In this episode of The PJ Pod, senior features editor Siobhan Chan examines how the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being communicated outside of traditional clinical and policy settings. 

The episode talks about Lifeline, a musical that brings together the history of antibiotics and the modern realities of drug-resistant infections.

We speak to two practising pharmacists who perform in the chorus of Lifeline: Marsha Boltova, an emergency department pharmacist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust; and Shay Khan, a specialist infection pharmacist and advanced clinical practitioner. They describe how their day-to-day work places them at the forefront of antimicrobial stewardship, from influencing initial antibiotic prescribing in A&E to managing complex infections with limited treatment options.

Also, playwright Becky Hope-Palmer explains how the musical demonstrates that AMR remains an urgent global challenge.

The episode also explores the wider context of AMR in England. Diane Ashiru-Oredope, lead pharmacist for AMR at the UK Health Security Agency, outlines the current state of AMR, using the latest surveillance data. She discusses why — despite some progress in reducing antibiotic use — resistance remains a significant and growing threat.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.

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 models to discover what a community pharmacy prescribing service could look like.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, senior clinical reporter Joanna Robertson shares on-the-ground reporting from two pharmacies involved in the programme, as well as discussions with pharmacy leaders about what building blocks will need to be in place for a nationally commissioned service in England.

With thanks to the contributors featured on this episode: Omar Sawar, pharmacy manager at Farah Chemists in Newcastle, Mark Burdon, community pharmacist at Burdon Pharmacies, Ewan Maule, clinical director for medicines and pharmacy at North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, and Harry McQuillan, chair of Numark and former chief executive of Community Pharmacy Scotland.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.

On 15 April 2026, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society became the Royal College of Pharmacy and — as Karen Baxter, the organisation's interim chief executive, says — that date “isn't the end of this story: it's just the foundation stone”.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, Baxter and outgoing chief executive Paul Bennett reflect on the journey up until this moment, the path that now lies ahead and the sense of optimism that surrounds this historic moment.

Thank you to Karen and Paul for taking time out to share their thoughts with us.

This episode was presented by reporter Corrinne Burns and produced by Geoff Marsh.

In this episode of Pharmacy Inside Jobs, Alex Clabburn, senior editor — research and learning, talks to Shane Kailla, a principal pharmacist and advanced clinical practitioner working in acute and emergency medicine.

Shane has worked as an emergency department pharmacist since 2021, with his current role focused on establishing the first dedicated pharmacy provision within a large NHS trust in the West Midlands.

Listen to this episode to find out more about this rapidly developing area of pharmacy practice.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.

In this episode of Pharmacy Inside Jobs, senior features editor Siobhan Chan talks to Li Shean Toh.

Toh is an astropharmacist, who is currently based at Monash University in Australia and also holds roles at the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency. She carries out clinical consultations, research and teaching into medicines management and the way our bodies process medication in microgravity. She also develops policy, works in space tourism and has co-founded a company called Apotech in Extreme, which aims to find pharmaceutical solutions for space exploration.

Before moving to her current role, Toh worked as a paediatric leukaemia pharmacist, as well as a GP pharmacist in rural Malaysia.

Listen to this episode to find out how to follow your academic interests and carve out your own niche in pharmacy research.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.

Pharmacy Inside Jobs

Our PJ Pod series — Pharmacy Inside Jobs — has been developed to inspire you to take the next step in your career. Whether you are a pharmacy student or a seasoned pharmacy professional, our goal is to provide insights into the increasingly diverse roles that exist within the profession.

In each episode, we will be joined by a guest to explore their career journey so far, with a focus on their current role and the opportunities, challenges and rewards that it brings. We will also find out which skills are needed to succeed in their role and how you could follow in their footsteps.

In case you missed it, our first three Pharmacy Inside Jobs episodes featured prison pharmacist Kaniksha Aggarwal, who lifts the lid on what it is like to work as an advanced pharmacist specialist in a men’s prison; Gurmat Khangura, a specialist in neurodevelopmental conditions, who talks about his role conducting ADHD assessments for young people; and Sanjay Gudimetla, who reveals what it’s like to be a senior medical affairs manager within the pharmaceutical industry.

This episode of The PJ Pod looks at the importance of speaking up whenever you have a safety or wellbeing concern, and how exactly to go about that. We speak to Beth Carter, interim director of operations and strategy at the National Guardians Office; and Mark Pitt, pharmacist and director of defence services at the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, who set out what anyone working in pharmacy should know if they are thinking about raising concerns.

For links to further resources and sources of support when getting started in research visit The Pharmaceutical Journal website.

This episode is presented by Katherine Sole, editor of research and learning at The Pharmaceutical Journal, and produced by Geoff Marsh.

The PJ Pod’s final episode of the year looks ahead to our editorial team’s predictions for pharmacy in 2026. What big changes are coming for the world of pharmacy — and what impact will this have on pharmacists’ day-to-day work?

We also look at the biggest stories of 2025, including a new contract that was deemed the best deal in the past decade, the ten-year health plan and the greater role that pharmacists will play in preventing ill-health within the community, as well as a government consultation on pharmacists combatting medicines shortages by being able to amend prescriptions in limited ways.

Tell us about your own predictions and join our conversation on social media using the hashtag #PJPod, or email us at: [email protected].

This episode is presented by Siobhan Chan, senior features editor, and produced by Geoff Marsh.

Thank you to Corrinne Burns, Royal Pharmaceutical Society correspondent; Graham Clews, news editor; Caitlin Killen, clinical editor; Joanna Robertson, senior clinical reporter; and Sophie Willis, investigations editor, for their contributions.

Article Supported By

Pfizer

Financial support was provided from Pfizer Ltd. Pfizer have provided only financial support and have had no input into the development or content of the project and associated materials.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, senior editor Alex Clabburn shares insights from a recent expert round table meeting hosted and organised by The Pharmaceutical Journal exploring how pharmacists can contribute to improved migraine care for patients.

For links to further resources and sources of support when getting started in research visit the PJ website.

Many thanks to Callum Duncan, Sandip Patel, Bethany Hill, Katy Munro, Rob Music and The Migraine Trust for their contributions and support in the production of this episode.

This programme is presented by Alex Clabburn, senior editor, research and learning and was produced by Geoff Marsh.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, senior editor Alex Clabburn shares insights from a recent expert roundtable meeting hosted and organised by The Pharmaceutical Journal, which explored how pharmacists can contribute to improved migraine care for patients.

By the end of the episode, you should be able to:

Understand how to recognise symptoms and identify patients with undiagnosed migraine;

Know which treatments are recommended for acute migraine and when preventative medications are indicated;

Understand the long-term nature of migraine and need for ongoing patient support and optimised treatments, 

Know the importance of lifestyle adjustments and headache diaries to help patients reduce their exposure to migraine triggers and frequency of attacks.

Many thanks to Callum Duncan, consultant neurologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Sandip Patel, Bethany Hill, a headache and facial pain clinical nurse specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Katy Munro, a senior GP headache specialist at the National Migraine Centre, Rob Music, chief executive of the Migraine Trust, and the Migraine Trust for their contributions and support in the production of this episode.

This programme is presented by Alex Clabburn, senior editor, research and learning and was produced by Geoff Marsh.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, we explore the main changes and implications for practice of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)’s chronic heart failure guidance update.

On 3 September 2025, NICE released its updated guidance on ‘Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management’.

The guidance mentions the role of pharmacy for the first time and has implications for an expanded role for primary care in managing heart failure.

The guidance makes several recommendations, including on the use of combination treatment of the four main types of treatment: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), beta-blockers (BBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2s (SGLT2s) inhibitors — also known as the four pillars — in the early treatment of heart failure.

In this episode of The PJ Pod, clinical editor Caitlin Killen talks to Paul Wright, consultant cardiovascular pharmacist at Barts Health NHS Trust, to learn more about the guidance and its implications for practice.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.

In this episode of Pharmacy Inside Jobs, senior features editor Dawn Connelly talks to Sanjay Gudimetla.

Gudimetla has worked within the pharmaceutical industry for around nine years and is currently senior medical affairs manager at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. He is also a qualified final medical signatory.

Before moving to his role within the pharmaceutical industry, Gudimetla gained his independent prescriber qualification and worked within clinical practice, including roles in community pharmacy, primary and secondary care.

Listen to this episode if you want to find out how to secure a role in the pharmaceutical industry, the diverse opportunities available and whether it is possible to achieve a work–life balance.

This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh, with editorial support from Alex Clabburn, senior editor, research and learning.

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Our new PJ Pod series — Pharmacy Inside Jobs — has been developed to inspire you to take the next step in your career. Whether you are a pharmacy student or a seasoned pharmacy professional, our goal is to provide insights into the increasingly diverse roles that exist within the profession.

In each episode, we will be joined by a guest to explore their career journey so far, with a focus on their current role and the opportunities, challenges and rewards that it brings. We will also find out which skills are needed to succeed in their role and how you could follow in their footsteps.