A polio vaccine booster campaign is being launched for almost a million children in London aged between 1 and 9 after confirmation that poliovirus is
spreading in the capital for the first time since the 1980s.
The UK Health Security Agency has identified 116 polioviruses from 19 sewage samples this year in London, after first sending an alert about finding the virus in
June. The levels of poliovirus found and genetic diversity indicated that transmission was taking place in a number of London boroughs, the agency said on Wednesday
(Aug 10).
Health secretary Steve Barclay said: "I recognise parents and guardians will be concerned about the detection of polio in London, however I want to reassure people
that nobody has been diagnosed with the virus and the risk to the wider population is low…
"Vaccines offer the best defence to children, and those around them, so I would encourage families to ensure they are up to date with their routine jabs, and to come
forward for the polio booster as soon as they are contacted by the NHS."
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed that London is potentially at risk of a measles resurgence.
UKHSA modelling suggests that, unless MMR vaccination rates improve, London could see a measles outbreak with tens of thousands of cases.
"Those who have never received a measles vaccine (MMR) are at risk," said UKHSA.
MMR is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme. Parents whose infants missed out, or anyone of any age unvaccinated, are urged to come forward.
Susceptibility is particularly high among 19 to 25 year olds, affected by unfounded stories in the early 2000s ('Wakefield cohorts') and some may still not be
fully vaccinated.
As part of continued efforts to protect people against getting measles, the NHS is launching a campaign encouraging people to check their vaccination status, with
targeted outreach to groups in London.
A group of pharmacists on Saturday (July 2) took part in this year's Pride in London parade, as the annual LGBTQ+ celebration returned to the capital after
three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those who participated in the march called on the government to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT+ people, reform the Gender Recognition Act, and provide equal
protection for LGBT+ communities against hate crime.
The event which drew a crowd of a million people marked the 50th anniversary since the first ever parade in London in 1972.
Amandeep Doll, head of professional belonging at RPS, said: "It was a privilege to join in the recognition of the diversity of the LGBTQI+ community and our
profession, especially on such a historic occasion. Our group of pharmacists and allies from all parts of the country loved the excitement and buzz of the day."
In a bid to bolster the educational experience for undergraduate pharmacy students across London, Kingston University has embarked on a groundbreaking
project in collaboration with University College London and King's College London.
This initiative, fueled by a substantial £1.5 million investment from National Health Services England (NHSE), aims to elevate the quality and consistency of
pharmacy placements throughout the capital for new pharmacy entrants.
The project is designed to address the evolving standards set forth by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GphC), ensuring that newly-trained pharmacists
are well-prepared to meet the demands of their profession.
By standardizing and expanding pharmacy placements, the three universities seek to provide students with a comprehensive and diverse range of "experiential
learning opportunities".
"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.
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The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a proposal from Brussels to ensure the continued supply of medicines from Britain to Northern Ireland - an issue that had dogged the bloc since London left it.
"Great news from the @Europarl_EN today with the overwhelmingly positive vote to ensure the continued supply of medicines to Northern Ireland," tweeted Maros Sefcovic, European Commission vice president who had been leading discussions with London.
"The EU is delivering on this lasting solution for Northern Ireland in record time," he added, though the EU Council must give final approval.
Britain itself has yet to give formal approval on a move that would avoid potential disruption of supplies as London wants an overall accord for matters pertaining to the Northern Ireland protocol governing post-Brexit trade.
The General Pharmaceutical Council's Fitness-to-Practise (FtP) committee has reversed its earlier decision ruling that a London pharmacist's statement,
attributing the Grenfell tragedy to "Zionist supporters of the Tory party," amounted to the propagation of anti-Semitic tropes.
In an initial 2020 hearing, the FtP committee found that a set of remarks delivered by Nazim Hussain Ali, Managing Partner of Chelsea Pharmacy Medical Clinic,
through a megaphone to a crowd assembled at a Palestinian rights rally in central London in 2017 were deemed "grossly offensive," but not classified as anti-Semitic.
Ali admitted his comments were offensive, but he was cleared of accusations of antisemitism and received a first warning on November 5, 2020.
However, the High Court overturned this decision in June 2021 following an appeal by the Professional Standards Authority as the Judge found evidence of
a "serious procedural or other irregularity" in the FtP committee's decision and instructed the GPhC to reopen the case.
A pharmacy group operating in London and the surrounding areas has said it's cliched a financial deal worth £4.25 million with a major global bank to bolster
its mergers and acquisitions activity.
Osbon Pharmacy Group said on Monday (19 June) that it would use the multi-million-pound funding package from HSBC UK to also invest in bringing accessible and
comprehensive medical services closer to the doorstep of Londoners and people of South East England.
The family-run business said the new money will open new position which will include opportunities for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians,
dispensers, accounts clerks and delivery drivers, taking the company's total headcount to 185.
The group, which currently has 26 pharmacies across London and South East England, was established in 2005.
The company offers a range of medicine and prescription services as well as offering customary help and advice. It switched to banking with HSBC UK last year as
part of a £6.9M refinance package, which saw the business acquire nine pharmacies and takes the total funding provided by HSBC UK to date to £11.1m.
On June 3, Synnovis, a pathology laboratory serving several NHS organisations in South East London, was targeted by a ransomware attack.
This cyber incident has disrupted vital blood testing services, crucial for a range of medical treatments, and raised significant concerns over data security.
NHS England confirmed that a cybercriminal group, Qilin, published data online, claiming it was stolen from Synnovis.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are currently working to authenticate the data and understand its contents.
A helpline has been established to address patient concerns, and NHS England urges patients to attend their appointments unless otherwise directed.
The attack has rendered some of the NHS's blood testing systems inoperable, causing substantial disruption to medical services in South East London.
RP Healthcare, a multi-operator, has sold Hammersmith pharmacy in West London to an independent pharmacist for an undisclosed amount.
"Mariam Moshref, owner of Fulham Pharmacy, together with her twin brothers, Arya and Jaan Moshref, purchased Hammersmith Pharmacy from Ravi Patel of RP
Healthcare," Christie and Co, who handled the sale, said in a statement.
This pharmacy operates during standard hours, handling an average of 5,920 items per month, the statement added. Refurbished in 2018, the pharmacy is located
on Fulham Palace Road, W6, near Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Underground station.
RP Healthcare placed the pharmacy on the market as a strategic move to divest from the area.
Blackwells Chemist, a community pharmacy in South East London did not meet all the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards.
The pharmacy was inspected on Thursday (01 June) and it was found it did not keep all its records up to date and accurate, particularly its responsible pharmacist
records. Investigation report stated that the principle of Governance and principle of Services, including medicines management was 'not met at all'.
Under the principle Governance, the report stated: "The pharmacy generally manages the risks associated with its services adequately. People using the pharmacy can
provide feedback or raise concerns. And staff generally protect people's personal information well. Team members know what to do to help protect the welfare of a
vulnerable person. The pharmacy has written procedures, but these are not easily accessible to team members to refer to. And they are not regularly updated. So,
they may be less useful to staff, and may not reflect current best practice."
In the inspection it was found that the pharmacy does not always store its medicines properly. It cannot show that it stores all its medicines requiring cold
storage at the appropriate temperatures.
The University friends purchased the North London pharmacy for a confidential sum.
Nabeel Patel, a GP pharmacist at Haringey GP Federation and Huseyin Akpinar, a former councillor at Enfield Council bought it following a confidential sales
process with Mark Page at Christie & Co.
Kiran and Nita Patel, who have owned and operated Beautychem Pharmacy since 1989, have decided to retire.
They claimed that the pharmacy had "dispensed an average of 6,576 items per month".
Kiran Patel, former owner of Beautychem Pharmacy, said: "It's been a pleasure serving the Tottenham community over the last 34 years. Over the years, we've seen
many changes in the pharmacy profession, but the constant has been the customers and the respect they have for what each independent pharmacy does for them.
Kanabo Group plc, a medical cannabis research and development company, has entered into a partnership with City Dock Pharmacy in London to introduce a walk-in
clinic for pain management.
The pain clinic will cater to patients who are eligible for alternative therapies (when traditional treatments have failed to deliver improvements), and will offer
specialised medicines, including medicinal cannabis.
When it opens, the new facility at City Dock Pharmacy in Wapping will become the UK's first walk-in clinic for pain management, but it will also deliver
appointment-related services, the companies said.
The partnership is part of the London-based company's wider ambition to extend its reach into physical pharmacies throughout the UK, and its plans to replicate
this model across other pharmacies.
Researchers from King's College London and the University of Helsinki have identified a link between periodontitis (gum disease) and cryptogenic ischemic
stroke, which causes a blockage in the blood vessel supplying blood to a region of the brain.
The findings, recently published in the Journal of Dental Research, emphasise severe gum disease as a risk factor for young-onset stroke, particularly in
patients with no other identifiable risk factors.
Dr. Susanna Paju, Periodontology Specialist from the University of Helsinki, led the study in collaboration with Dr. Svetislav Zaric, Clinical Lecturer in
Periodontology from King's College London. Dr. Zaric explains the implications of their research:
"Stroke remains the second leading cause of death globally. Strikingly, the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke have been increasing in the younger
population during past decades," she said.
"Periodontitis, which involves deep inflammation of the gums due to bacteria under the gumline, can lead to systemic effects as bacteria enter the bloodstream
and affect other parts of the body," she added.
To combat the effects of climate change, the Integrated Care System (ICS) in South East London (SEL) has initiated a pioneering inhaler recycling project.
Supported by NHS England and spanning 20 community pharmacies across the region, the project marks the first nationally-funded pilot of its kind in England,
targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from improperly disposed inhalers.
The project, which commenced at King's College Hospital in February 2024, focuses on the recycling of pressurised metered-dose inhalers.
These inhalers, due to their propellant content, contribute significantly to environmental harm, emitting gases equivalent to driving 71.8 miles in a standard
petrol car.
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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has decided to lease two floors of its east London headquarters to Ingeus, a business with services in employment, health, justice and youth.
RPS will retain three floors of the building, including its museum and library on the ground floor, as well as the two upper floors which will be used for events, collaborative working and team meetings.
The decision follows an announcement in April that the the Society was re-evaluating whether it needed to hold on to its current office space as homeworking was becoming the norm due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Society also wanted to maximise value from its property and generate additional revenue which could "be
reinvested into further developing our valued products and services".
Ingeus runs the government-sponsored Restart Scheme to help people find jobs in their local area.