Medicine

NHS England concludes wide-ranging deal for cystic fibrosis drugs

NHS England has today announced it has secured a definitive agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to make available all three of their UK-licensed cystic fibrosis medicines. This means NHS patients will now have full access to Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco, and around 5000 people may now take up these treatments. There is no cap on patient numbers, and each and every patient in England who […]

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World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 18-22 November

World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase awareness of antibiotic resistance as a global problem, and to promote best practices among the general public, health workers and policy-makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. As part of preparations for the 2019 Awareness Week this November, a group of senior leaders […]

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Life-changing treatment on the NHS for children with rare, deadly disease

Children in England with a rare condition which leads to early death are set to receive treatment on the NHS, after the health service struck a deal with manufacturers. Young people with Batten Disease – an incurable illness which affects the nervous system, causing seizures, visual impairment, mobility loss and early death – will now […]

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NHS to review making statins available direct from pharmacists as part of Long Term Plan to cut heart disease

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 […]

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NHS to fund revolutionary treatment for blindness in children

A revolutionary new gene therapy which restores sight will be provided by the NHS, chief executive Simon Stevens has announced today. Babies born with inherited retinal dystrophies disorder have poor sight which swiftly deteriorates, with most losing their vision completely in childhood. Until now no treatment has been available. The life-changing treatment for children and […]

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NHS cuts medicines costs by three quarters of a billion pounds

The NHS has saved more than £700 million from the annual medicines bill to reinvest in new treatments as part of the Long Term Plan. An NHS-wide campaign has supported patients and doctors to maximise the use of ‘generic’ and best value ‘biologic’ treatments to treat conditions including arthritis and cancer. New figures show that the […]

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