two-thirds (62%) of pharmacy team members have reported a reduced ability to offer services or advice to patients because of staffing shortages , a survey by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has revealed. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/communi...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Community pharmacies sound alarm over staffing shortages
A survey by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has revealed major concerns about staff wellbeing, recruitment and workload.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 30/09/2024
Pharmacists working in general practice / PCN - how has collective action / 'working to rule' from GPs impacted you? Let me know in comments or DMs, or let's arrange a chat 📲
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 30/09/2024
Some pharmacists are being expected to fulfil flu vaccination bookings as frequently as every five minutes, potentially impacting workload, stress and the delivery of other pharmacy services, the Pharmacists' Defence Association has suggested. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/clinical/vac...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Pharmacists concerned about flu vaccination workload, says PDA
Some pharmacists are being expected to fulfil flu vaccination bookings as frequently as every five minutes, the PDA has said.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 30/09/2024
Changes to hub and spoke regulation will not come into effect on 1 January 2025, as was previously intended, according to Community Pharmacy England. Read more www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/hub-and...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Hub and spoke changes 'delayed beyond 1 January'
Changes to hub and spoke regulation will not come into effect on 1 January 2025, as previously intended, CPE has announced.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 30/09/2024
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 24/09/2024
Calling all UK community, GP and PCN pharmacists - we want to hear from you! Our survey covers workforce, meds shortages, prescribing & more - please take 10 minutes to fill it out, help us cover the issues that matter, and potentially win £100 vouchers. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/take-ou...
thepharmacist.co.uk
Take our 2024 survey and potentially win £100 worth of vouchers
The Pharmacist has launched a new and exclusive survey for 2024 to gather opinions from the pharmacy sector.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
I'm writing about community and primary care pharmacy news for The Pharmacist. Today: Disproportionately low pharmacy provision and over-reliance on one pharmacy group could put rural areas at risk of becoming a 'pharmacy desert', the NPA has warned. www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/npa-war...
thepharmacist.co.uk
NPA warns of 'pharmacy deserts' in rural and deprived areas
Disproportionately low pharmacy provision and over-reliance on one pharmacy group could put rural areas at risk of becoming a 'pharmacy desert', the NPA has warned.
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Joanna Robertson @joanna-journals.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
I'm new to bluesky! Who should I follow in the community pharmacy / primary care world?👇
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