Group items tagged

Trainee pharmacists across Great Britain are preparing to participate in Pharmacist Support's annual Trainee ACTNow Wellbeing Campaign, scheduled from May 20th to 24th. Organised by the charity, this initiative aims to provide essential support as trainees approach the culmination of their placements and gear up for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) assessment. Danielle Hunt, Chief Executive of Pharmacist Support, highlighted the campaign's focus on addressing the significant stress and pressure trainees may experience during this critical period. She stated: "We understand the anxiety and pressure they may feel, not only in preparing for the assessment but also in stepping into their roles as registered pharmacists."

Southwark Crown Court on Thursday sentenced two pharmacists to two years of imprisonment each, suspended for 24 months, after they were found guilty of selling 'industrial' quantities of Class C controlled drugs. Mandip Sidhu (47) of Littleover, Derby and Nabeil Nasr (42) of Cheadle, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing following an investigation by the Criminal Enforcement Unit of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). Both Sidhu and Nasr were pharmacists registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council at the time of the offenses, which took place between May 2013 and June 2017. Sidhu was the director of Pharmaceutical Health Limited (PHL) in Derby, while Nasr owned several pharmacies across the North West of England. Sidhu was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of five counts of supplying Class C drugs and four months for forgery, all to run concurrently and suspended for 24 months. Additionally, she must complete 200 hours of community service for her role in the illegal supply of diazepam, zolpidem, and zopiclone.

A Lake District pharmacy is grappling with significant medication supply issues, affecting its ability to provide essential drugs to customers amidst nationwide drug shortages. According to Simon Butterworth, whose family has operated Collins & Butterworth Pharmacy in Hawkshead for nearly 40 years, voiced his concerns to the ITV stating that the staff is "having to spend time hunting for (medications), looking for it or doing our best to find ways to solve that problem" for distressed patients. "They've got to know when they can get the medications they need," he added. Butterworth also highlighted the financial strain pharmacies face due to the NHS's fixed tariff system. "Certain items are actually costing more to buy than we get paid for them by the NHS. An item we were trying to get this morning was 250 per cent higher than the tariff price, which is significant and builds up over lots of items," he explained.

Pharmacists in the UK are reporting significant shortages of a common antibiotic used to treat whooping cough (pertussis), amid rising cases of this bacterial infection. Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that clarithromycin, one of the key antibiotics for treating whooping cough in children, is "completely out of stock." Clarithromycin is an antibiotic commonly recommended for babies and infants under the age of 1 month. Dr. Leyla said that as pharmacies cannot get the antibiotic, they are being forced to turn patients away or send them back to their doctors to have their prescriptions changed to azithromycin or other antibiotics for treating whooping cough.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced the results of the 2024 elections for its three national Pharmacy Boards. For the English Pharmacy Board, the newly elected members include Claire Anderson, Martin Astbury, Steve Churton, Ciara Duffy, Sue Ladds, Mike Maguire, Tase Oputu and Ankish Patel. Matthew Prior has been elected for a period of one year to fill the casual vacancy on the Board. Seven candidates have been elected unopposed to the RPS Scottish Pharmacy Board. They include: Jonathan Burton, Lucy Dixon, Laura Fulton, Catriona Sinclair, Amina Slimani-Fersia, Richard Strang and Audrey Thompson. Only seven nominations were received for the eight substantive vacancies on the board. Helen Davies has been elected to the RPS Welsh Pharmacy Board to represent the Primary Care sector. Meanwhile, Rafia Jamil and Geraldine McCaffrey have been elected unopposed to fill the two vacancies in the Hospital sector.

The final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry has been published today, bringing to light a devastating chapter in the history of the UK's healthcare system. The inquiry, which was launched by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017, examined how contaminated blood products infected over 30,000 NHS patients with deadly viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis C, between the 1970s and 1990s. Following the publication of the report, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a formal apology on behalf of successive governments, acknowledging the state's significant failings. He stated that he finds it "impossible to comprehend" how victims felt when injected with deadly diseases through no fault of their own.

The Company Chemists' Association (CCA) has raised concern that pharmacies may face challenges in providing placements to pharmacy students graduating in 2025 due to shortages of designated prescribing practitioners (DPPs). From the academic year 2025/26, all pharmacy students will be required to complete 90 hours of training with designated prescribing practitioners prior to their registration. However, the CCA has raised doubts regarding the availability of these healthcare professionals to provide such training. The association said: "We are concerned that pharmacies will be unable to secure DPPs. This will result in a significant reduction in the number of Foundation Pharmacist placements available within the community pharmacy sector. Consequently, a significant number of graduates leaving university next year will, unfortunately, struggle to find employment in their chosen career." As per the CCA, they have repeatedly raised their concerns with NHS England and cautioned them about the potential consequences arising from the lack of DPPs.

"If the Government does not support community pharmacies with the relevant funding, then we will see a massive number of closures," warns Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA). The Fight4Pharmacies campaign, led by the IPA, is urging prime minister Rishi Sunak to address a critical £1.2 billion funding shortfall that threatens the survival of independent pharmacies across the UK. This urgent plea comes as 1,000 community pharmacies have closed since 2019 due to rising operational costs and insufficient reimbursements. On May 21, supporters of the Fight4Pharmacies campaign, along with 50 MPs including prominent figures like Priti Patel and Gavin Williamson, delivered a petition to Downing Street. The petition, Prescription to Save Our Pharmacies outlines how independent community pharmacies can be supported to ensure smooth running of pharmacies.

Insect bites and stings typically increase in the summer in England. This year, however, there's been an earlier-than-usual spike in the number of people seeking NHS advice on the condition. According to the NHS England, visits to its insect bites and stings web page have nearly tripled in the last three weeks compared to the same period last year, peaking at an average of one visit every 22 seconds in the past week. Over the span of 21 days, a total of 68,986 visited the page, marking a significant 162 per cent increase compared to the 26,368 visits recorded in the first three weeks of May 2023. Although insect bites or stings are usually not serious and people tend to get better after a few days, the health service has cautioned that they can lead to infection or severe allergic reactions. People are encouraged to refer to the NHS website for advice or visit their local pharmacy to get advice and treatment for common health conditions, including infected insect bites.

Benjamin Hannan, director of reform and transformation at NHS Fife, has been honoured with the prestigious title of Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), marking a significant milestone in his career. Hailing from Falkirk, Hannan is the youngest Scottish Fellow in the society's history, a testament to his exceptional contributions to the field of pharmacy. The fellowship, a distinction bestowed upon members who have demonstrated remarkable achievements in advancing pharmaceutical knowledge or have shown exceptional distinction in pharmacy science, practice, profession, or history, is a recognition of Hannan's dedication and expertise in the field. Expressing his gratitude, Hannan told The Faulkner Herlad, "I am delighted and humbled to have been made a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society."

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has joined the Welsh Royal Colleges Child Health Collaborative (WRCCHC) - a newly established group comprising 20 royal colleges and professional bodies that aims to improve health outcomes for children in Wales. Together they have written to the First Minister of Wales asking how his government will improve child health and support the workforce that care for them. Citing recent reports published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Academy of Medical Sciences that highlighted declining health among children, they have warned of the impact of poor child health. The WRCCHC aims to ensure a sharper focus and understanding on the current and necessary support required for babies, children and young people and the workforce they represent. RPS Wales will be represented in the group by Anthony Lewis, Children and Women Lead Pharmacist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

As whooping cough cases rise sharply across the UK, the NHS has reactivated the serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for clarithromycin - a commonly prescribed antibiotic to treat this bacterial infection. Pharmacy bodies had recently warned that community pharmacies were struggling to obtain source clarithromycin for patients. Two SSPs, covering clarithromycin 125mg/5mL and 250mg/5mL oral suspensions, were reactivated on 22 May 2024, and extended until 21 June 2024. These protocols state that for every 5mL of clarithromycin 125mg/5mL oral suspension, pharmacy contractors must supply 2.5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension; and for every 5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension, one clarithromycin 250mg tablet must be supplied. The SSPs apply to cross-border prescriptions, both NHS and private.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) views the COVID vaccination programme as broadly successful, largely due to the efforts of healthcare workers and volunteers. However, it cited some areas that could be improved, notably the early involvement of community pharmacies in planning, operational challenges, and recognising the role of community pharmacy in addressing vaccine hesitancy and inequalities. Submitting its evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry, the NPA highlighted that the community pharmacy should have been consulted and involved earlier in the planning process, considering their two years of experience and expertise in administering annual influenza vaccination programs and the reach and resources of the 14,000 community pharmacies across the UK. "Instead, community pharmacy was initially given a gap in service role, which failed to fully utilize their experience, expertise and resource," Lawyer Brian Stanton told the Inquiry on behalf of the NPA during the Module 4 Preliminary Hearing on 22 May.

As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces the forthcoming UK general election, pharmacy bodies are calling on all political parties to commit to solving the issues facing the sector. The next UK general election will be held on 4 July, Sunak announced it on Wednesday afternoon during a press conference outside 10 Downing Street. "As the election is called it's imperative that any incoming government addresses the crisis in primary care and the looming cliff edge facing pharmacies, which for millions of people are the front door to the NHS and a crucial source of frontline health care," said Paul Rees, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Noting that the first responsibility of the government is to keep its people safe and healthy, he emphasised the importance of addressing the "deep funding gap that is pushing record numbers of pharmacies to the edge of closure and beyond, exacerbating the issues of waiting lists for GPs and hospital care."

In partnership with the Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has taken a significant step by urging political leaders to abolish prescription charges for individuals with long-term conditions. Tase Oputu, Chair of the RPS England Pharmacy Board, signed an open letter on Thursday, calling on party leaders to address this pressing issue. The letter emphasises the outdated nature of the current exemption list, which forces individuals with chronic conditions like Parkinson's, cystic fibrosis, and HIV to bear the cost of their essential medications. It urges party leaders to urgently review and update the exemption list to ensure equitable access to necessary medicines. "Nobody should face a financial barrier to accessing the medicines they need," Oputu stated.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has revised concession prices for four products and confirmed three further price concessions for May 2024. This announcement comes in response to representations made by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) on behalf of community pharmacy owners Concession prices have been redetermined for Ezetimibe 10mg tablets, Quetiapine 100mg tablets, Quetiapine 150mg tablets and Quetiapine 200mg tablets. Here are the newly granted concessions: Nicorandil 10mg tablets (60 tablets): £5.05 Nicorandil 20mg tablets (60 tablets): £9.30 Pregabalin 75mg capsules (56 capsules): £1.54 The revised prices will be applicable to prescriptions submitted for payment during the dispensing month of May 2024, and do not apply to June 2024 prescriptions, the CPE noted.

A recent report by the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has shed light on ongoing supply challenges in England's generic medicines market, revealing significant issues impacting patient care. The report highlights significant challenges faced in supply of medicines as currently, 51.72 per cent of generics in short supply lack licensed alternatives, posing substantial hurdles to ensuring continuous patient care. Additionally, 39.08 per cent of affected generics are branded, indicating widespread disruptions across the market. A notable 26.44 per cent of generics experiencing shortages have been affected for over six months, highlighting persistent difficulties in supply chain management. The report indicates that 0.15 per cent of generic medicine presentations listed in the Drug Tariff are currently facing supply issues, impacting accessibility nationwide.

People in the UK have a high level of trust in pharmacies and many are keen on seeing the Pharmacy First initiative expanded, according to the 2024 STADA Health Report published today (24 June). The 10th annual health report by global healthcare leader STADA Arzneimittel AG, the parent company of Thornton & Ross, involved a survey of over 46,000 respondents across 23 countries, including 2,000 participants from the UK. The UK data showed an overwhelming trust in UK pharmacies, with 94 per cent of those surveyed (more than nine out of 10 Brits) saying they have only ever had good advice from a pharmacist. The report also indicated a strong desire for the Pharmacy First scheme to be expanded, with 44 per cent of respondents advocating for an increase in pharmacists' scope of responsibilities to support doctors.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has announced that Ask Your Pharmacist Week 2024 will be organised from 4-11 November across the UK. This annual event aims to raise awareness of pharmacy services and to prompt conversations at a local level about community pharmacy's role and benefits, the NPA said in a statement. Ask Your Pharmacist Week encourages local engagement through various activities such as window displays, social media campaigns, pharmacy visits by community dignitaries, presentations to local patient groups, radio phone-ins, and TV. The week holds a significant place in the pharmacy calendar, as NPA describes "it creates a "platform for public awareness activities that help patients and stakeholders understand more fully the community offers." The NPA, which organises the campaign, emphasises the importance of making appropriate use of NHS services and increasing public awareness of the skills and expertise available in pharmacies across the UK.

A second day of action has been announced by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) to support the cross-sector #SaveOurPharmacies campaign. This campaign aims to bring attention to the severe financial challenges facing community pharmacies due to ongoing cuts. Scheduled for September 19, the day of action coincides with the political party conference season, aiming to emphasise the urgent need for government intervention to ensure continued patient access to pharmacies. The NPA's initiative follows the successful One Day to #SaveOurPharmacies event in June. Approximately 6,000 pharmacies participated by dimming their lights, wearing black, and engaging on social media to spotlight the issues facing the sector.