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Well Pharmacy, the UK's largest independent pharmacy chain, recently announced the opening of a new store inside WHSmith's flagship airside location at Birmingham Airport. This expansion is part of Well Pharmacy's ongoing collaboration with WHSmith, the global travel retailer. Situated within the departure lounge of Birmingham Airport, the biggest and busiest airport in the Midlands and the seventh largest in the UK, the new pharmacy will offer travelers a wide range of pharmacy products and expert healthcare services. The new pharmacy complements WHSmith's extensive selection of health and beauty items, travel essentials, food-to-go, and tech products. Andrew Caplan, chief retail officer at Well Pharmacy, expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership. "Well Pharmacy are delighted to continue to work in partnership with WHSmith in providing a one stop shop for all travellers' needs," he stated.

The Professional Records Standards Body (PRSB), which develops information standards for health and social care records, has appointed Professor Reecha Sofat as the new Chair. She will assume the role at the end of October 2024, succeeding Professor Maureen Baker CBE, who will step down after seven years as Chair of the PRSB. A Clinical Pharmacologist, Professor Sofat has held many leadership roles across the NHS, academia and scientific societies. Professor Sofat is Breckenridge Chair of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool. She practices general internal medicine and is also an Associate Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Data Science Centre (DSC) which is led by Health Data Research UK (HDRUK). With a passion for data science and extensive clinical and research insights, Professor Sofat is focused on embedding research into routine health and social care. She said: "I am passionate about using the rich health data that is already collected across NHS and social care to better understand the causes and consequences of disease and improve health outcomes.

Healthcare reform emerged as a cornerstone of the Labour Party's manifesto leading up to the recent general election. A standout pledge was the establishment of a Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service, aimed at granting pharmacists independent prescribing rights where clinically suitable. This initiative is seen as a positive step in addressing critical challenges within the National Health Service (NHS). Numark Chairman Harry McQuillan praised Labour's recognition of pharmacists' role in patient care through expanded prescribing rights. "Let's be honest, pharmacists are an underutilised resource within the healthcare system. We possess extensive training and expertise, yet our full potential hasn't always been acknowledged. "By harnessing pharmacists expanded prescribing rights, Labour is acknowledging our significant role in patient care. This initiative aims to recognise our skills and enhance patient care, ensuring quicker access to necessary treatments," he said. However, he pointed out that the concept requires further exploration, as the rights to prescribe are already granted through the recent change to undergraduate training that incorporates prescribing.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has emerged as a key player in international humanitarian efforts, delivering millions of pounds worth of medical aid to disaster-hit regions. This marks a significant evolution for the PDA, which has embraced a leadership role in global relief initiatives. The PDA, a member of the Employed Pharmacists of Europe (EPhEU), responded to an urgent appeal from its Ukrainian members following the extensive damage to Ukraine's healthcare infrastructure during the military invasion. As the elected Secretary General of EPhEU, PDA Chairman Mark Koziol orchestrated a campaign encouraging public donations through 'Medicines to Ukraine' posters displayed in pharmacies across Europe. The campaign successfully raised over £4.5 million, which was used to procure and deliver essential medicines directly to Ukrainian Ministry of Health pharmacists.

Alzheimer's is a mental illness that mostly affects the elderly. It is characterized by dementia, cognitive impairment, and mood swings. The patient gradually fades into a state of perpetual darkness and lack of self-awareness. Here are some steps we can take to reduce our own risk.

Scientists are trying to find ways to prevent Alzheimer's before it comes knocking at your doorstep. Extensive research is taking place even as you read this. Everyone hopes to put together the answer before it becomes a global issue. Here are a few risk factors that you can and can't avoid:

This is not a recent breakthrough, but in our complicated world of new ideas, simplicity is often overlooked. This article points out that magnesium deficiency is a major problem and I think symptoms stemming from magnesium deficiency can be easily overlooked. The article acknowledges an extensive list of symptoms that seem to be rampant in our society. They are: constipation, high blood pressure (hypertension), anxiety, depression insomnia, behavioral disturbances, lethargy impaired memory/thinking, seizures, fatigue, sleep disturbances, pain, muscle cramps, chronic back pain, headaches, migraines, muscular pain, tendonitis, anger, aggression, ADHD, brain fog, tension, anxiety disorders such as OCD. Sounds familiar? What I think is important about this is article is that before we move on to more complex and expensive solutions for any of these problems, we might want to begin with a simple high quality magnesium supplement of your choice. I take it personally, and see the benefits of it in my own ability to rest and focus. Good mechanics always recommend beginning with the simplest solution first, and if that doesn't work, then work your way up to more expensive theories to solve the problem. Today, people often begin with the most expensive theory because they could feel that because their problem is complicated to them, the solution is not simple and they expect to pay more. This is subjective. I suppose the same strategy could be be applied to health.

The PDA has raised concerns over the 'deliberate breaches' of the NHS contract by some community pharmacy businesses, saying that it may cause harm to patients and damage the reputation of the profession. The organisation said concerned pharmacists have revealed to them that some businesses are now explicitly saying that if locums will not agree to work for less than a so-called 'maximum' hourly rate, the business will close the pharmacy for either part of, or the whole day. Some of these full or part-day closures are being communicated significantly in advance of the actual day, it added. The union further alleged that several pharmacy businesses seem to have simultaneously implemented identical so-called 'maximum rates' in what could be an anti-competitive behaviour.

A newly licensed 1mg/ml Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension has been developed by Rosemont Pharmaceuticals to meet the special needs of babies from 1 to 12 months old who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). In infants, the symptoms of GORD can be particularly distressing for both the child and parent. Previously, Rosemont Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension has been available in 2mg/ml and 4mg/ml strengths. However, the addition of the new 1mg/ml product ensures that the needs of all patient groups with GORD are sufficiently met. The Rosemont range of Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension products are the only PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) indicated for use in babies from 1 month to 1 year. Symptoms of GORD in infants are usually resolved by 1 year of age1, so it is key that there is a licensed treatment option available for the 1 to 12 month patient group.

A newly licensed 1mg/ml Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension has been developed by Rosemont Pharmaceuticals to meet the special needs of babies from 1 to 12 months old who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). In infants, the symptoms of GORD can be particularly distressing for both the child and parent. Previously, Rosemont Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension has been available in 2mg/ml and 4mg/ml strengths. However, the addition of the new 1mg/ml product ensures that the needs of all patient groups with GORD are sufficiently met. The Rosemont range of Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension products are the only PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) indicated for use in babies from 1 month to 1 year. Symptoms of GORD in infants are usually resolved by 1 year of age1, so it is key that there is a licensed treatment option available for the 1 to 12 month patient group.