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Shoulder pain is one of the most common types of pain that impacts your mobility and daily activities. Often associated with heart disease, shoulder pain can also occur due to an injury, trauma, or a medical condition like arthritis. While over-the-counter medications might help relieve the pain, it is crucial to address the cause of the pain becoming frequent. In this guide, we will be sharing particular situations that require a visit to an orthopedic doctor so you can get the appropriate treatment. AFTER AN ACCIDENT Minor injuries and accidents can cause inflammation and pain at the injury site which can be resolved by taking OTC medications and giving the body time to heal. However, in severe injuries, the joint may get swollen in an instant, cause extreme pain, or may seem deformed. In situations like these, there is a likelihood of a fracture and the injury then needs to be evaluated by a specialist. Depending on the severity of the accident, either the shoulder will be immobilized or operated on to repair the damage. If you have a broken shoulder, get plenty of rest, eat healthily, and follow your doctor's instructions for a quick recovery.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has cautioned people to stop using certain eye gels, highlighting a potential risk of microbial contamination that can cause an infection. As a precaution, the agency on Friday announced recall of specific batches of carbomer-containing lubricating eye gels branded Aacarb, Aacomer and Puroptics, which are generally used to relieve the symptoms of dry eye. Burkholderia cenocepacia is suspected to have caused the microbial contamination, and the issue was raised after an ongoing investigation conducted by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified a small number of cases of infection. Investigations are on to determine if there is a link between these products and the infections which have been identified. Meanwhile, retailers have been told to withdraw the affected products, and users are asked to return their product to the place of purchase immediately.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a public consultation on plans to reclassify a locally-applied hormone replacement therapy product to treat the cause and relieve the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. The MHRA is proposing that Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets, containing oestradiol, be made available over the counter as a "self care" product, under the supervision of a pharmacist. The Commission on Human Medicines too has advised that the application by Novo Nordisk, which is used to treat vaginal dryness, caused by oestrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women, can be made available as a pharmacy (P) medicine. The MHRA has been asking GPs, pharmacists and members of the public for their opinions on whether the tablets can be made available to women aged 50 and over who have not had a period for at least a year. If the reclassification goes ahead, pharmacists will be given training materials and a checklist to help them supply the medicine safely.

The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) has been running as a national advanced service since October 2019 to relieve pressure on the National Health Service which aims to help with on the day demand in relation to minor illness and medicines. The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service CPCS (NHS CPCS) aims to meet the objectives of the NHS Long Term Plan to use community pharmacists' skills to advise patients, and to build relationships with GP surgeries, primary care teams and wider NHS providers and to assist with urgent care system repeat prescription requests. Referrals from the GP referral pathway and urgent care systems and urgent treatment centres are digitally routed to community pharmacies so that patients can receive same-day appointments and have their queries resolved. The numbers Based on the estimated annual number of minor ailment GP appointments, the service was expected to save the NHS up to £640 million per year . Three years later, the nation has weathered the Covid 19 pandemic, which had widespread effects and put further strain on already overstretched NHS staff. The pandemic impact has resulted in higher numbers of GP appointments than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, this may offer an opportunity to proactively engage pharmacy teams in patient contact help ease strain across the wider NHS.

Paydens Pharmacy Group, one of the first multiple pharmacies to adopt hub and spoke model last year, revealed that the move has resulted in significant time savings in store. Centralising dispensing of repeat prescriptions relieves pressure in pharmacy branches and releases time to deliver revenue generating services, the group said. The group created a hub in Maidstone, Kent, to service its highest dispensing branches. The hub uses Centred Solution's FLOWRx Hub Auto to dispense their original pack repeat prescriptions. The group put in the first FLOWRx Hub production line in spring 2022 and then added in a second line in the autumn as they increased production and moved more stores to the hub and spoke model. The innovative solution interfaces with EMIS PMR, Omnicell's Robotic Dispensing System and Universal Logistics Management software as well as Victoria OS ordering software. The hub operation runs during the day Monday to Friday and produces an average of 33,289 packs per week for just under 9,000 patients, leaving plenty of scope to ramp up. The hub is currently dispensing 79.7% of repeat prescription original packs requested by the group's busiest stores.

Muscle soreness is a result of heavy workout which may cause damage to the muscles. Nobody is insusceptible to muscle soreness. Exercise amateurs and jocks the same experience referred beginning muscle irritation. Having torn, aggravated muscles may sound awful and we positively need to limit irritation in our typical everyday lives as the past examination has demonstrated interminable aggravation adds to numerous incessant ailments yet some level of irritation can be a significant sign for muscle development and fix.

There are many reasons why people might need help with their dental problems. Maybe they don't have insurance, or maybe they just don't have the money to go to a dentist. In these cases, the pharmacy can be a great option. Pharmacists can provide a variety of services that can help people with their dental problems, including over-the-counter medications and advice on how to take care of teeth and gums. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the ways that pharmacies can help you take care of your teeth! So, whether you have a toothache, cavities, or bad breath, a pharmacy can be a great place to turn. 1) OVER-COUNTER MEDICATIONS One of the most common services that pharmacies provide is the sale of over-the-counter medications. These medications are designed to be taken for short periods of time and can help with a variety of dental problems. For example, if you have a toothache, you can buy an antiseptic rinse or analgesic gel that can help relieve the pain. If you have bad breath, you can buy mouthwash or breath fresheners that will help mask the odor. And if you have cavities, you can purchase fluoride rinses or gels that can help with decay prevention. If you are worried about the cost of dentists, these medications can be a great way to get the relief you need without breaking the bank. However, it doesn't mean that you should neglect regular dental visits! 2) PROVIDE YOU WITH EDUCATION Another way pharmacy can help you with your dental problems is through advice and education. Pharmacists are trained to provide general information on oral hygiene and health and can help you make educated decisions about which products to buy. They can also provide recommendations on how often you should brush and floss your teeth, as well as advice on diet and lifestyle choices that can help prevent dental problems. In addition, some pharmacies may even have an oral health specialist on staff who can answer any questions you might have about your teeth or gums

Recently, the English Health Secretary has talked about introducing a 'Pharmacy First' model similar to that which exists in Scotland. This would be a win-win outcome providing people with better access to essential healthcare support, advice and treatment whilst relieving strain on other parts of the NHS, not least GPs and A&E. It is a no-brainer and yet despite a few media headlines there are still no firm proposals on the table to make this a reality. It surely cannot be right that you can receive a broad range of patient care services in Scotland which are not available in England. It works well in Scotland, Wales is keen to develop more pharmacy-based services and Northern Ireland, leaving aside the current funding dispute, has had a minor ailments service for many years. If the English Health Secretary is sincere in his interest in adopting an English version of the Scottish model, then there are critical aspects he needs to consider. Firstly, start with the patient journey through the healthcare ecosystem from illness prevention through to long-term condition management. What is the role of community pharmacy and how do we guide people to seek support from the most appropriate healthcare professional? What is the vision for community pharmacy delivering patient care in the next decade? The lesson from Scotland is that the government needs to sit down with the sector and map that out together. There are no quick fix overnight solutions. This needs to be a long-term commitment backed by adequate funding. Supervision regulations need to change and there needs to be a thought through workforce strategy which avoids community pharmacy shortages as that does nothing to deliver improved patient outcomes.

National pharmacy bodies have expressed their disappointment on the launch date for Tier 1 of the Pharmacy Contraception Service which has been announced by NHS England (NHSE) as '24th April 2023′. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said that this start date for the service has not been agreed with PSNC and is in direct contradiction of our warning to Ministers that no new or expanded services can be rolled out in 2023/24 unless extra funding is put into community pharmacies. Responding to this announcement, PSNC Chief Executive Janet Morrison said: "This is despite our warning last month that without additional funding, the roll-out of Year 5 additional services and the Pharmacy Quality Scheme is neither feasible nor affordable. Community pharmacies are having to work harder and harder for less money and many are at breaking point. And just this week the results of our 2023 Pharmacy Pressures Survey have confirmed the worsening situation. Clearly our view is not because contractors don't see the benefit of the service. This is a much-anticipated service that could deliver real benefits to patients and community pharmacies are always eager to support public health initiatives. But capacity in the sector is now so stretched that more money is needed to safely resource additional work. We have repeated our concerns to the Department in recent days and reminded them of the potential for a properly funded community pharmacy sector to play a greater role in providing clinical solutions and relieving pressures elsewhere in primary care."

Self-medication is a giant killer. If you self-administer medicines without consulting the doctor they can make you victim of serious side-effects