Former Prime Minister Theresa May has formally opened new offices of LEO Pharma UK and Ireland during a launch event in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
The company said on Friday (June 16) that the new building, based at Foundation Park, will function as its UK and Ireland operational headquarters.
LEO Pharma has been manufacturing dermatology products in the UK and Ireland for over 60 years and continues its commitment to the Maidenhead area, where it been
based for 10 years. The grounds offer state-of-the-art facilities and a greener and more sustainable workplace, the company said and hoped that that strong transport
connections at Foundation Park will allow for seamless international collaboration, while a range of health and wellness initiatives will contribute to employee
wellbeing.
This new space will enable a collaborative and flexible work environment for LEO Pharma staff, ensuring they can continue to work to improve the lives of people
living with skin conditions, their families and society.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association has reported an increase in the number of pharmacists calling its advice line to inform about the incidences of violence and intimidation from protesters opposing the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
The association noted that such incidents have become more common with protesters "gaining entry to premises in groups and trying to disrupt Covid-19 vaccinations from taking place."
In many cases, pharmacists, staff, and members of the public have been subjected to verbal threats, causing distress and anxiety among those working to deliver the vaccination programme in a safe environment.
The PDA reminded that employers, having a contract with the NHS for the Covid-19 vaccinations, have a duty to keep their staff safe whilst at work.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards for pharmacy premises also carry a duty to ensure the safety of staff and the public receiving services on those premises.
The Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) has announced that Michaela McAleer will be replacing Trevor Patterson as Chief Executive of PSNI.
After 15 years at the helm, Patterson announced his intention to retire. Jonathan Patton, Vice President of the Society said, "Joining the Society from the
construction sector Trevor brought fresh thinking and vigour to the Society and quickly established his credibility with pharmacists, Council, stakeholders and
fellow regulatory bodies."
"Trevor has presided over tremendous change and development through his tenure with equal measures of professionalism and passion on creating safer protections
for the public and ensuring pharmacists achieved world class standards in their profession. We are saddened to see him depart but on behalf of Council I wish him a
long and healthy retirement and wish him well in the next chapter of life. We are indebted to him for his dedication to the Pharmaceutical Society NI."
"Losing the constant and continuity of our 15 year serving Chief Executive ushers in a time of change and evolution for us as the Pharmacy Regulator. We are in the
midst of a fast moving and changing environment as we implement continuous improvement.
The Professional Pharmacists Association (PDA) has demanded efforts to secure greater support and recognition for community pharmacists from governmental
bodies.
In its written evidence provided to the Health and Social Care select committee's pharmacy inquiry, the PDA raised concerns about the well-being of pharmacists,
specifically for those who belong to minority ethnic groups and race and are subjected to bullying, harassment, and ill-treatment.
The association highlighted issues in the workplace that impact pharmacists' health and well-being, including chronic understaffing, sub-standard working
environments, an absence of protected training time, and experiences of racism, violence, and abuse.
Parallel to the PDA's advocacy, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is intensifying calls for prioritising workforce wellbeing within the pharmacy domain.
Stressing the pivotal role of workforce retention in addressing current challenges, RPS emphasises the need for robust support mechanisms and equitable access
to mental health services.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland hosted an event celebrating the collaborative work of the health
professions and policy makers in Scotland on reducing the environmental harm from prescribing and medicines use.
To share priorities for the Scottish Government, Alpana Mair, Head of Effective Therapeutics and Prescribing spoke and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch
appeared virtually. Gillian MacKay MSP, Scottish Greens spokesperson for Health and Social Care also joined in-person.
Medicines account for around 25% of the NHS's carbon emissions and have an ecological impact when they enter our wastewater system or our rivers and oceans.
Tackling the impact of prescribing will be a key part of meeting the ambition of a net zero NHS Scotland by 2040 at the latest.
Together, RCGP Scotland and RPS have held two roundtable events on sustainable prescribing, and in June 2022, released a joint statement calling for a wide range
of actions, which was signed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of
Anaesthetists, the College of Radiographers, Royal College of Nursing, Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Continuing the work of RPS at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, the event aims to mark an opportunity for health professionals and
decision makers alike to join a global movement of sustainability in healthcare, and pledge to continue the important work of cutting the climate impact of medicine
use while maintaining the highest level of patient care and safety.
British pharmacy chain Superdrug has announced plans to cease the sale of disposable vapes in all its UK and Ireland stores, citing the environmental impact
caused by its disposal and popularity among young people.
The pharmacy retailer will discontinue selling brands like Vuse GO and Flavaah Bars, with plans to completely clear out existing stock by the end of the year, the
company said in statement.
Superdrug, which previously sold 1,300 single-use vapes weekly, expects a potential impact on revenue stemming from this decision. The company has not yet started
selling vapes online.
"This decision was made to safeguard the environment," the company said on Sept.22, highlighting the risk of fires due to improper disposal of vapes, as many of
them contain lithium batteries.
The government on Wednesday (March 2) announced an investment of £260 million to support research, development and manufacturing of new drugs, devices and
diagnostics.
Of the total funding, up to £200m has been allocated for research to better access NHS data through Trusted Research Environments and digital clinical trial services, enabling availability of crucial data with the highest levels of privacy.
This will allow the NHS to deliver new life-saving treatments to patients, tackle health inequalities and improve patient care, a government release stated.
The remaining £60m will support commercial-scale manufacturing investments by companies at the leading-edge of innovation, from cell and gene therapies and earlier
and better diagnostic technologies, to medical devices.
The funding for manufacturing investments will be distributed through the new Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), following the success of the earlier Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund.
More than half of pharmacists working in England are considering changing their roles over the next 12-18 months because of work-related issues, a recent survey by The Pharmacists' Defence Association revealed.
The survey which concluded on February 18, 2022 had more than 2,500 participants including employed and locum pharmacists from all four UK nations.
In the survey, PDA asked respondents about their current roles and future career plans.
The initial feedback showed that unsatisfactory pay and working environments, lack of professional fulfilment, and poor management were the key factors for pharmacy professionals to reconsider their current positions.
During the coronavirus pandemic many people found themselves working from home, and this has continued to some extent in many businesses. A change in working
environment can bring challenges, one of which can be joint pain and discomfort.
Imagine you have gone from a busy office environment, meeting in boardrooms and visiting the canteen for a coffee, to working at home on your dining room table,
walking several feet to get a cup of tea and sitting back down again, this change in surroundings can have an impact on your joints.
Community pharmacists can be a source of knowledge to help individuals that may be suffering from joint complaints, this may be from the above scenario or just
general aches and pains that come from an office based role.
Firstly, it's important for us to know the effects of sitting down at a desk all day (not a scenario I'm sure many community pharmacists experience daily):
Back pain - is one of the most common complaints. This can be caused by bad posture while sitting too high, too low, or hunched over. While this may present as
just a soreness or discomfort, if not rectified and/or accessed this can lead to some serious health issues such as spinal compression, sciatica or spinal stenosis.
HayMax, maker of the famous organic drug-free allergen barrier balm has been awarded the 'British Made Award' for Best British Allergy Product 2022.
The award celebrates businesses that work tirelessly to make their region one of the most diverse and dynamic the UK has to offer.
HayMax MD and creator Max Wiseberg comments: "This award means a great deal to us. We've always been proud that our products have been manufactured in the UK. We
are passionate about reducing the cost to the environment so being British-made means we keep the miles down and reduce our carbon footprint."
HayMax balms are manufactured in the UK. It buys local to reduce the cost to the environment, even if it means it costs a bit more. HayMax's current pots are now
made in the UK, which has been great for reducing their carbon footprint. Its tins come from London.
The new pots can be recycled and re-used. The brand has now switched to using sugar cane to make its pots and has also reduced the amount of material used in the
pots by just over 54%. And they have switched from the plastic labels to paper labels.
The UK must act swiftly to fend off competition if it wants to build the world's leading life sciences sciences hub, a new report suggests.
A year on from the launch of the government's life science vision, the report commissioned by the the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said
although achieving the ambition remained feasible, the UK would need an attractive business environment because its competitor countries were becoming more adept
at attracting investment.
To achieve the ambition of the vision, the PwC-produced report suggested raising pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK to build a 'stronger manufacturing and
research infrastructure', alongside better investment in, access to and uptake of innovative medicines.
It said the UK would also need to adopt a renewed approach to the priority healthcare challenges identified in the government's 'Life Science Vision', which would
mean cutting the overall burden on health of dementia, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease and mental health.
The report quantified the size of the prize if the vision was implemented in full and the UK could emulate the successes of leading EU countries, which included:
£68 billion in additional GDP over 30 years, owing to increased R&D investment
£16.3 billion additional annual GDP from increased pharmaceutical exports
Supporting 85,000 additional jobs
Up to 40 per cent decrease in disease burden across the whole UK - for areas like cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions and Cancer.
Reduced variation in speed of access to new medicines within three months of licensing for all NHS patients.
With the upcoming general election on the horizon, Proprietary Association of Greater Britain (PAGB) is leading the charge to integrate self-care into the
core of all political party manifestos.
The aim is to ease strains on the NHS and forge a sustainable healthcare system for the future.
In a significant move, PAGB unveiled a comprehensive general election toolkit on Wednesday, laying out a compelling argument for the prioritisation of self-care
among stakeholders.
The toolkit underscores the importance of public interest, potential NHS cost savings, and the economic advantages of the over-the-counter (OTC) sector.
Aimed at unlocking the full potential of self-care and nurturing an enabling environment for its implementation, PAGB's toolkit advocates for greater integration
of pharmacy services into primary care.
Working in an office environment can be hazardous to your health. From sitting on a chair all day to exposure to harmful chemicals, many potential health
hazards can occur in the workplace.
While some health hazards are out of your control, there are many things you can do to help prevent them. Here are seven efficient ways to prevent health hazards
at the workplace:
1. TAKE HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
Health and safety training is an efficient way to prevent health hazards at the workplace for several reasons. First, it helps employees to be aware of potential
hazards in their work environment. This knowledge can then be used to take steps to avoid or control these hazards. Second, health and safety training provides
employees with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and report potential health hazards, especially those working in medical laboratories with frequent
exposure to blood, chemicals, and other pathogens. This can help to ensure that any problems are quickly addressed and corrected. Finally, health and safety
training helps to create a culture of safety in the workplace. This safety culture can encourage employees to take personal responsibility for their own health and
safety, as well as the health and safety of their coworkers.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has proposed a Voluntary Scheme for Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) that aims to deliver a
sustainable approach to medicines provision and maximise the growth potential of the UK life sciences industry.
It has published the industry's vision for a new agreement with the government which will deliver for patients, the NHS and the economy.
VPAG also includes measures to ensure rapid patient access and adoption of new medicines, as well as opportunities to improve health outcomes and productivity for
the whole country.
The association's proposals consist of four key areas: restoring an internationally competitive commercial environment for life sciences; supporting UK clinical
research and R&D; ensuring rapid patient access and uptake of new medicines; and improving population health and productivity through health innovation.
The proposal would deliver over £1bn a year to the NHS - around £300m more than the average delivered under the old scheme before 2023, and comfortably more than the
highest contributions ever made before the pandemic.
Running a dental practice is no small feat! You have to ensure that both your customers are happy and your staff members too. It is easy to get caught up in
the day-to-day admin and operational needs that you forget what is at the core of a successful dentist practice. How you manage your dental practice will leave
lasting impressions on staff and patients, so it is important to always be trying to further yourself and improve how your practice runs.
Here are 5 ways to easily improve your dental practice.
IMPROVE YOUR WAITING AREA
USE APPOINTMENT REMINDERS
OFFER REGULAR TRAINING FOR STAFF
REFINE YOUR BRAND
CREATE A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Check Pharmacy business website for full article.
Bas Vorsteveld has been elected as the new president of PAGB, the trade association representing the manufacturers of branded OTC medicines, self care medical
devices and food supplements.
Vorsteveld, who is vice president and general Manager of Haleon GB and Ireland, succeeds Neil Lister, managing director UK & Ireland and vice president at Perrigo.
PAGB said the appointment comes at a crucial time for the consumer healthcare association as it looks to expand the role of self-care, secure a long-term favourable
business environment for members, adapt to environmental challenges and continue to deliver excellent services for members.
"We are so pleased to welcome Bas to the role of President. Bas has been actively involved with PAGB as a board member and we're looking forward to continuing our
work with him. I have already seen from Bas's time on our Board that he combines great sector knowledge with drive, energy and genuine passion for what we do and
we're so excited to have him as our President," Michelle Riddalls, chief executive of PAGB, said.
"Bas's input and guidance as our strategy evolves over the coming years will be vital as we respond to new challenges as they emerge and make the most of the
opportunities ahead."
In a rapidly evolving and competitive landscape, the pharmaceutical industry faces unique challenges when it comes to marketing its products and services.
With stringent regulations, complex target audiences, and a need for trust and credibility, pharma companies need to employ effective marketing strategies to stand
out in the crowd. In this blog article, we will explore some key marketing strategies for the pharma industry that can help boost their visibility, engage their
target audience, and drive business growth.
UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE
The pharma industry operates in a highly regulated environment, where compliance and ethical considerations play a crucial role. Before diving into marketing
strategies, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the industry's dynamics and the target audience. Researching the market, identifying patient needs,
and studying the competitive landscape are vital steps in developing an effective marketing plan.
EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Digital transformation has revolutionized marketing across industries, and the pharma sector is no exception. Embracing digital channels and technologies can
significantly enhance the reach and impact of marketing efforts. Pharma companies can leverage social media platforms, create engaging content, and build online
communities to connect with patients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders. Implementing robust digital marketing strategies allows for personalized
messaging, real-time communication, and targeted campaigns that resonate with the target audience.
Workplace accidents and injuries can happen anytime, regardless of which industry or the type of work environment you're into. Most often, it's theworkplace conditions and the danger of your task that creates these risks. However, certain workplace injuries in certain workplaces are much more serious than others.
If you've experienced any injury from your workplace during your working hours, you have the right to seek help from a workers' compensation lawyer. It could help you minimize the risk when you are aware of the common types of workplace injuries and taking preventative measures.
Below are five common types of workplace injuries that you should watch out for.
Injuries Caused By Trips, Slips, And Falls
Injuries Caused By Falling Objects
Injuries Caused By Falls From Heights
Injuries Caused By Falls From Heights
Injuries Caused By Fire And Explosions
Check Pharmacy Business website for details.
Businesses have a responsibility for the safety of their employees, as well as visitors that are on their premises. If an injury occurs on their property, a
company can be held responsible. There are various issues and rules that may apply, so it is important to know the facts regarding such situations. Here are 4 impacts
legalities to consider for your business when dealing with such incidents.
STATUS OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF PREMISES
When you are looking into injury cases that occur and involve the premises or property of a business, one of the most important aspects to consider is the status of
the property itself. All property that has access to the public owned by an individual or business must be maintained in a manner that is safe for people to
reasonably move around. This is often associated with sidewalks and pathways, as well as corridors, hallways, and various rooms in businesses. You must ensure
that areas where people may be around are safe such as ensuring no water or substance is present on floors that would cause falls or slips, and otherwise having
the signage to indicate the need for caution. This is not limited to people, but can also apply to vehicles and equipment, ensuring oil stains and spills do not
endanger the operators and employees in the area. Businesses should recognize any risks that are present and also be mindful to address environmental concerns in
the immediate area as they are made aware of them. If a business fails to address such potential dangers, they are indeed potentially liable for any injuries and
health concerns that come as a result of willful ignorance of the situation.
Patient safety should remain a top priority in any healthcare setting. People should always receive the right advice, and pharmacists aren't 'GPs on the cheap.'
Staff should be fully trained, and medical equipment should be correctly maintained at all times. In turn, this helps create a safer environment for patients and
professionals alike. In this article, we'll discuss some of the factors that can enhance patient safety in healthcare settings.
AUTOMATION AND MONITORING
Automating processes within a facility can help streamline operations. This has the potential to reduce or eliminate human error that could result in serious injury
or death. In addition, automated systems often provide instant alerts when something goes wrong - allowing medical staff to react quickly and appropriately. Automated
solutions can help facilities achieve hand hygiene monitoring standards, and it's possible to schedule a demo and see their outcomes. They can reduce staff sick time
and HAIs, as well as Joint Commission citations and associated costs.
Monitoring helps ensure compliance with safety protocols. It's essential for improving patient safety and gaining data on all aspects of a facility's operations. It
also helps organizations track the effectiveness of their protocols and procedures over time. This helps them constantly evaluate and refine their policies, to
maximize patient safety benefits.
ADEQUATE STAFFING
In order to provide quality care, it's essential to have enough staff on hand to meet patient needs and ensure all protocols are being followed. Without this,
healthcare providers may struggle to provide prompt, efficient care - which can put patient safety at risk. Adequate staffing levels should be determined by a
variety of factors. They include patient numbers, the complexity of care required, and the size and layout of the facility.