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A judicial review claim launched by the British Medical Association (BMA) against the General Medical Council (GMC) has parallelly intensified Pharmacists' Defence Association's (PDA) scrutiny over the use of the term 'pharmacy professionals'. PDA has criticised the evolving definition of 'pharmacy professionals,' and the potential risks to patient safety amidst regulatory ambiguity as part of "a far wider agenda." Concerns stem from what the PDA perceives as a blurring of distinctions between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as "attempted homogenisation" by bodies like the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), NHS, and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Raising similar issue as the BMA against the GMC over its use of 'medical professionals for doctors and Medical Associate Professions (MAPs), Mark Koizol, Chairman of the PDA has said:

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It can affect anyone, regardless of their profession or personal situation. Recognizing the warning signs of burnout is crucial for taking proactive steps to address it before it leads to more severe health issues. This article will explore the key indicators of burnout and provide practical strategies for managing and preventing it. Physical Symptoms of Burnout Physical symptoms are often the first signs of burnout. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, including chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and muscle tension. Persistent fatigue, even after a full night's sleep, is a significant red flag. This type of exhaustion can make daily tasks feel overwhelming and unmanageable. Insomnia, or difficulty sleeping, is another common physical symptom. Individuals experiencing burnout may find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to a vicious cycle of fatigue and sleeplessness. Headaches and muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, are also prevalent. These symptoms are often caused by the body's prolonged stress response, which keeps muscles in a constant state of tension.

Laganside Crown Court, on Friday, sentenced Gerard Cullinan, a 48-year-old pharmacist and Director of Castlereagh Pharmacy Ltd in East Belfast, for unlawfully supplying controlled prescription medicines, including co-codamol and fentanyl, and for failing to maintain controlled drugs registers. Cullinan was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment, suspended for three years, and his pharmacy was fined £8,000. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Department of Health's Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG), which uncovered that Cullinan's pharmacy on Castlereagh Road had illegally supplied over 300,000 co-codamol tablets between January 2017 and June 2020. Additionally, the MRG investigation identified significant breaches in record-keeping for Class A controlled drugs such as fentanyl, tapentadol, methylphenidate, morphine, and oxycodone. "It is a serious criminal offence to sell or supply prescription only medicines without a prescription," said Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer at the MRG, who led the investigation.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has laid out a series of urgent actions it wants the newly elected Labour government to implement within its first 100 days in office. Among the top priorities, the ABPI has emphasised the urgent need to appoint a new Chair and Chief Executive for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Additionally, the ABPI has urged the new government to launch the Life Sciences Manufacturing Capital Grants Facility without delay. Other measures the ABPI wants Labour to prioritise include: Rapidly passing outstanding UK clinical trials legislation to enhance the UK's attractiveness for inward investment, including into research within the NHS. Increasing commercial flexibility in the NHS England Commercial Framework for New Medicines to remove barriers for companies to launch new medicines and indications so that NHS patients can access the latest innovative medicines.