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Former superintendent pharmacist and National Pharmacy Association (NPA) director, Phil Galt, has been appointed the new UK managing director for pharmacy software supplier Cegedim Rx. The position was previously held by Adam Dennett, who resigned after a successful ten-year tenure to pursue a new career outside healthcare, the company said. Cegedim Rx, the pharmacy entity of Cegedim Healthcare Solutions UK, announced the new appointment this month (April 5). Tristan de Foucher, head of European operations for Cegedim Group, said: "Adam has been a force of nature in this business for the past 10 years. Under his leadership, the team has continuously and successfully invested in and driven product innovation to stay ahead of the ever-changing demands placed upon community pharmacy." Galt has over 20 years of experience as a qualified pharmacist and a successful business leader. He has worked extensively in community pharmacy, focusing on both care delivery and technology implementation.

The latest findings from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2022 by QualityWatch, a joint programme with the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation shed light on concerning disparities faced by ethnic minority communities in the UK healthcare system. Despite strides in cancer care, the survey highlights persistent challenges in easy and equitable access to timely diagnosis and quality communication, particularly for individuals from Mixed, Black, or Asian backgrounds. Key insights from the survey underscored that individuals from ethnic minority groups often require a higher number of interactions with healthcare professionals before receiving a cancer diagnosis. Notably, one in three people from Mixed, Black, or Asian ethnicities needed three or more visits to a GP practice, compared to the average of one in five across the population. These delays in diagnosis can have significant implications for treatment outcomes and overall patient experience. Moreover, the survey revealed concerning trends regarding the quality of communication following a cancer diagnosis among ethnic minority patients.

"Anything is possible with focused strength, resilience and determination" said Bhavin Shah, Financial Director at Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc, after completing the annual London Marathon. Shah donned his running gear and completed the 26.2 mile route in a commendable time of 5 hours and 33 minutes, all in support of 'Team George', a cause initiated by his close friend, Jonathan Bracey, who is the EVP of corporate development at Tanner Pharma Group. Bracey started the crowdfunding initiative last year after his 2-year-old son George was diagnosed with a rare cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) on his liver/bile duct. Sigma Pharmaceuticals directors and staff have played a vital part in helping raise over £52,000 over the last 6 months for 'Team George', which included the London Marathon Charity run on Sunday 21 April 2024. The funds will be donated to four charities that have been instrumental in George's path to overcoming cancer - Rays of Sunshine ward at Kings College Hospital Charity, St Mary's Hospital, Alice's Arc and Great Ormond Street Hospital. For over three months, Shah had been training himself physically and mentally for the marathon run to support his friend's initiative. He joined Bracey in the marathon, along with more than 50,000 other competitors.

Women who are trying to conceive should stop vaping as it may affect fertility, a study by the women's health firm Hertility has suggested. Analysis of blood samples from more than 8000 women revealed that vapers and smokers have lower levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), which indicates how many eggs women have left in their ovaries. Across all age groups, AMH levels were found to be lower in people who vaped than non-vapers, suggesting that vaping could accelerate age-related decline in egg reserve. Concerningly, the report revealed that one in five British women vape while trying to get pregnant, with a significant portion also engaging in other lifestyle "vices" such as alcohol, drugs and smoking.

Nestled in the heart of a bustling high street and a housing estate, at Lincoln Pharmacy, part of Mildcare Ltd Group, in Tower Hamlets in London, the scene is a testament to resilience and innovation, where queues of people seek aid from a pharmacy technician stationed behind a glass window-a symbol of the enduring impact of the pandemic. Amidst the array of modern amenities at the pharmacy stands Atulkumar Patel, the proprietor and Independent Prescriber (IP) at Lincoln Pharmacy, whose vision has propelled the establishment into a beacon of progressive healthcare. Owner of two Pharmacies, Patel's team of 20 dispenses an average of 20,000 prescriptions monthly, maintaining an NHS/OTC split of 80/20. Recipient of the prestigious Independent Prescriber of the Year award at the Pharmacy Business Awards 2023, Patel reflects on the pivotal moment when his pharmacy pioneered the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine jabs within the community. "When doctors' doors closed, pharmacy was the only place where people could get help and care," Patel recounts, emphasising the pivotal role pharmacies played during the crisis. Patel's dedication during the pandemic extended beyond mere service provision; it was about showcasing the untapped potential of pharmacies.

Several pharmacies have joined the inhaler recycling scheme in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, to support NHS England's Greener NHS programme, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. It is part of a collaborative working initiative between the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and AstraZeneca UK Ltd, supported by the Black Country Integrated Care Board and Wolverhampton City Local Pharmaceutical Committee. Under this scheme, old and used inhalers are recycled and transformed into new products, such as coat hangers and waste bins. Simon Evans, group chief strategy officer for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, emphasised the importance of prioritising the reduction of carbon footprint while maintaining high-quality care, to protect the planet for future generations. "The Trust has already made significant achievements in several areas including the physical estate, clinical services, waste recycling, catering and medicines - with this inhaler recycling scheme from pharmacy being the latest string to our bow," he said.

The outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) in the UK, which is associated with contaminated eye gels imported from India, has led to the death of one person, and many others falling ill, according to a government report. Bcc is a group of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are widely found within the environment. Although it rarely causes infection, it can result in severe ones in individuals with compromised immune systems and those living with cystic fibrosis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. Between January 2023 and February 2024, there were 52 confirmed and six probable cases across the UK linked to the bacteria outbreak, as revealed in the Health Protection Report published by UKHSA. Forty-one of these cases were hospital inpatients, 38 of which were in critical-care settings. Twenty-five cases were considered to have "clinically significant infections attributable to Bcc", out of which 11 had eye infections, nine had respiratory infections and four had bacteremia (bacteria entering the bloodstream). Two individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) were infected, and while one was treated, the other died, with the report indicating Bcc infection to have "contributed to the death."

With scarlet fever currently circulating in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has urged parents to remain vigilant for potential symptoms in children. Also known as scarlatina, it is an infectious disease triggered by group A strep bacteria that can lead to symptoms such as fever, a sandpapery rash, sore throat and swollen tonsils. The latest data published by the UKHSA showed that a total of 19,528 cases of scarlet fever were reported in the 2023/24 season, of which 12,176 cases occurring between 1 January and 24 March 2024. While the number of cases recorded this year is lower than those recorded during the same period in 2023, which totaled 15,933 cases, it exceeds the average for the previous five years. "Scarlet fever is a common childhood illness, although it can affect anyone of any age," said Dr Theresa Lamagni at UKHSA. Parents are advised to contact their GP practice or NHS111 when their GP is unavailable, if they suspect they or their child are experiencing symptoms of scarlet fever.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) on Wednesday (14 February) launched consultations on two new pioneer curricula defining the clinical capabilities expected of entry-level advanced pharmacists practising in critical care and mental health. The advanced pharmacist critical care curriculum and the advanced pharmacist mental health curriculum are supplementary to the RPS core advanced curriculum. Interested stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the content of the curricula, their feasibility in terms of delivery, their relevance to all countries, and how these may impact different social groups. Both consultations will be open until Tuesday 12 March, and members and non-members of RPS can submit their comments via the online form or the word document.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has revoked its initial enforcement order imposed on Pharmacy2U Limited (Pharmacy2U) concerning the acquisition of Metabolic Healthcare Ltd (Lloyds Direct). In the revocation order issued on February 12, the regulator said its decision was "based on the evidence it has received in its assessment of the Merger to date." The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Pharmacy2U, P2U Holdings Limited, G Square Capital II L.P., G Square Healthcare Private Equity LLP (collectively, the Acquirer Group) and Lloyds Direct on 28 November 2023. It announced that it was considering "whether it is or may be the case that a relevant merger situation has been created and whether the creation of that situation has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in any market or markets in the United Kingdom (UK)."

Pharmacy sales specialist, Hutchings Consultants has revealed its market predictions for the next 12 months in a new report. The broker is anticipating that both independent group operators and corporate owners will continue to reassess their existing portfolios in 2024, making strategic disposals of varying sizes. "This is likely to result in transaction volumes remaining high for the foreseeable future," stated the report authored by Paul Steet, Associate Director, Hutchings Consultants. Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework negotiations will be the most notable opportunity for the sector to capitalise upon this year, the broker said, adding that it's "a belated opportunity for the sector to secure a vital uplift to the contract's fixed global sum."

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has confirmed that City Pharmacy in Portsmouth, Hampshire has been purchased by the existing regional operator, JCL (U.K.) LTD - Lalys Pharmacy. Nyewood Healthcare, which owned the community pharmacy for over 25 years, decided to sell the business to concentrate on their two remaining pharmacies in West Sussex, the broker said. Located on a busy parade in the North End area of Portsmouth, City Pharmacy dispenses an average of 6,900 items per month, it added. Following a freehold sale, the business has been acquired by Lalys Pharmacy, which already has multiple other pharmacies in Hampshire, Dorset, and Surrey. Raj Laly, Director at Lalys Pharmacy, commented: "We are delighted to continue the expansion of our group in Portsmouth as we currently operate right across Hampshire, Surrey, and Dorset.

A new study has underscored the significance of offering customers a variety of payment choices, particularly as digital platforms gain popularity among younger age groups. Almost one in three (30 per cent) people surveyed by payments solutions provider, Access PaySuite reported a negative experience when purchasing health and wellbeing products or services due to limited payment options. The research showed that online and in-person cash payments were the most preferred modes of payment, while more than a quarter of consumers expressed their preference for paying through Direct Debit. About 17 per cent of the participants favoured using a mobile app for payments during the booking process, followed by mobile in-person options like Google Pay (14 per cent) and phone-based transactions using debit or credit card) (13 per cent).

Christie & Co has revealed that Islay Pharmacy, the only pharmacy on the Isle of Islay in Scotland, has been sold for the second time in six years. The business, which single-handedly serves the island's population of circa 3,200 residents, has been purchased by a husband-and-wife team - Lisa and Simon Simpson - from South Shields. Previous owner small group operator, Sanjay Majhu, acquired Islay Pharmacy in April 2018 and grew its turnover from £530,000 to just under £700,000. He listed it for sale along with Inveraray Pharmacy and Tarbert Pharmacy as part of his initiative to downsize his estate, according to the broker. "We decided to sell as our strategy was to acquire only within a 100-mile radius of Glasgow and Islay would be more suited for owner-operators.

New Lamotrigine Desitin 10mg/ml Oral Suspension is the first licensed Lamotrigine oral liquid medicine available in the UK, offering simple, accurate and flexible dosing for vulnerable patient groups with epilepsy and bi-polar disorder. Accurate dosing and slow titration are essential when initially prescribing for patients with epilepsy. This helps minimise the risk of potentially life-threatening side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (an acute, rare, and occasionally fatal skin reaction). Dose escalation is required every 2 weeks until the optimal dose is achieved to reach the desired maintenance level. Lamotrigine Desitin 10mg/ml Oral Suspension helps simplify complex prescribing and dispensing regimes, as all dosing requirements are covered in a single product. The supplied dosing syringe and cup make it simple for patients to use and carers to administer. The licensed Oral Suspension is likely to be of benefit when prescribing for children (over 2 years), older people (particularly patients with dysphagia) and also those with learning disabilities. The 10mg/ml strength simplifies accurate dosing for children and offers complete flexibility when dosing is based on mg/kg body weight.

Germany based drug discovery firm Evotec has entered into a research collaboration and licensing deal with Swiss biopharmaceutical firm Debiopharm Group to research and develop new cancer treatments

How To Prevent Diabetes Type 2? You have just discovered that you are prediabetic. You can take meaningful steps to reduce your risk of diabetes. You can actually prevent diabetes simply by changing what you eat and how you invest in your physical health. The ball, my friend, is still in your court.

Around 8.3 percent population in the US has diabetes. Type II is the most prevalent form of diabetes. It is common among the young and the obese. Diabetes Mellitus or simply diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by an increase in your blood sugar. This results from an inadequate amount of insulin in the body or the cells' inability to respond to insulin.

About eighty-five percent of all women suffer from PMS or PMDD at some point in their lives. Premenstrual Syndrome is a dreadful condition that precedes your period and causes uncomfortable symptoms like backaches and cramps. Luckily, there are a number of tried remedies to live happier with PMS.

Depression, cramps, and headaches are some of the symptoms that mark the onset of the "Oh So Dreadful" days as most women associate with. These are the days when women suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS. It has become such a common term these days that it needs no introduction. Premenstrual Syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that affect women during the week preceding the start of their period.

Medical billing outsourcing has been a part of the medical industry for a long time now. Doctors and physicians do not have the time to perform the billing operations of their medical facilities on their own.

Physical therapists are included as one of the groups of healthcare practitioners eligible for MIPS reporting in 2019. It was time their duties were rewarded with an open heart and a clear head. Physical therapy is a serious branch of medicine that, now, comes in the quality circle of the government where physical therapists (PTs) can receive incentives based on their performances.