News & Updates

Pharmacy Business Awards 2018

Published On : 6th September, 2018

Excited to receive news today that we’ve been judged as a finalist for Natural Health Pharmacy in the UK Pharmacy Business Awards.

It’s a new award sector for us, but we’ve happy memories of our last appearance in 2010 when we won the Patient Services award.

The final will be held at the London Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster on October 5th. We’re obviously hoping for a great result but it’s an honour to have been selected and we’ll be celebrating all the god things Community Pharmacy has to offer on the night.

Health News & Insights

Health News & Insights

Explore the latest updates, insights and practical advice from The Health Dispensary. Our blog shares pharmacist-led perspectives on treatments, new medications and everyday health topics — helping you make informed decisions about your care, online or in person.

quinoa
,

Is Quinoa Good for Weight Loss? Why It’s One of My Favourite Foods for GLP-1 Patients

By Ali Sparkes 29th July, 2026

Real food for healthy weight loss Is Quinoa Good for GLP-1 Weight Loss? Quinoa for GLP-1 weight loss can be a useful addition to smaller, balanced meals. It provides plant protein, fibre and useful nutrients, making it a practical choice when medicines such as Wegovy® or Mounjaro® have reduced your appetite. My simple pharmacy lunch:

Pharmacist listening attentively to a patient during a compassionate healthcare consultation focused on whole-person care.
,

The Healing Power of Feeling Heard

By Ali Sparkes 28th July, 2026

Feeling heard in healthcare can be profoundly reassuring. Sometimes one of the most therapeutic moments is not receiving a prescription, a scan or a treatment plan — but realising that somebody has genuinely listened. Modern healthcare is extraordinarily skilled at diagnosing disease, interpreting blood tests, measuring risk and treating symptoms. These things matter enormously. Lives

Football stress and nervous system response during a tense World Cup match
,

The Nervous System on Match Day: Why Football Can Feel So Emotional

By Ali Sparkes 19th July, 2026

As the World Cup reaches its final, we explore football stress and why watching a match can raise your heart rate, stir your emotions, test your nerves and leave you feeling oddly exhausted — even if you never leave the sofa. Today, Sunday 19 July 2026, the FIFA World Cup reaches its final. After weeks

Positive psychology wellbeing intervention developed in a community pharmacy

Prescribing Happiness? The Research Project That Started Inside Our Pharmacy

By Ali Sparkes 2nd July, 2026

Prescribing Happiness began as a positive psychology wellbeing intervention developed for a community pharmacy setting. It explored whether evidence-based wellbeing activities could sit alongside traditional pharmacy care and help people flourish, rather than simply manage illness. Long before phrases such as whole health, social prescribing and preventative healthcare became part of everyday conversation, we kept

Tennis health benefits including fitness, social connection and healthy ageing
,,

Why Tennis Might Be the Best Sport for Healthy Ageing

By Ali Sparkes 29th June, 2026

Tennis health benefits extend far beyond fitness. Research suggests that tennis may be one of the best sports for healthy ageing, combining cardiovascular exercise, mental stimulation, social connection and enjoyment in a single activity. While many people associate tennis with Wimbledon, strawberries and cream, and the occasional outburst directed at an umpire, the science behind