Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pharmacist succumbs to COVID-19, hours after virus takes life of father

Pharmacist Pooja Sharma died on Thursday (March 26), a day after her father Sudhir passed away: both victims of the deadly COVID-19 disease.

Pooja, 33, who worked at the East Sussex at Eastbourne District General Hospital, succumbed to the virus after being admitted to intensive care unit three days ago.


Her friends paid rich tributes on social media.

“Her laughter was contagious and her random calls made my day. From when we were in primary school until we last spoke 2 weeks ago, you gave me nothing but love, support and a tummy ache with all the laughter,” wrote Amarjit Aujla on Facebook.

“Life can never be the same without you my dear friend.”

Another pharmacist friend, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “Please take this seriously, guys, and stay at home. There is nothing that cannot wait for a few months. Do this for your family if not for yourself.”

Sudhir, 61, was immigration officer at Heathrow, but officials think he contracted the virus elsewhere as he was away from work since 7 January due to “underlying health problems.”

The reports say he had recently returned to the job on the frontline.

It is also unclear whether Sudhir and Pooja, from Hounslow in west London, had been in contact with each other before their deaths.

A colleague of Sudhir told The Sun: “It’s an absolute tragedy. He was a lovely, lovely man. Every immigration officer is talking about it.

“There are concerns about his widow being unable to attend the funeral because of the isolation issues. It’s just so awful.”

More For You

Risk of pharmacy closures remains despite record funding uplift

Community pharmacy sector remains in a fragile position as the funding gap is still significant, says CCA.

gettyimages

Pharmacy closures still a risk as funding deal fails to cover costs – warns CCA

The community pharmacy sector has secured the largest funding uplift across the NHS, yet concerns remain that it may not be enough to prevent further closures and service reductions.

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has approved a £3.073 billion funding package for 2025/26, supplemented by an additional £215 million to support Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
New CPCF funding: “This is the best deal community pharmacy has had in a decade”

This new funding settlement marks a significant step forward in addressing the long term underinvestment in community pharmacy, says RPS England chair Tase Oputu

Pharmacy bodies hail new funding settlement as ‘best deal for community pharmacy in a decade’

Pharmacy bodies have welcomed the new funding settlement for community pharmacies, highlighting its potential to enhance patient access to care and medicines while addressing a decade of underinvestment in the sector.

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has approved a record £3.073 billion funding package for 2025/26, along with an additional £215 million to support Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free morning-after pill at pharmacies to end postcode lottery for patients

Pharmacy technicians will be allowed to supply of drospirenone for contraception under PGD,

gettyimages

Pharmacy contract: Free morning-after pill to be available at pharmacies soon

The UK government has announced that, for the first time ever, the ‘morning-after pill’ or emergency contraceptive pill will be available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a record £3.073 billion funding package for community pharmacies in 2025/26, alongside an additional £215 million to sustain Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
 New CPCF arrangements: Community pharmacy secures record £617m funding boost

This record investment is a vital first step to getting community pharmacies back on their feet and fit for the future, says health minister Stephen Kinnock.

Photo credit: gettyimages

New CPCF arrangements: Community pharmacy secures largest funding boost in NHS

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has committed an additional £617 million over two years to support the sector- the largest uplift in funding across the whole of the NHS.

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) today (31) announced the funding arrangements for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal College status: The PDA calls for ‘meaningful and collaborative dialogue’

The profession’s success will depend on collaboration across all sectors, says PDA.

gettyimages

Royal College vote: Less than 7% of GB pharmacists in favour, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for moving too quickly to a ballot on its proposed transition to a Royal College, arguing that it resulted in low participation from pharmacists in Great Britain.

Announcing the results of the special resolution vote, the RPS said that the outcome was a “clear mandate” in favour of the transformative change.

Keep ReadingShow less