The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has reported growing concerns among its members regarding their safety at work as the far-right, anti-immigration
riots escalate across the UK.
"We have received calls from members who are concerned about their safety at work and feel vulnerable in communities where the violence and disorder are taking
place," the organisation told Pharmacy Business.
The PDA also reported that some hospital outpatient departments and GP surgeries were forced to close their doors to allow staff to get home safely, which may
impact services to patients.
In light of these challenges, the PDA is calling on employers to ensure that they are adequately communicating with pharmacists in locations at risk of conflict
and to prioritise the health and safety of staff and patients.
"We are aware that pharmacists and their teams working in areas where this criminal activity is taking place are feeling vulnerable but that they also want to
ensure that their communities are safe and have access to the vital services pharmacies provide.
Pharmacy chain Superdrug has introduced what it asserts to be the most affordable private flu vaccinations offered on the UK high street. The vaccinations
will be priced at £8.79 for 17.2 million members of its Ghada , and £16.99 for non-members. The 2023-24 vaccination service is set to become available across 150 of
its stores starting from early September.
Superdrug has taken this step in response to a change in NHS England's inclusion criteria, which has rendered the 12 million individuals aged 50-65 ineligible for
the NHS flu vaccination service, the company said. The company is anticipating heightened demand for private flu vaccinations due to the postponed commencement of
the NHS service and alterations in eligibility for free flu jabs.
"Our waiting list for private flu vaccination services has already exceeded last year's figures, indicating a heightened demand this year," said Ghada Beal,
Superdrug's Healthcare Director. "Providing this service at a more accessible price-point is significant, given the eligibility changes that will impact millions.
Our private flu vaccination services provide a convenient means for individuals to safeguard themselves against flu and its potential complications."
In May, the government's annual flu vaccination programme letter indicated that individuals aged 50 to 64 won't receive free flu vaccinations in the 2023/24
season. Moreover, the NHS plans to delay flu vaccine distribution to October, with the goal of enhancing protection for those aged 65 and older and other eligible
groups during the winter months.
Local pharmacists in England can now evaluate and provide treatment for patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women under the age
of 65, without the need for a GP appointment.
The 'ByeByeUTI' scheme has been expanded across the country, following a successful pilot across North East and North Cumbria.
More than 30,000 women have been treated for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at local pharmacies since the pilot scheme was launched in July 2022 as part
of the NHS and government's primary care access recovery plan, according to NHS England.
The expansion of pharmacy services not only enhances patients' access to care but also frees up tens of thousands of GP appointments at the same time.
Dr Faisel Baig, Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS England North East and Yorkshire, said that the rollout of this service across the whole region will enable
many more women to receive "faster and easier" access to advice and treatment.
The NHS is facing a range of long term challenges which needs to be countered with prevention, enhance personalised care and sustainable performance, health and social care secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday (March 8).
In his speech on healthcare reform at the Royal College of Physicians in London, he said: "We face some long-term challenges: how to keep the NHS focused on delivery while futureproofing it for changing demographics and disease; how to meet rising patient expectations and address the injustices of widespread disparities; and how to deal with an unsustainable financial trajectory while backing the brilliant people who work in health and care."
Javid emphasised on three key points for healthcare reform - prevention, personalisation and performance.
He said, prevention is not just about building a 'national hospital service' but a true 'National Health Service'.
Opella Healthcare, trading as Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, recently signed a dual partnership agreement with Alliance Healthcare and Phoenix Healthcare
Distribution for the wholesale supply of its consumer healthcare products to community pharmacies throughout the United Kingdom.
The new dual pharmacy wholesale partnership model, which became effective on 1 February 2024, underscores Sanofi's commitment to delivering exceptional customer
service to its customers, the company said in a press release.
The groundbreaking collaboration is expected to enhance operational efficiency as part of the company's go-to-market model, facilitating improved service levels
and stock availability of key products, including Cialis® Together, Allevia®, Buscopan®, Dulcolax®, and Phenergan, to community pharmacies in the UK.
Nick Linton, head of UK country operations, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, said that the company is committed to supporting the "self-care agenda" in the UK.
"Making healthcare as simple as it should be to bring health and wellbeing to all is a key priority for us in 2024 and beyond," he commented.
At their recent online briefing, DAUK's GP committee outlined a comprehensive 10-point plan designed to relieve pressure on GPs, improve access, reduce
mortality rates, lower hospital admissions, and enhance patient satisfaction.
DAUK's manifesto advocates reallocating resources, including the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), currently directed towards Pharmacy First and
acute care hub pilots, amounting to £2 billion.
This strategic reallocation aims to enhance primary care capacity and reduce reliance on acute services.
Dr Lizzie Toberty, DAUK's GP lead, emphasised the critical need for patients to have timely access to GPs who understand their needs, stating, "We need patients
to be able to see a GP who knows them and understands their needs in a timely way wherever possible."
She highlighted DAUK's vision to restore general practice as the cornerstone of the NHS through practical, achievable solutions.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published its general election manifesto highlighting some of the key challenges the next Government will face to
support patients and the NHS.
The manifesto calls on general election candidates to show their support to securing patient access to medicines, a better-connected NHS, enhancing accessible
prescribing in local communities, and maximising health improvement through locally accessible pharmacy teams.
Candidates are urged to called on the next Government, if elected, to support the pharmacy workforce to deliver patient care, unlock the potential of new advances
in medicines, and continue to support funding for the UK science and research community.
The manifesto highlights the need for investment in IT infrastructure to support a better-connected NHS to enable all health professionals to access and update a
patient's record.
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) to remove the two-year requirement as a registered pharmacist to have an Independent Prescriber (IP)
annotation on the pharmacy register in Northern Ireland.
It has further endorsed that the two-year requirement for entry onto stand-alone pharmacist independent prescribing courses be removed and replaced with an
assessment before admission, by course providers, based upon guidance provided by the regulator.
In conjunction with the Department of Health, the PSNI will now work towards a further public consultation on the necessary legislative changes.
Dr Jim Livingstone, president of the PSNI, said: "The Department of Health has set a clear direction which will see pharmacist independent prescribers becoming
increasingly important in the delivery of pharmacy services in Northern Ireland. Our role is to protect the public, but we are clear that our regulatory objective
should not be an unnecessary barrier to the development of the profession and enhanced services being provided to the public."
After struggling with COVID, Hemant Petal is back to good health, and now he is on a mission to reduce "health inequalities".
Speaking at the SIGMA Conference 2023, he spoke about his new role as Clinical Lead, Health Inequalities and Population Health Management, SE Essex Alliance,
Essex ICB.
"So, my new role is outside pharmacy, nothing to do with pharmacy. But it is important, I feel that I share some of my insights about the work that I'm doing that
might benefit you," he said.
Elaborating on the role of integrated care boards (ICBs), he said that they are designed to enhance coordination and collaboration across different healthcare
providers and settings.
The representatives from hospitals, community services, retail and social care meet on a monthly basis to "look at where there are issues to be resolved, perhaps
what can be done to improve the healthcare services."
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has introduced a new comprehensive learning programme to support pharmacists in Wales to deliver the Pharmacy
Independent Prescribing Service (PIPS).
Developed in collaboration with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the programme is designed to "equip pharmacists with the essential knowledge,
skills, and confidence needed to provide excellent patient care."
While the primary emphasis is on pharmacists operating within primary care settings, those from various practice settings are also encouraged to register and
participate in the programme.
Commenting on the collaboration with HEIW, Elen Jones, director for Wales at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said that it will empower pharmacists across the
country to deliver high-quality prescribing services to local communities.
The National Health Service said that over 425,000 patients have utilised its new national online service to complete GP registration within its inaugural year.
The GP surgery registration service, managed by NHS England, has granted NHS patients efficient and user-friendly access to GP registration since its inception in
August 2022.
According to the NHS, more than 1,400 GP surgeries, a fifth of the national count, have joined the NHS online registration service as part of a new plan to improve
access to primary care. "This aligns with a new strategy to enhance primary care access, with a target of enrolling 2,000 practices in the Register with a GP
surgery service by December 2023."
Many GP surgeries still use paper forms, requiring patients to visit surgeries to collect paperwork. However, the new online service has been shown to save GP
surgery staff up to 15 minutes per registration by helping to reduce paperwork and admin time, the NHS said.
The NHS said that this service enables patients to register with a local GP online at any time, eliminating the need for in-person visits and simplifying the
process for both patients and GP surgeries.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland the BMA's Scottish GP Committee has called for improvements to the pharmacotherapy service.
The joint statement released by the organisations on Friday (13 January), has recognised that much progress has been made but states that further improvements are
needed to fully maximise the benefits of the service.
It highlighted the need for better use of skill mix, including more clearly defining roles and responsibilities; improved IT enablers to reduce administrative burden;
and further developing a tandem model of working comprising hubs with in-practice activity
The two organisations state that inadequate funding and workforce shortages are a real threat to the pharmacotherapy service.
They have urge Scottish Government to reconsider its recent decision to reduce funding for training pharmacy technicians.
Clare Morrison, RPS Director for Scotland, said: "In the statement, we stress that the use of pharmacists' clinical skills must be maximised.
National Health Services (NHS) patients across England are set to experience a significant enhancement in accessing key healthcare services such as
community nursing through the expansion of self-referral options that no longer require a GP appointment.
The recent announcement is part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan and is set to offer hundreds of thousands more individuals each month the opportunity
to refer themselves for essential services such as "incontinence support", "podiatry", or "hearing tests" without GP referrals.
This move aims to alleviate the burden on general practitioners through self-referrals for more than 180,000 patients, allowing them to focus their time and
resources on patients in need of immediate care and recover the long waiting times.
As per the NHS data, approximately 200,000 people per month self-refer themselves which under the new plan will extend to additional critical services tailored
to local population needs to "continue modernising GP, expand pharmacy services, and offer patients more choice in how they access care".
Orphan Drug development specialist TMC Pharma has appointed Gordon Cameron to its board as a non-executive director.
Mr Cameron has 25 years' board-level experience in biotech and pharmaceutical services sectors. He started his career with EY, then spent several years in investment
banking at Rothschild before becoming CFO, and then CEO, of international vaccine company Acambis.
For the past 15 years, Mr Cameron has been CFO of Quotient Sciences, an international Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation and Clinical Research
Organisation.
In 2004, he was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the British biotechnology industry.
Julie Matthews, chief executive officer of TMC Pharma, said that the new appointment would "enhance our strategic capability and tactical execution as we consolidate
our position as a global leader in the Orphan Drug development market."
In his address to both Houses of Parliament today (17 July), King Charles III highlighted the new government's commitment to enhancing the National Health
Service (NHS), reducing waiting times, focussing on preventive care, and improving mental health services.
Marking the first State Opening of Parliament under the Labour government, the King unveiled a raft of bills and draft bills, including the Mental Health Bill
and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
King Charles III said: "My government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability
to pay.
"It will seek to reduce the waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people."
Furthermore, the King stated that mental health would be given the same attention and focus as physical health. He announced the introduction of the Mental Health
Bill, which aims to modernise the Mental Health Act to better meet contemporary needs.
Wes Streeting MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the new Labour Government.
The Ilford North MP will now take on the critical role of overseeing the National Health Service (NHS) and implementing Labour's ambitious health agenda.
At the core of the Labour Party's healthcare reform manifesto is enhancing accessibility to primary and community healthcare. This involves implementing a
'Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service,' to empower pharmacists with independent prescribing rights where clinically suitable.
This initiative aims to alleviate the strain on GP practices and enhance service accessibility.
Additionally, the manifesto proposes piloting Neighbourhood Health Centres, to integrate various healthcare services -such as family doctors, district nurses,
and mental health specialists under one roof.
The government has earmarked £200 million to enhance NHS resilience and expedite patient care during the upcoming winter season. This extra amount will
bolster the health service during its busiest period, while protecting elective care so we can keep cutting waiting lists, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.
On August 13, the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary met with clinical leaders and NHS Chiefs to strategise and refine planning for urgent and
emergency care, while prioritising the preservation of waiting list targets for the upcoming winter season.
"Patients can be reassured that I will always back the NHS, so that those who most need help and support will get the care they need," Sunak said. "Winter is
the most challenging time for the health service, which is why we've been planning for it all year - with huge government investment to fund new ambulances, beds
and virtual wards."
"This £200 million investment, assured by the Department of Health and Social Care as new and additional funding, should aid NHS leaders in their preparations and
mitigation for what will be a seriously difficult winter period," said Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of NHS Confederation. "The priority now is swift allocation
of funding to local systems for optimal utilisation."
Community pharmacists are readily accessible healthcare providers and medicine experts in the community setting and their counsel is often sought by patients
and consumers on a number of subjects including the use of dietary supplements. Their role in the sale of and advice regarding natural health and drug alternatives
has never been more relevant.
The recent National Health Service (NHS) Interim People Plan calls for the NHS to put all staff front and centre of the way it operates and identifies pharmacists
as a critical part of multidisciplinary teams, providing care across a wide range of increasingly complex patient needs.
Despite existing demand to counsel patients on a vast range of medicines, more and more consumers are looking to their pharmacist to support and enhance their
knowledge regarding the relevance of a growing range of supplementary nutrients now available.
Nutritional supplementation is increasingly becoming the consumer's first choice for 'drug free' treatment or natural prevention that provides a true sense of
taking control, which the prescription process often denies them.
Historically the immense benefits provided by the NHS have instilled a general abdication of our personal health control, leaving us to rely on the health service
to treat and cure as necessary.
As our NHS has become visibly over-stretched we begin to realise what the rest of the world has known for centuries - good health is based primarily upon nutritional
robustness. It may be stating the obvious but there is an excellent source of incremental revenue for the pharmacist who is willing to provide space to and advice
for nutritional supplements.
Seven NHS trusts in England are set to begin trials of new wireless technologies to help improve patient care and strengthen connectivity in A&Es and
ambulance bays.
They have been awarded around £1 million as part of NHS England's Wireless Trials programme, which aims to leverage advanced wireless technologies to enhance
patient care and experiences while freeing up more staff time.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust will introduce an innovative approach of combining satellite and cloud-based wireless solutions to enhance connectivity
across its 10 hospital sites and wider community services.
At Mid Cheshire and Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS trusts, wireless trackers will be installed on medical equipment and hospital beds. This will allow real-time
monitoring and location tracking, enabling easy accessibility for staff to locate necessary items promptly.
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.