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Running a dental practice is no small feat! You have to ensure that both your customers are happy and your staff members too. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day admin and operational needs that you forget what is at the core of a successful dentist practice. How you manage your dental practice will leave lasting impressions on staff and patients, so it is important to always be trying to further yourself and improve how your practice runs. Here are 5 ways to easily improve your dental practice. IMPROVE YOUR WAITING AREA USE APPOINTMENT REMINDERS OFFER REGULAR TRAINING FOR STAFF REFINE YOUR BRAND CREATE A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT Check Pharmacy business website for full article.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has initiated the evaluation of its five-year strategy for changing the way it manage concerns about pharmacy professionals. It has urged people to share their experience of fitness to practice. The evaluation will look at how the strategy has improved the experience of people involved in fitness to practice (those who raise concerns, professionals, witnesses etc.); impacted the culture amongst pharmacy professionals and their attitudes to openness and honesty; improved the process and made it fairer and changed perceptions of fitness to practice. The first phase of the evaluation process will take place from July to September 2023. The council said: "We are committed to making our ambitions a reality for the benefit of everyone involved and your contribution will help us to make sure patients and the public continue to be protected while being fair to pharmacy professionals." In June 2021, GPhC published its five-year strategy- Managing concerns about pharmacy professionals: Guided by its 2030 vision and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, the strategy outlines a programme for change.

Despite being relatively new to the dispensing doctor market as a short-liner, Bestway Medhub is seeing exponential growth in the market in addition to the 3,500 independent pharmacies that we service and deliver to. We have however been servicing the dispensing doctor market for well over 40 years through our dispensing appliance contractor (DAC) Wardles. Wardles service and supply more than 55% of all dispensing sites with dressings, bandages, appliances, ostomy, wound care and hosiery. Graham Burford-Row To meet the needs of dispensing practices and surgeries we carry a large range of more than 10,000 Generics, PI's and OTC products. We offer net pricing so the practice can see straight away what price they are paying for their products - with no hidden fees. We offer all our practices 24-hour online ordering via our Bestway Medhub ordering portal and our recently launched Wardles FP Portal. Additionally, we have the backup of a telesales department with personal service from myself and a dedicated Internal Dispensing Dr Account Manager. We offer daily, weekly or monthly calls to those customers wishing to hear our special offers. Our deliveries are done daily via our third party full-line logistics partner for efficient deliveries, which no other short-line wholesaler offers. Bestway Medhub understands that dispensing practices are not only in the business of offering superior care to their patients and community, but they also offer numerous other services like clinics, nursing and referrals. By enabling practices to cost save, the funds could be used elsewhere instead.

Pharmacy Business and Haleon jointly hosted a practical Pain Management webinar on 5 December 2023. The webinar was specially designed to empower community pharmacies with effective strategies for understanding, managing, and reducing pain in their patients' daily life. Pharmacist Faheem Ahmend, director at Health Clinic & MEDLRN, and Linda Perry, account relationship manager OTC at Haleon, engaged in an insightful and informative conversation, highlighting real issues in the pharmacy setting and practical solutions to support community pharmacists.

NHS Somerset is aiming to grow its referral rate through GP Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (GP CPCS) to between 4,000 to 6,000 patients a month. Since June 2021 GPs in Somerset have successfully referred around 1,000 patients a month through the Somerset GP Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (GP CPCS) Currently, 59 of NHS Somerset's 64 GP practices and all of Somerset's 102 community pharmacists are using the Somerset GP CPCS. NHS Somerset found that providing the right training for GPs and for reception staff and practice managers was key to a smooth rollout and uptake of the service. As was making sure the technology worked when making referrals from general practice to community pharmacists. NHS Somerset is using software called Patient Access Connect, which seamlessly integrates with the EMIS Web GP system used in Somerset, to give practices a quick and easy way to capture the patient information needed to deliver a referral.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published its new 'Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum' to enable professional development towards advanced pharmacist practice. This follows an intensive programme of work undertaken in collaboration with a wide range of UK stakeholders, the society said today (June 27) in a statement. The Curriculum will equip pharmacists with advanced leadership, education, and research capabilities which are essential to support, lead and advance the profession through transformative change so it continues to meet evolving patient and service requirements. The RPS Core Advanced Curriculum provides the blueprint to develop such individuals by articulating a UK entry-level standard to advanced pharmacist practice, relevant to all patient-focussed pharmacist roles and aligned to multi-professional definitions of advanced practice. This curriculum completes the core RPS post-registration curricula, creating a seamless post-registration professional development continuum modelled around five common domains- Person-centred care and collaboration; Professional practice; Leadership and management; Education; and Research.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is confronting medical practices with unique operational challenges. Some practices have turned to telemedicine. Some providers are finding it difficult to continue operating at all, with sweeping cancellations of elective procedures and discouragement of in-person office appointments. Economic fallout due to the virus's effects on virtually every person, everywhere, is another concern facing all aspects of all healthcare systems..."

Pharmacy professionals to be included as key stakeholders in the implementation, delivery and evaluation of a wide range of genomic services, said the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). RPS's statement has been developed in collaboration with pharmacy organisations who have co-badged the report, such as the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association, Association of Pharmacy Technicians and the College of Mental Health Pharmacy. It looks at current and future roles for pharmacy professionals in genomic medicine across many aspects of practice such as person-centred care and collaboration, professional practice, education, leadership, management and research. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the UK have already established roles in the application of genomic medicine in some areas of practice, such as antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases, and the management of certain genetic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis. The society believes, the current role of pharmacy professionals in genomics can be expanded upon in the future to both lead and support many relevant aspects of genomic implementation. These are described across all healthcare sectors, within the Genome UK strategy produced by the UK Government, and within the implementation plans published in England, Scotland and Wales. Lead for Pharmacogenomics at RPS Sophie Harding said: "Pharmacy professionals are the gatekeepers of medication safety and efficacy across all areas of healthcare. They are skilled at interpreting complex scientific data and use evidence-based medicine to maximise the benefits of treatments for patients, whilst supporting shared decision-making with patients and the multidisciplinary team.

Despite the pervasive nature of pain, affecting 93% of the global population annually and leaving one in three individuals in daily discomfort, there exists a concerning reluctance to address and manage pain effectively. This leads to a heightened burden of suffering among people worldwide. Join our complimentary 1-hour Pain Management Webinar, meticulously crafted to equip you and your team with vital strategies to comprehend, address, and alleviate pain in your patients' lives. Delve into topics such as the pharmacist's evolving role, the significance of timely pain treatment, and initiatives like Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign. This webinar is tailored for pharmacists in GB, especially those in community, practice, PCN, and hospital settings. Don't miss this chance to enhance patient care and contribute positively to pain management. Register now to reserve your spot!

Despite the widespread prevalence of pain, which affects 93% of the global population annually and leaves one in three individuals experiencing daily discomfort, there is a troubling reluctance to effectively address and manage pain. This reluctance contributes to increased suffering among people worldwide. We invite you to join our complimentary 1-hour Pain Management Webinar, thoughtfully designed to provide you and your team with essential strategies for understanding, addressing, and alleviating pain in your patients' lives. Explore topics such as the evolving role of pharmacists, the importance of timely pain treatment, and initiatives like Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign. This webinar is tailored for pharmacists in Great Britain, particularly those working in community, practice, PCN, and hospital settings. Don't miss this opportunity to improve patient care and make a positive impact on pain management. Register now to secure your spot!

The business landscape worldwide is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a sole focus on profitability to incorporating a broader spectrum of considerations. Today, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are integral to business operations, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and ethical practices alongside financial growth. ESG stands for three interconnected pillars: Environmental, focusing on reducing a company's ecological footprint; Social, addressing the impact on employees, diversity, equity, inclusion, and the broader community; and Governance, which ensures responsible management practices, ethical behavior, and compliance with regulations. This holistic approach is becoming a critical foundation for long-term success in various industries, including healthcare. For the UK healthcare and pharmacy sectors, integrating ESG not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also offers substantial benefits. This article delves into the specific implications of ESG for UK pharmacies, highlighting how they can leverage these practices to foster both community well-being and business success.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in a report of a meeting of an international insight board published on Friday (27 January) highlighted the potential for pharmacists to close the existing gender gap in pain management. The insight board, assembled by FIP in Seville, Spain, in September 2022, was co-chaired by FIP vice president Professor Parisa Aslani. "Research indicates that pain experienced by women is underestimated and undertreated. Alarmingly, in addition to receiving less effective pain relief, evidence suggests that women with pain are more likely to be prescribed antidepressants," Prof. Aslani said. The insight board attributed much of this "gender pain gap" to implicit biases and put forward the view that pharmacy curricula and continuous professional development programmes must be able to provide adequate self-awareness and training to enable pain management without any bias. It also suggested ways in which pharmacists could be supported in addressing the gender pain gap in their practice.

A new report published today (June 29) by the think tank Policy Exchange highlights key role for community pharmacy in management of primary-secondary care interface. The report called Medical Evolution has received cross-party support. It says an equivalent of 15 million GP appointments per year are spent dealing with issues managing care between GP practices and hospitals. Research from the think tank also finds 150,000 people could be on 'hidden' waiting lists (where a patient has been referred by a GP for further treatment, but not included on official hospital waiting lists). On the eve of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the report calls for the development of 'interface specialists' - which could be undertaken by doctors, nurses or community pharmacists to enable them to work more routinely across settings and to strategically plan interface working.

There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way healthcare professionals work within the primary care setting. The advent of Covid-19 meant that we all had to rapidly modify the way we supported and met the needs of patients, some of whom saw the services they usually took for granted, virtually cease overnight. There are around 15 million people in England living with long-term health conditions including asthma. These people have the greatest healthcare needs of the whole population with 50 per cent of all GP appointments and 70 per cent of all bed days taken by this cohort of patients, and their treatment and care absorbing 70 per cent of acute and primary care budgets in England. This situation isn't going to improve any time soon. In the past, most people had a single condition, today multi-morbidity is becoming the norm. At the start of the pandemic, the Royal College of General Practice and British Medical Association issued guidance to practices on prioritising workload. This included the importance of maintaining long-term condition reviews in asthma, COPD and diabetes, along with appropriate transition of at-risk warfarin patients. These reviews were deemed as essential workstreams for patients considered to be at high risk. Traditionally, the unique skills set of a pharmacist has meant that we have played a major role in supporting these patients. I work with a team of over 90 clinical pharmacists who, in partnership with individual practices, PCNs, CCGs and STPs, help with the long-term management of people with chronic conditions. But the onset of Covid-19 meant that we now had to plug a potential gap in service provision, and quickly.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England and the Royal College of General Practitioners have published recommendations for the roll-out and success of the GP Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (GP CPCS). These recommendations follow a workshop with stakeholders from pharmacy, general practice and representative bodies, examining ways to maximise the potential of the service and meet growing demand on the health service. The workshop report made five recommendations: The NHS England and Improvement should provide additional investment in local system support and resources to drive the CPCS implementation and uptake between general practice and community pharmacy. National representative bodies should work with NHS E&I to develop national and local engagement and streamline communication plans for CPCS referral pathway. Focus on expanding the role of community pharmacists in the management of minor illness. Evaluation of CPCS service and its impacts on general practice workload, patient outcomes and health inequalities.

Consumer health company Haleon, formerly known as GSK, claims that pain's emotional and life impact has grown by nearly 25 per cent in the past decade. The company has launched a campaign #ListenToPain to personalise patients' pain management through a series of practical tools and resources. The campaign was introduced on 28 September which focused on enabling the HCPs to maximise their time with patients and understand their pain experience - providing them with an effective treatment plan. The new data has been obtained through the fifth edition of the Haleon Pain Index (HPI). This social study measured the impact of individuals' everyday lives, their health, their feelings, their emotions, motivations and behaviours. They have spoken to more than 87,000 people around the world since their first edition in 2014 - HPI 1 (The State of Pain), which later progressed over the years from HPI 2 (Impact of Pain) in 2017, then HPI 3 (Managing Pain) in 2018, to HPI 4 (Treatment Journey), and finally HPI 5 (Pain and Inclusivity) in 2023.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is bolstering its leadership team with the appointment of Jay Badenhorst as the Director of Pharmacy, a newly created position aimed at fortifying its commitment to advancing pharmacy practice. This move comes amidst a period of significant change and challenge for frontline pharmacists, prompting the independent trade union to enhance its influence in the evolving healthcare landscape. Mr. Badenhorst, who previously served Whitworth Chemists as the Managing Director and also has leveraged his extensive knowledge of the pharmacy practice and organisational leadership as the Vice Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, reasons his "commitment to being at the forefront of positive change within the pharmacy profession." Mr. Badenhorst expressed his enthusiasm stating: "I am delighted to be joining an organisation that has so much vision, ambition and drive at a time when pharmacists have so many opportunities to develop their roles for the benefit of patients." According to Mark Koziol, Chair of PDA, the new position is a reflection of the union's commitment to pharmacy and described the new Director of Pharmacy as "a senior level, proven and award-winning pharmacy leader."

A massive global technology outage on Friday has disrupted essential services, including healthcare, airlines, banks, and broadcasters worldwide. The outage, attributed to a flawed update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, has also affected the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, with several hospitals and GP practices losing access to their computer systems. Community pharmacies are also facing significant disruptions. Services such as accessing prescriptions from GPs and medicine deliveries have been affected, causing inconvenience to patients and healthcare providers. An NHS spokesperson said: "The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices." The spokesperson assured that the NHS has long-standing measures in place to manage such disruptions, including the use of paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions, and the usual phone systems to contact GPs.

One of the most challenging aspects of living a healthier lifestyle is trying to accomplish your goals while simultaneously dealing with a hectic schedule. Life is often full of responsibilities, and things can get so hectic that it's difficult to keep track of anything else outside of one's work. As a result, many people sacrifice their physical and mental health for work-which isn't worth it in the long run. While it might not be easy to manage a hectic schedule, there are ways to ease the burden. Here are some of the most popular best-practice tactics when dealing with a busy schedule. Write things down-even the things you'll do for fun One way to help deal with a hectic schedule is to ensure you write everything down. While some might think that it makes everything feel robotic, the fact that you can write down the things you plan to do for fun means you have something to look forward to. It also has the added benefit of bracing yourself mentally for various tasks. It's not easy to be spontaneous with fun events if you're already tired from work. Fortunately, writing things down and making them a part of your schedule can help your body adjust.

Mental health problems can be incredibly isolating and debilitating. It can be difficult to know how to get your life back on track when you are struggling with mental health issues. In this blog post, we will discuss some strategies for overcoming mental health problems and getting your life back on track! 1. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP: Mental health problems can be complex and difficult to manage on your own. If you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can help you understand and manage your symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and work through any underlying issues that may be contributing to your mental health problems. If you are not sure where to start, you can ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a mental health professional. You can also go to a treatment center where their clinical team will help you with your mental health. This way you ensure that you're getting the help that you need and not just from a family member or friend. You can also search for therapists in your area online or by calling your insurance company. There is no shame in seeking help for mental health problems. In fact, seeking professional help is one of the most important things you can do for your mental health. 2. DEVELOP A SUPPORT SYSTEM: When you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to have a supportive network of people on who you can rely. This may include family members, friends, therapists, or a support group for people with similar experiences. Having people to talk to who understand what you are going through can be incredibly helpful. These people can provide support, advice, and practical assistance when you need it. Having a strong support system can make a big difference in your ability to cope with mental health problems.

Dealing with mental health problems can be challenging, and finding the right support is crucial. One resource I've found helpful is reaching out to services that focus on overall well-being. For instance, Discover My Mobility offers excellent customer service here https://www.pissedconsumer.com/discover-my-mobility/RT-F.html and can provide valuable resources for managing stress and improving mental wellness through their mobility solutions. Their support team is attentive and offers guidance that could be beneficial.