Boots opened its first branch in Wales right here in Swansea 120 years ago today

Boots is celebrating 120 years in Swansea. Although the site of the pharmacy chain's first store was destroyed in the wartime bombings of 1941, Boots has had a presence in Swansea since 1896, the South Wales Evening Post reports.

Originally situated on Oxford Street, the store, which was the first in Wales, was a staple part of the high street until it was a casualty of the Second World War.

Boots re-opened on November 15, 1952 in the same location, but in 1979 the building closed and Boots moved over to the Quadrant Shopping Centre.

And now, today, the Swansea branch of Boots plans to celebrate its history in the city with a fundraiser for BBC Children in Need.

NHS finance staff fear future

Almost two-thirds (64%) of NHS finance staff say they would like to spend the rest of their career in the service, despite mounting pressure on their teams and the most challenging financial operating environment to date, a new report reveals.

NHS Finance Function in 2015: England, which surveyed over 500 NHS finance staff, showed that although they are ready to meet the challenge, many fear that the constant change and reforms mean they won’t be able to fulfil these career ambitions.

Other findings include:

NHS finance staff workforce report a relatively high average level of job satisfaction, at 6.7 out of 10

71% said the public sector values of the NHS keep them motivated

78% feel valued by their line managers, but this figure falls to 48% for their organisation’s board and 46% for clinicians in their organisation

60% believe better communication between finance and non-finance staff could help them add further value to their organisations

Man, 22, appears in court charged in connection with armed robbery in Lakenheath

A 22-year-old man has appeared in court in connection with an armed robbery at a pharmacy in Lakenheath, the Bury Free Press reports.

Daniel Mitson, of St John’s Close, Mildenhall, was arrested in Lakenheath on Saturday afternoon following the incident on Friday.

Police were called at 3.20pm to reports that a man entered the pharmacy, in High Street, armed with a knife and stole cash from the till before running off.

Mitson was also charged with two further counts of robbery.

Helensburgh pharmacy staff raise £1100 for charity

Rowlands Pharmacy raised over £1100 for charity with an ‘80s themed fun day, the Helensburgh Advertiser reports.

Staff donned legwarmers and tutus to help raise money for Cancer Research and the Beatson Centre on Friday, February 26, raising cash while wearing colourful ‘80s costumes.

Customers bought baking and crafts made by staff and purchased raffle tickets for the prize draw, bringing the final total to over £1100.

Medicines regulators should continue to work together to support the development of vaccines for Zika virus

Medicines regulators globally should continue to work together to deal with emerging health emergencies, said Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation.

She was speaking at the  11th Annual lecture organised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in London.

Dr Chan recognised the work done by regulators in reacting to the Ebola outbreak in fast tracking clinical trials for vaccines which she said had left the world better prepared for further health emergencies.

In the lecture, ‘From health care products to trust and reliance: the expanded role of regulatory authorities in an era of global health perils’, Dr Chan spoke of the challenges faced by regulators across the world particularly in dealing with emerging health emergencies such as the Ebola and Zika viruses and how working together they assist those developing vaccines to protect public health.

Brussels tax hike to send e-cigarette price sparing

Electronic cigarettes are set to soar in price under plans by Brussels to tax them at the same punitive rate as tobacco, The Times reports.

Vaping will be brought into line with cigarettes and cigars as the EU considers ways for governments to raise more money amid lobbying by big pharma.

Experts say that a tax rise will damage public health because higher prices will discourage smokers from switching to vaping.