NPA Coverage in the media 2020

The NPA’s press office helps to safeguard the interests of the community pharmacy sector in the media and ensures the voice of NPA members’ is well represented. The press office writes regular columns for the pharmacy trade press and often organizes NPA spokespeople to be interviewed on national and regional media to talk about the issues which matter most to pharmacists and patients. We also advise NPA members about handling local media interest in their pharmacy – whether it’s bad news or good news.

Below is a list of some media coverage in which the NPA has appeared in.

Summary 2020:

ITN Evening News. NPA chief executive Mark Lyonette and NPA board member Olivier Picard feature in report on Coronavirus

4 September 2020

Mirror. ‘End of local chemist’ as fears thousands of essential family businesses could close

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/end-local-chemist-fears-thousands-22626141

Mirror. Celebrity doctors back Mirror’s campaign to save Britain’s family chemists

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/celebrity-doctors-back-mirrors-campaign-22631824

Media Coverage 2020:

11 December

Pharmacy Business. Campaigners urge for COVID-19 funding to save pharmacies from closure

https://www.pharmacy.biz/campaigners-urge-for-covid-19-funding-to-save-pharmacies-from-closure/

ICP. NPA creates 400 placements for unemployed youth

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/654336-npa-reaches-400-placements-in-new-unemployment-scheme

5 December

The Sun. Brits urged to get flu and COVID-19 double vaccination this winter – but at least a week apart

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13394856/patients-urged-to-get-flu-covid-jabs-apart/

25 November

Pharmacy Magazine. Pharmacies need share of NHS £3bn, NPA tells Sunak  https://www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/some-of-the-3bn-outlined-for-nhs-must-go-to-pharmacy-warns-npa

9 November

ICP. NPA ‘won’t stop lobbying for funding support’

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/649715-npa-we-wont-stop-lobbying-for-funding-support

Pharmacy Business. Nearly 70 per cent of UK adults visited pharmacy during pandemic: NPA survey

https://www.pharmacy.biz/nearly-70-per-cent-of-uk-adults-visited-pharmacy-during-pandemic-npa-survey/

4 November

C&D. How pharmacy further integrated with NHS during ‘gruelling’ COVID-19

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/feature/pharmacies-nhs-covid

15 October

Mirror. Local chemists warn they could close just as coronavirus second wave strikes

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/local-chemists-warn-could-close-22850141

8 October

Independent Community Pharmacist. NPA to give ‘hard-hitting’ response to COVID-19 inquiry

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/644665-well-give-hard-hitting-response-to-inquiry-says-npa-chief

28 September

Independent Community Pharmacist. CCA and NPA update crisis guidance for second wave

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/643134-cca-and-npa-update-crisis-planning-guidance-as-second-wave-looms

23 September

C&D. Pharmacist visits Department of Health to give ministers flu jab

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacist-visits-dh-give-ministers-and-officials-flu-vaccination

21 September

C&D. NPA chair: Momentum is building to address pharmacy underfunding

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/opinion/npa-chair-momentum-building-address-pharmacy-underfunding

14 September

Eastern Eye. Chemists urge ‘son of pharmacist’ Rishi Sunak to save community pharmacies

https://www.easterneye.biz/chemists-urge-son-of-pharmacist-rishi-sunak-to-save-community-pharmacies/

13 September

Mirror. 1,300 pharmacies beg chemist’s son Rishi Sunak to save them from closure

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/1300-pharmacies-beg-chemists-son-22675202

Mirror. Jackie Doyle-Price: Stop quibbling over pharmacy funds and avert a national tragedy

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jackie-doyle-price-stop-quibbling-22675215

8 September

Eastern Eye. ‘Community pharmacies have been among the true heroes of the coronavirus pandemic’

https://www.easterneye.biz/community-pharmacies-have-been-among-the-true-heroes-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

7 September

Mirror. Pharmacies could get more cash – but only if they provide more services says Matt Hancock

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/pharmacies-could-more-cash-only-22644024

C+D. APPG chair: Government must ‘get to grips’ with pharmacy funding

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/appg-chair-government-get-to-grips-with-funding

5 September

Your Thurrock. Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price concerned over future of pharmacies

https://www.yourthurrock.com/2020/09/05/thurrock-mp-jackie-doyle-price-concern-dover-future-of-libraries/

4 September

Mirror. ‘End of local chemist’ as fears thousands of essential family businesses could close

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/end-local-chemist-fears-thousands-22626141

Mirror. Celebrity doctors back Mirror’s campaign to save Britain’s family chemists

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/celebrity-doctors-back-mirrors-campaign-22631824

C+D. 72% of English pharmacies will be in deficit by 2024, report predicts

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/72-english-pharmacies-deficit-2024-report-predicts

3 September

Mirror. Voice of the Mirror: Local chemists need more support so they can survive

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/voice-mirror-local-chemists-need-22626236.amp

28 August

C&D. The pharmacist naval captain who saw his ship lit up for Diwali

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/feature/pharmacist-naval-captain-who-lit-ship-hindu-festival

Pharmacy Business. Pharmacy Show rescheduled for next year

https://www.pharmacy.biz/pharmacy-show-rescheduled-for-next-year/

27 August

ICP. Pharmacies invited to register interest in ANI scheme

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/638166-pharmacies-invited-to-register-interest-in-ani-scheme

26 August

Pharmacy Magazine. Pharmacy Show postponed to 2021

https://www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/pharmacy-show-postponed-to-2021

25 August

In Touch, BBC Radio 4. Head of Corporate Affairs, Gareth Jones, was interviewed about the issue of drug supplies when the Brexit transition period comes to an end.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000m10j

20 August

C&D. NPA: Proposed PSNC overhaul “must work” for whole sector

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/npa-proposed-psnc-overhaul-must-work-whole-sector

14 August

Primary Care Journal. Putting pharmacy into the NHS team

https://primarycarejournal.co.uk/newsdit-article/758b1de415c2fb1f95fb4cd21ce8957e/

10 August

ICP. Ask Your Pharmacist week returns in November

https://www.independentpharmacist.co.uk/623779-ask-your-pharmacist-week-returns-in-november

6 August

Pharmacy Business. PM visits pharmacy in his constituency.

https://www.pharmacy.biz/pm-visits-pharmacy-in-his-constituency/

24 July

Sky. Expansion of flu jab programme to reach 30 million in England to mitigate impact of COVID-19

https://news.sky.com/story/expansion-of-flu-jab-programme-to-reach-30-million-people-to-mitigate-impact-of-covid-19-12035071

15 July

Daily Telegraph. Pharmacy closures set to be reversed in fight against coronavirus

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/07/15/pharmacy-closures-set-reversed-fight-against-coronavirus/

14 July

The Sun. WINTER IS COMING Flu jabs ‘free to every Brit over 50’ in biggest vaccination programme, says Hancock

https://www.the-sun.com/news/1133981/flu-jabs-free-brits-over-50-biggest-vaccination-programme/

Metro. COVID-19 immunity might only last three months

https://www.metro.news/covid-immunity-might-only-last-three-months/2077910/

13 July

I News. Coronavirus in the UK: COVID-19 deaths rise by lowest number since mid-March

https://inews.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-deaths-united-kingdom-rise-figure-536356

9 July

Eastern Eye. ‘Pharmacies deserve support after pandemic pressure’

https://www.easterneye.biz/pharmacies-deserve-support-after-pandemic-pressure/

29 June

Daily Telegraph. Pharmacies warned not to hike prices of hand sanitiser and face masks

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/29/pharmacies-warned-not-hike-prices-hand-sanitiser-face-masks/

26 May

Mirror. Pharmacies and chemists issue coronavirus cash crisis warning to Boris Johnson

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/pharmacies-chemists-issue-coronavirus-cash-22084272

The Times. Community chemists tell Boris Johnson they face financial ruin over higher drugs bills and PPE costs (login needed)

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/https-www-thetimes-co-uk-article-article-3fr8pdxxf-3fr8pdxxf

21 May

Hidden Harms domestic violence summit:

https://news.sky.com/story/shop-workers-could-be-trained-to-spot-codeword-from-domestic-violence-victims-11991900

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-21/coronvirus-domestic-abuse-victims-to-get-codeword-report-violence-to-shop-workers/

 10 May

Sunday Express. NPA chair Andrew Lane’s opinion column on coronavirus testing.

5 May

ITV. Welsh Government launches volunteer-run prescription delivery service for people self-isolating

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-05-05/welsh-government-launches-volunteer-run-prescription-delivery-service-for-people-self-isolating/

12 April

Daily Telegraph. Jackie Doyle-Price MP calls for more support for pharmacies in the light of COVID-19

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/04/12/nations-health-fighting-covid-19/

7 April

BBC South interview with Andrew Lane.

BBC News. Living Care feature in report on deliveries.

6 April

BBC News report featuring Reena Barai and Andrew Lane :

3 April

Andrew Lane’s Sky News interview on pharmacy teams being tested for COVID-19:

Gareth Jones interview BBC Radio West Midlands on medicines supply (3hr 23mins)

NPA board member Amish Patel on LBC radio last night talking about community pharmacy teams on the frontline: (50mins into the show)

2 April

Sky News at 7.30am with Andrew Lane:

30 March

Sky News. NPA chair, Andrew Lane interview

27 March

ITV News. Coronavirus: Pharmacies facing pressure as the demand for drugs drastically rises

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2020-03-27/coronavirus-pharmacies-facing-pressure-as-the-demand-for-drugs-drastically-rises/

25 March

Mirror. Coronavirus: Boy brings pharmacist to tears with note thanking him for “amazing” job

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-boy-10-brings-pharmacist-21750414

24 March

Evening Standard. Pharmacies urge public to ‘only buy medicine you need now’ amid coronavirus stockpiling fears

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/pharmacy-only-buy-essential-medicine-coronavirus-a4395706.html

16 March

ITN Evening News. NPA chief executive Mark Lyonette and NPA board member Olivier Picard feature in report on Coronavirus

8 March

Observer. A personal account of life as a pharmacist during COVID-19 by NPA board member Olivier Picard, among other key workers

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/08/coronavirus-workers-frontline-teacher-gp-nurse-pharmacist-care-home