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The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has called the 'new general practice contract' which was imposed by NHS England on Monday (6 March) as 'simply unreasonable'. The imposition of new contract followed a failed talk of British Medical Association (BMA)'s with the negotiator. The association's main issue with the contract is the lack of further funding beyond that agreed in 2019 as part of the five-year deal. PSNC Chief Executive Janet Morrison said: "The breakdown in GP contract negotiations for the second year running is another blow for primary care. The verdict of the GP negotiators is that the demands being made of doctors by Government and the NHS are simply unreasonable." "Community pharmacy is being treated with the same disregard: too much is being asked of us, with far too little funding available." The committee has been raising the issue and challenges faced by the community pharmacists with the government. The government is asking pharmacies to do more by taking giving additional services but the committee is of view with no extra funding the community pharmacies will collapse.

When you visit a hospital, one of the last things that come to mind is worrying about legal aspects and what rights you might have - or lack. But these issues and your understanding of them are more important than ever. Knowing exactly what hospitals can legally and cannot do to you is an essential part of ensuring your protection as a patient when going in for care. In this blog post, we'll break down the legal details behind being treated at a hospital so that you can feel more confident when making healthcare decisions. Let's dive into the legal aspect of visiting a hospital, outline what hospitals can and cannot do to us, discover our rights as patients, and review any other considerations worth keeping in mind! OVERVIEW OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW AND HOW IT RELATES TO VISITING A HOSPITAL When going to a hospital, concerned patients and their families should be aware of the legal risks posed in medical malpractice cases. These potential issues can have life-altering consequences if misdiagnoses, wrong medication administration, or improper treatment occurs. Now, whether you seek damages for your injuries at Staten Island University Hospital or in a different hospital in your hometown, it is important for visitors to understand that the law has set forth regulations regarding acceptable standards of care expected by our nation's hospitals. Those regulations can include procedures of qualified professionals that protect patients from financial exploitation and physical or emotional distress caused by medical negligence. Understanding how this information applies to you will help you protect yourself legally if your rights are violated while visiting a hospital.

YouGov polling commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has revealed that majority of the people responding to the poll said that they would be concern by the pharmacy closure in their locality. The results show the extent of the public backing for a Pharmacy First approach - PSNC has been arguing that a fully-funded service would be beneficial for pharmacies, patients and the wider NHS. The poll witnessed 1,774 adults' participation from England. It showed 68 per cent of people agree that they would find it easier to seek health advice for common conditions, such as skin conditions or indigestion, at a community pharmacy rather than a GP surgery. Only 11 per cent disagreed that this would be easier. While 75 per cent of people agree that they would like to see community pharmacies offering more healthcare services such as treating urinary tract infections or sore throats. Only 6 per cent strongly disagreed with this. When asked how important, if at all, are the services provided by community pharmacies to them, their family, or community, 78 per cent indicted this was very important. Only 14 per cent said this wasn't important. 77 per cent said they would be very concerned if the pharmacy they use most often were to close permanently. Only 19 per cent said they would not be very concerned.

The new Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) has witnessed more than 37,000 purchases both via online website and in-person in pharmacies since its launch on Saturday (1 April). As of 12pm today (4 April), 37,240 HRT PPCs have been bought online and 501 in-pharmacy, totalling 37,741 certificates. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimated women have saved over £1.13 million in prescription charges for the year, with the average person saving £30 for a year's supply. The new prescription pre-payment certificate is also predicted to enable around 400,000 women to have cheaper access to menopause support. On the launch of the scheme on Saturday, the huge demand for the much-anticipated certificate meant some patients were unable to access the website on the morning of 1 April. "The NHS Business Service Authority has ensured that the site has been working, allowing thousands of women to continue to successfully purchase a prescription for a year's worth of hormone replacement therapy products which help treat the menopause," said DHSC. Minister for Women's Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said: "Over 37,700 women have come forward to claim cheaper HRT this weekend alone, showing what happens when we listen to what women want.

The Health and Social Care Secretary has announced over £175 million funding to boost genomics research in the UK. Through this funding, the government aims to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world. "Patients with cancer and children born with treatable rare genetic diseases are set to benefit from earlier diagnosis and faster access to treatment, following a £175 million boost to cutting-edge genomics research announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary today (Tuesday)," said DHSC. The funding will enable research which could deliver world-leading genomic healthcare to patients, which involves the study of people's DNA. "£105 million to be funded to kickstart a world-leading research study, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to explore the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to find and treat rare genetic diseases in newborn babies," said DHSC. "An initial £26 million to support an innovative cancer programme, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to evaluate cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis for cancer patients and use artificial intelligence to analyse a person's DNA, alongside other information such as routine scans.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation following 'rocketing prices of antibiotics in the wake of Strep A cases', Sky News reported on Wednesday (December 14). On Monday, the Department of Health issued a medicine supply notification for antibiotics for the treatment of Strep A. "Supplies of antibiotics for the treatment of Group A Strep have seen a surge in demand and may be temporarily in limited supply at certain wholesalers and pharmacies. Supplies are available with manufacturers, and deliveries into wholesalers and pharmacies are being expedited and are expected in the coming days" said DHSC. Sky quoted a spokesperson for the CMA as saying: "People have got real concerns about the price of antibiotics used to treat Strep A, and we want companies to be clear about their obligations under the law.

The Department of Health of Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined that all six Madopar (Co-beneldopa) preparations meet the special container criteria as outlined in Part II Clause 10 of the Drug Tariff. "The NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d) has now been updated with special container status applied to the complete pack sizes of all Madopar preparations," said PSNC. "The special container rules apply immediately to all branded or generically written prescriptions for Madopar dispensed from December 2022 onwards." The following products will be treated as special containers for prescriptions dispensed from December 2022 onwards:

Erectile dysfunction is a very common form of medical condition that occurs in males over time. Usually, this problem is found in people who take too much medication, and ED is probably a side effect of any one of them. However, in seventy-five percent of males, the cause of erectile dysfunction is unknown, and finding the accurate reason for it is very complex. It can be a result of any neural complications, diabetes, or any surgeries that include the prostate of our body. ED can also be treated by using a vacuum device and surgeries on the private parts. However, it can be eradicated completely without any surgeries, and here are some tips that will help you in overcoming erectile dysfunction without surgery and lead a happy life. DO EXERCISE Exercise is a great way to overcome any health issues, and also to safeguard yourself from health issues in the future. Physical activity also helps you in controlling obesity, which is one of the reasons behind ED. By not doing regular exercises, you expose yourself to various cardiovascular problems, which contribute to ED. Studies show that light aerobic exercise for 30-40 minutes a day for at least four times a week for at least 6 months has considerably reduced ED in people. STAY SLIM Studies have shown that a person who has a waist near 42 inches is more likely to suffer from ED than a person with a waistline of 32 inches. Therefore, if you are obese it's time that you lose some weight. Excessive fat in the body is the birthplace of various diseases. Obesity is also responsible for vascular problems and diabetes which are two primary causes of ED.

An executive director of Day Lewis and also board director and member of Association of Independent Multiple pharmacies (AIMp) Jay Patel highlighted the key issues and on ground challenges faced by the community pharmacies in a meeting hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and health secretary Steve Barclay in Downing Street on Saturday (January 7) to tackle the NHS pressure. In his interview with BBC, he said: "He (prime minister) was very engaging and trying to understand the key issues and practical challenges on the ground." Patel described the meeting atmosphere as 'collaborative and proactive', and said, "people were genuinely asked their options and there were listeners too." On BBC, answering to a question on 'how community pharmacies can alleviate the NHS pressure?', Patel said: "Pharmacies is the workplace for this. We have trust of our patients; we have high skilled workforce both clinically and professionally. One of the opportunities we have is working around the acute treat

The aging process can bring with it physical, emotional, and financial changes that can impact elderly parents. As children of aging parents, it is important to be aware of their changing needs and help them adjust to these changes. With the right support, elderly parents can maintain a high quality of life in their senior years. Here are some suggestions on how to help older parents. 1. NURSING SERVICES Nursing services can help aging parents manage their physical needs and provide peace of mind for them and their families. They can help with personal care, assist with medication management, and provide guidance on diet and exercise. Additionally, getting home care nursing services can also provide elderly parents with a sense of companionship and reduce their risk of social isolation. If your parent is in need of nursing services, be sure to research options in your area and look for an experienced provider who will treat them with respect. It's also a good idea to visit them regularly and check in with the nurse to ensure that your parent is receiving quality care

Nine in ten people surveyed by Ipsos on behalf on NHS positively rated the advice they received from their local pharmacies. The results from Ipsos found that the vast majority of patients (91%) who had used a community pharmacy in the previous year for advice about medicines, a health problem or injury, or what health service they should use said they received good advice. The research comes as more than 11,000 pharmacies in England can now access training to spot signs of cancer as part of a new drive to catch tumours earlier when they are easier to treat. Thorrun Govind, Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society English Pharmacy Board, said: "Community pharmacists are working exceptionally hard to make sure that the public gets the right advice at the right time. This new data shows the public appreciate both the accessibility and quality of advice they receive from community pharmacists. "I am delighted that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is working with the NHS to deliver professional development for community pharmacists to further enhance their clinical consultation skills.

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca said on Monday (January 9) that it had struck a deal to buy US-based drug developer CinCor Pharma for up to $1.8 billion to increase its stock of heart and kidney drugs. Core to the deal is CinCor's experimental therapy baxdrostat, which is in development to treat conditions including high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. AstraZeneca aims to combine baxdrostat with its own Farxiga, a diabetes drug whose sales ballooned after it was also shown to benefit patients with heart failure and kidney disease. Farxiga, whose sales jumped by almost 50 per cent during the first nine months of 2022 to reach $3.2 billion, belongs to a highly competitive class of drugs that includes rivals such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly's Jardiance. AstraZeneca gets about a third of its revenue from cancer drugs, but its heart, kidney and diabetes medicines are its second most lucrative business by sales, generating roughly $6.9 billion of the drugmaker's total revenue of more than $33 billion in the first three quarters of 2022.

Suffering a brain injury is no easy thing. The plurality of potential symptoms meets with the potential long-term effects to create a poor prognosis for many unfortunate enough to experience them. But new technological leaps could pave the way to a better quality of life. What is a Brain Injury? The above question might seem a simple one, with a simple answer. But brain injuries are by no means simple, and by no means simply defined. There are two major categories under which a brain injury can fall: hypoxic and traumatic. Of civil brain injury claims in the UK, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are the most common - with 95% of claims revolving around some form of traumatic injury or incident. TBIs are brain injuries suffered as a result of a specific or direct injury. The brain is damaged through direct contact or the transfer of force. A direct strike to the head is in an assault or a serious fall might compromise the cranium, sending shockwaves of energy through the brain and potentially crushing the skull into the cranial cavity. Alternatively, a car accident or sudden stop might see the brain bashed against the occipital bone, causing internal trauma and intracranial hypertension. Hypoxic brain injuries refer specifically to injuries caused as a result of loss of blood or oxygen to the head. These injuries reflect birth injuries that might lead to cerebral palsy, or serious medical events that might alter the brain's response to stimuli. How are Brain Injuries Diagnosed and Treated? While the potential causes of a brain injury are plain to see, diagnosing a brain injury is not as straightforward. There are immediate symptoms that can indicate brain injury, such as the 'fencing response' which can indicate a severe rotational brain injury. Conscious patients might also exhibit difficulty speaking, remembering key pieces of information or responding to any stimuli.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued an alert to update healthcare professionals on the shortage of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. It has informed that the supply of the drugs continues to be limited, and is not expected to return to normal until at least the end of 2024. An increase in demand for these products for licensed and off-label indications is cited as the cause of the supply issues. "Rybelsus® (semaglutide) tablets are now available in sufficient quantities to support initiation of GLP1 RA treatment in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in whom new initiation of GLP-1 RA therapy would be clinically appropriate," the DHSC's National Patient Safety Alert reads.

The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Thursday issued a class 4 medicines defect information notice for Cozaar 100mg film-coated tablets due to an error in the Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) reported by the company. Cozaar is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) as well as to slow the progression of kidney disease in people who have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd has informed the UK regulatory authority that the PILs that have been packed in certain batches of the products do not have the most up to date safety information. 'Grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking Cozaar'- This information is missing in Section 2 'What you need to know before you take Cozaar', sub section 'Cozaar with food and drink', the company clarified.

NHS England has expanded its national bowel screening programme to people aged 54 so that cancers can be detected at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat. As part of the expansion, the health service would be sending a home-testing kit for bowel cancer, known as the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), to thousands more people in the North West. Those who are eligible (aged 54 and over) will now automatically receive the kit every two years by post, enabling them to self-check for blood in stool samples, which can be a sign of bowel cancer. With the expansion of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme to people aged 54 years, an additional 830,000 people in England will now be eligible for the screening test.

British pharmacies and slimming clinics are reducing prices for weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro in a competitive bid to win patients. Both Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) injection drugs are cleared for weight loss in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Wegovy was launched in the UK market in September, with Mounjaro following in February. Initially designed for treating type 2 diabetes, the drugs have been found to also induce weight loss by suppressing appetite and decelerating digestion. As reported by Reuters, Simple Online Pharmacy has further reduced the price of starter doses of Mounjaro to £149 for a one-month supply. In February, the price was cut to £159 ($198) from £179. Additionally, the pharmacy on Monday discounted the higher Mounjaro strengths that patients take later.

The UK government on Thursday (8 May) launched a new plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global issue that makes infections difficult or impossible to treat. This is the second phase of a series of 5-year national action plans, aimed at supporting the government's 20-year vision to contain and control AMR by 2040. With the launch of this new national action plan, the UK commits to reducing its use of antimicrobials - such as antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals - in humans and animals. Additionally, it aims to strengthen surveillance of drug-resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments. There are also plans to expand initiatives such as the world-first 'subscription model' for antimicrobials, launched in 2019 as a pilot.

The latest formulation of XGEVA (denosumab) is now available to patients in the UK, offering a more convenient treatment option for bone metastasis. It is the first product to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the new International Recognition Procedure (IRP). Denosumab (XGEVA) is used to prevent serious bone-related complications resulting from bone metastasis in adults and to treat giant cell tumour of bone in both adults and adolescents. The medicine was authorised on 29 February 2024 as a 120 mg solution for injection in a prefilled syringe. In contrast to the current vial presentation, this simplifies the administration process, reducing the volume of liquid injected and lowering the risk of dosing errors. The product was authorised in 30 days by the MHRA, thanks to the new IRP that facilitated a rapid approval process.

It isn't the hardest thing to find the right physiotherapist to treat you, but like many other professions, especially in health, physiotherapy has a number of different areas of expertise that are governed by strict and high standards of service. Physiotherapists have to be well educated and officially registered in order to practice. Identifying which therapist is able to provide the treatment for your specific needs and requires more than just picking up a phone book, or selecting the first site that pops up on google. Here's a list of what to look for when selecting a therapist as well as when to look for one. What to Look for Check their qualifications As is the case with any healthcare practitioner, it is important that your physiotherapist is fully qualified and accredited. It is required by law that they complete a degree at an approved educational institution, and are registered with the Physiotherapy Board. The board is responsible for keeping professional standards up to where they need to be, and for making sure that the Code of Practice is upheld.