Theramex, a global speciality pharmaceutical company dedicated to women's health, has named Robert Stewart as its new chief executive officer.
Stewart, who will take up the new role on March 9, replaces Anish Mehta, who decided to step down for personal reasons.
Prior to joining Theramex, Stewart was CEO of Amnel, a generics and speciality pharmaceutical company with over 225 products sold in markets across the world.
He also served as the Group COO of the Irish pharma company Allergan.
The Single Activity Fee (SAF) was increased by 19p to £1.46 per item, effective from April 2024.
Following discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has agreed a mechanism that will allow pharmacy owners to receive the 19p increase to the Single Activity Fee (SAF) earlier for the dispensing months of April and May 2025.
CPE said: “The advance payments for these dispensing months will be adjusted to incorporate the uplift to the SAF. No adjustment to advance payments will be required from the June 2025 dispensing month onwards.”
As part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) arrangements for 2024/25 and 2025/26 announced at the end of March, the SAF was increased by 19p to £1.46 per item, effective from April 2024.
Typically, NHSBSA calculates advance payments based on each pharmacy’s latest Average Item Value (AIV) figure, declared items and the value of prescription charges.
As the historic AIV figures would not have incorporated the 19p SAF increase, pharmacy owners would have only received the benefit upon receipt of the balancing payments, around 60 days after the end of the dispensing month under the current payment timetable.
Commenting on the announcement, Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said: "We've long warned that pharmacies face significantly increased costs in April and May, and so it is good news that the government has recognised this by taking a small step to try and mitigate these increases.
"This has been a period of immense challenge for pharmacies and because the current settlement only slightly reduces the funding gap, we’ll be monitoring closely to see if the wider CPCF offer has a stabilising effect on the pharmacy network."
Under the adjusted mechanism, pharmacy owners will receive the benefit of the 19p SAF uplift when they receive their advance payment for April and May 2025.
The timing of this payment will vary depending on whether pharmacies follow the early advance or normal advance timetable.
Early Advance (received for MYS FP34C submissions made by the 5th of the month)
Pharmacies receiving their early advance payment around 10-12 days after the conclusion of the month will have the 19p SAF uplift included in the advance payment (‘Payment on account for’ field, itemized on the Schedule of Payments for March and April 2025). This will not show as an additional payment.
Normal Advance (received for MYS FP34C submissions made after the 5th of the month)
Pharmacies receiving their normal advance payment around 30 days after the conclusion of the month will have the 19p SAF uplift included as an ‘Additional advance payment’ itemized on their Schedule of Payments for March and April 2025.
What do you think should be the next priority for the Government?
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) is urging pharmacy owners to share their views on the new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) funding settlement ahead of its next full Committee meeting, scheduled for 30 April–1 May.
The Committee said it had agreed to the settlement "reluctantly," acknowledging that it represents a significant shift after years of real-terms funding cuts, while admitting that it’s “still not sufficient to match the continued scale of pressures facing pharmacy businesses.”
To ensure that its discussions continue to be shaped by the views and shared experiences of pharmacy owners, the Committee is inviting them to take part in its latest opinion poll.
“Your feedback will help the Committee discuss how the new settlement is being felt across the sector,” it said.
“We want to know whether it helps ease financial pressures, supports investment in staff, services or premises, and how serious the ongoing challenges still are for your pharmacy.”
Pharmacy owners are also asked to share whether they have already had to stop – or expect to stop – providing any aspects of their business this year, and what they think should be the next priority for Government and Community Pharmacy England.
Owners can input directly into the Committee’s discussions by completing the Committee Opinion Poll (for independent and non-CCA multiples only).
The survey will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 30th April 2025 to allow time for the Committee to review responses before its meeting.
Alongside the poll, CPE is continuing its programme of in-person and online engagement events, giving pharmacy owners an opportunity to discuss the deal directly and access the latest resources.
The final event will take place in London on Saturday 26 April.
Findings from the poll and engagement events will be used to support the Committee’s wider influencing work, pressing for further improvements and support for community pharmacies.
The new settlement increases baseline annual CPCF funding for 2025/26 to £3.073 billion, alongside securing an additional £215 million to support the ongoing delivery of Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.
It also includes the write-off of £193 million in historic margin overspend and a commitment to reviewing the distribution of margin across the sector.
Taken together, these measures represent a more than 30% uplift in funding for the community pharmacy sector compared to 2023/24.
Speaking at the recent Pharmacy Business Conference, CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said that it was a tough decision to accept the deal as the uplift was not enough to fully stabilise the sector, as evidenced by the Economic Analysis.
“We took a lot of time considering what would be the consequences of saying no, and the committee thought long and hard of this,” she said.
“If we said no, there was no guarantee that we would retain the quantum of funding that is now on the table for 25/26. It would pretty certainly have delayed any funding being decided and it was pretty clear that the allocations that we'd argued for wouldn't necessarily be guaranteed.”
Community pharmacy received the largest uplift in funding across the whole of the NHS, recognising the key role they will play in future healthcare.
Homecare medicines services face many challenges beyond pharmacy's control
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has called for industry-wide collaboration to improve homecare medicines services to ensure patients always receive their medicines when needed.
The call follows a recent review by the regulator, which identified several challenges facing homecare services, many of which were beyond the immediate control of the pharmacies providing them.
Despite these challenges, the GPhC found that all 20 registered pharmacies delivering homecare medicines services met its standards, offering assurances that such services were being delivered safely and effectively.
“Homecare medicines services are complex and involve various healthcare services and professionals working together to provide a package of care for a patient,” said Roz Gittins, Chief Pharmacy Officer at GPhC.
“Our findings highlight the systems pharmacies have developed to reduce the impact of these challenges, but further work is required to ensure patients always receive their medicines when they need them.
“We recognise this requires more industry-wide collaboration and we encourage all organisations involved with the provision of homecare medicines services to support their teams to embrace new and improved ways of working for the benefit of patients.”
The GPhC carried out its review in response to a House of Lords public inquiry into homecare medicines services, launched in June 2023, which uncovered reports of patients experiencing delays receiving their medication and getting the wrong medicine, with serious impacts on patients’ health, sometimes resulting in people needing hospital care.
In its review report, Evaluating service provision: a themed review of registered pharmacies providing homecare medicines services, the GPhC made several key recommendations, including:
All homecare pharmacies should adopt cross-sector risk management processes with support from the National Homecare Medicines Committee (NHMC) and the National Clinical Homecare Association (NCHA).
Hospitals and pharmacies should record and monitor the registration of new patients, and work together to identify ways to improve new patient registration information.
Hospitals and homecare pharmacies should agree on standardised information to be provided to patients, clearly explaining the different stages of the homecare medicines services.
Homecare pharmacy communication platforms should be reviewed to identify what works well and to address the challenges that prevent patients and hospitals from accessing them.
National health organisations across the UK should move away entirely from paper-based systems to electronic transfer of prescriptions.
The organisations should facilitate access for homecare pharmacy teams to the same health and clinical systems as other aspects of the patient’s care pathway.
The regulator has urged all organisations involved with the provision of homecare medicines services to consider how these recommendations could be implemented across the sector.
W G Hamilton Pharmacy is the third pharmacy in Northern Ireland to be recently sold to first-time buyers.
An increasing number of pharmacies in Northern Ireland are being acquired by first-time buyers, as existing contractors and groups pull back from expanding their portfolios amid ongoing funding pressures, according to specialist business property adviser Christie & Co.
Among the most recent sales is W G Hamilton Pharmacy, a busy community pharmacy in Ballysillan, North Belfast.
Christie & Co confirmed the sale on Tuesday (15 April), marking the third pharmacy in Northern Ireland recently sold to first-time buyers.
The pharmacy, which dispenses an average of 8,750 prescription items per month and collects scripts from over 20 surgeries in the Belfast area, also delivers key NHS services such as the Minor Ailments Service and Pharmacy First.
Owned and operated by Fergus Hamilton for over 20 years, the pharmacy was sold following his decision to pursue a partial retirement.
The sale was managed confidentially by Karl Clezy, director – pharmacy at Christie & Co., and first-time buyers Andrew Crawford and Daniel Cheah have now taken over the reins.
According to Clezy, this is the second pharmacy we have sold in the Ballysillan area over the last few years.
“There have been lots of enquiries on this business since we put it to market, and I am delighted to have sold it to another first-time buyer who I’m sure will take it to further success,” he said.
Clezy noted that the last three pharmacies they have sold in Northern Ireland have been to first-time buyers, which is largely due to “a lack of government funding causing a lot of existing contractors and groups off buying any more pharmacies.”
“This is providing more opportunities for younger buyers to get their first step on the ladder,” he said.
“Whereas before first-time buyers found it difficult to buy their first pharmacy as they were competing with experienced operators who could afford to offer a higher amount.”
Hamilton, former owner of W G Hamilton Pharmacy, wished the new owners “success and prosperity in their new business venture.”
Crawford and Cheah, the new owners, expressed their delight in taking over a long-established and well-run community pharmacy.
“We intend to pick up where Fergus has left off by continuing to provide a first-class service to our patients of north Belfast,” they said, wishing Hamilton “a very happy retirement!”
The pharmacy was sold for an undisclosed sum.
The ‘Gift in Wills’ initiative is delivered in partnership with Bequeathed.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced its support for the ‘Gift in Wills’ initiative run by Pharmacist Support, coinciding with the charity’s birthday celebrations today (Tuesday 15 April).
This collaboration allows RPS members to create a free will while also helping to safeguard the future of vital support services for the pharmacy profession.
The initiative is delivered in partnership with Bequeathed and provides individuals with access to expert legal advice to secure a professionally drafted Will for Good.
This service not only helps individuals plan for the future but also provides an opportunity to leave a legacy gift, ensuring continued support for pharmacists facing financial difficulty, workplace stress and mental health challenges.
They can choose to allocate even 1% of their estate to the charity, ensuring their loved ones inherit the remainder.
RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: "We are proud to build on our work with Pharmacist Support and support them with this initiative.”
“By promoting the chance to create a free will to our members, we are not only helping them plan for the future but also encouraging them to support this fantastic charity that does so much to improve and advance the wellbeing of pharmacists."
Pharmacist Support has been providing assistance to pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists, trainees and students for over 180 years.
The demand for its services continues to rise in response to growing pressures on the profession.
In 2024 alone, the charity delivered 439 counselling sessions—up 23% from the previous year—and awarded £192,811 in financial grants, marking a 20% increase overall and a 59% rise in grants specifically to pharmacists.
Its most recent Workforce Wellbeing Survey, conducted in partnership with the RPS, revealed that 87% of pharmacy professionals are at high risk of burnout, with nearly half of the workforce negatively impacted by financial pressures.
Danielle Hunt, chief executive of Pharmacist Support, said: "Pharmacists are facing increasing pressures, from financial struggles to workplace stress, and our services have never been more in demand.”
“By leaving a gift in their will, members of our pharmacy family can help ensure that future generations continue to have a dedicated, independent charity to turn to in times of need. We’re grateful to the RPS for supporting this initiative and helping us build a lasting legacy of support."
To mark its anniversary, the charity has also launched a special birthday donations appeal, calling on individuals and organisations across the sector to support its fundraising campaign to meet the increasing demand for its mental health and wellbeing services.
As a symbolic gesture tied to its founding year of 1841, the charity is encouraging supporters to donate £18.40.
