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Healthcare workers, including community pharmacy staff, can book their Covid-19 booster vaccination through the National Booking Service from Wednesday (September 7) onwards. NHS England has announced that around seven million people, including those aged 75 and over, people who are immunosuppressed and health and care workers will be able to book an appointment for their Covid-19 booster vaccinations online or by calling 119. Eligible staff are encouraged to book an appointment for a booster dose as soon as possible, provided it has been at least three months since their last dose of the vaccine. "For other eligible patients (not health and care workers), invitations are being sent out and will be landing on their doormats from Wednesday 7th September inviting people to book their appointment for the following week without delay. The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine - there will be no need for patients to contact the NHS," said PSNC.

Dr Rod Hughes sets out how pharmacists can play a pivotal role in steering people with joint pain towards a prevention programme… Joint health supplements are big business in the UK, with millions of pounds spent over the counter every year. People turn to these supplements for various reasons, but most are seeking relief from the symptoms of arthritis, a group of painful long-term conditions thought to affect around 10 million people in this country. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting around eight million people in the UK. The condition is generally age-related, with joint pain and stiffness developing as the cartilage between the bones gradually wears away. OA changes and the inflammation involved causes difficulty moving and considerable pain. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tends to affect younger people and is caused by the body's immune system attacking the joints. As a nation we tend to ignore our joints until they cause us problems, resulting in an increasing number of people taking long-term analgesics to control the pain or needing surgery to repair knees and hips. Treatment guidelines followed by doctors in the UK recommend that people with arthritis are advised to maintain a healthy weight and keep physically active, while strengthening their muscles and protecting any damaged joints during daily activities.

Over the last few years, we've seen the aftermath of Covid-19, with the demand for consumer health products being unprecedented and unpredictable, placing pressure on supply chains and labour market. In turn, the industry has experienced acute shortages across the healthcare sector, placing huge pressure on pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Europe has an estimated shortage of around 50,000 public-sector doctors[1], which is set to increase in the coming years. While this shortage stems from several complex problems, there is a hidden force that could play a key part in helping to alleviate this burden. That force is the potential of self-care. Encouragingly, last month the UK government recognised the unique role that self-care can play through the introduction of its Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care. Through this, it has pledged to empower patients to manage their own health through several commitments, including improving accessibility to online tools and reclassifying medicines to make formerly prescribed options available over the counter.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has called on pharmacy employers and pharmacists organisations to make donations towards the Pharmacist Support charity in the new year. The association has urged them to donate £1 per pharmacist employee or member to the charity group to increase its funding from 2022 onwards. Pharmacist Support, an independent charity, provides a variety of support services to pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists and pharmacy students in Great Britain. It provides support through twelve sessions of fully funded counselling topharmacists, students, or trainees. Since 2018, the association has donated more than £150,000 to the charity, in turn supporting its members who additionally seek assistance from Pharmacist Support.

Acknowledging publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland's new professional vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland - Pharmacy 2030, a Parliamentary Motion has been lodged in the Scottish Parliament. The vision, produced in collaboration with the National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland, expects all pharmacists in a patient-facing role to become independent prescribers by 2030. The motion recognised the aim of the publication that by 2030 pharmacy teams will work together, using their expertise to make the best use of medicines and, will take a person-centred approach, providing care holistically rather than by clinical condition. It highlighted the important role that RPS would play by working with partners across health and social care to turn this vision into a reality.

Thirty-five generic drug manufacturers will make a more affordable version of Pfizer's anti-Covid pill for the world's poorer nations, in licensing deals announced Thursday (17) by a UN-backed organisation. The global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed agreements with three dozen manufacturers to produce the oral Covid-19 treatment nirmatrelvir for supply in 95 low- and middle-income countries. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer signed a licence agreement with the MPP in November. The MPP, in turn, issued sub-licences to the generic drugs makers. The deals announced Thursday will "help ensure access to our oral Covid-19 treatment for patients in need around the world", said Pfizer chairman Albert Bourla.

Maintaining a healthy digestive system is a vital component of a customer's overall health. Gut health affects how food is processed and digested, in turn affecting how and what vitamins and minerals are absorbed from the food that is ingested. It also impacts immune system efficiencies which can lead to allergies and autoimmune conditions. As such, supporting customers with their digestive health should be a key focus for community pharmacists. Alongside offering a range of over-the-counter products, pharmacists are well placed to offer one-to-one guidance for customers concerned about their digestive health. Top tips that pharmacists should provide their customers with, include: Eating well Pre and probiotics Water intake Smoking cessation Alcohol Intake

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United Kingdom, affecting nearly 50,000 men yearly. Combined with the challenges faced across healthcare during COVID-19, new figures show that prostate cancer accounts for a third of cancers not treated due to the pandemic, with 14,000 'missing patients' believed to have not undergone treatment since April 2020. It is more urgent than ever that men are encouraged to get checked, as any set-backs in diagnosis can reduce the pathways available, in turn affecting health outcomes. Community pharmacy teams play a crucial role in signposting the help available for men who may be concerned about their health. Therefore, it is vital that pharmacy teams have access to the information they need to correctly direct men to seek prostate cancer guidance. By maximising the trusted relationship between patients and their pharmacists, more can be done to identify the warning signs, helping men to get an earlier diagnosis.

A group of 21 community pharmacies in the Midlands and Yorkshire will have a new name - Pickfords Pharmacy. The group has been created by combining three independent pharmacy businesses which traded as Mr Pickford's, McGills Pharmacy and D&R Sharp. All pharmacies in the new group will be rebranded over the coming months, with a series of launch events planned by local teams. Speaking after the unveiling of the first branch to receive new signage in Hexthorpe Doncaster, Mimi Lau, Pickfords Pharmacy's chief operating officer, said: "This is a turning point for the group, with all our pharmacies operating under one name with a consistent, contemporary brand. "Initial reaction has been fantastic and very soon the name Pickfords Pharmacy will be widely recognised for the great service we deliver to customers and patients every day." Speaking of the consolidation, Nick Yarrow, the newly appointed group chief executive officer, commented: "Since the enlarged group came together last year, we have been striving to ensure that the best elements of each business have been retained for the benefit of our customers and team members. "This is part of our journey to be more than just a pharmacy - we want to be a trusted source of healthcare services at the heart of each one of the communities we serve".

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has shared materials to help community pharmacy in communicating relevant advice to people during this heatwave. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a heat-health alert for the next few days. It has also published a beat the heat poster, along with its heatwave guidance, which could be used in pharmacies to raise awareness. "During this heatwave, the public may turn to community pharmacy teams for advice about staying well during the hot weather or to seek assistance when feeling unwell because of the heat," PSNC said. It has previously developed materials that may be used by community pharmacy teams to communicate relevant messages contained in the Heatwave Plan for England and the NHS website guidance on how to cope in hot weather.

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.

It's 2022 and data is everything, isn't it? Advertising, decision-making, you name it, data is behind it. What if an ePharmacy could use its own data as an asset? If you knew that sooner or later, you'll be able to turn your data into a revenue stream, wouldn't that be something? And this is exactly what Convert Group does. Convert Group offers the complete eCommerce SaaS ecosystem that helps ePharmacists and brands grow sales, streamline collaboration, and seize data monetization opportunities. Built for scale, Convert Group's platform leverages automation and offers a unique user experience backed by our leading eCommerce team.

Dry eye disease, also known as dry eye syndrome, occurs when the eye stops producing enough tears, the tears that are made are of poor quality or the tears evaporate faster than they should. This causes dryness and irritation of the surface of the eye and results in inflammation, discomfort, and damage.[i] Symptoms include dry, red, itchy or tired eyes, blurred vision and foreign body sensation. From over-the-counter eye drops and heated eye masks, to eyelid-cleansing wipes, there are a multitude of options that can be offered to sufferers to provide relief. As a result of the pandemic and new living and working patterns, the World Health Organization has indicated dry eye disease is on the rise. This can be attributed to various lifestyle factors including increased screen use and wearing of face masks. An increase in sufferers seeking advice on the condition in pharmacies has also been reported. It is no surprise that sufferers will turn to their pharmacists for help, support and information on the condition and how it can be managed by treatment options available over-the-counter.

Many advertised the elderberry due to its immune-boosting effects during the pandemic. Elderberry has been sold to benefit colds and flu. Some exponents even asserted they benefit against COVID-19. You also may have heard that they can help with other ailments, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Still, no one-size-fits-all remedy for sickness like turmeric exists. Exponents of the elderberry say it is a versatile fruit of nature and is a solution to what ails you. About 30 types of elderberry plants exist worldwide. In the European version, it is Sambucus nigra, which means closely affixed to your health and healing. It dates back to 400 BC. Hippocrates (Father of Medicine) called the elderberry his "medicine chest." Now elderberry is viewed as one of the world's most healing plants in folk medicine. So what's the deal? Is the elderberry plant a godsend fruit that can give you super immunity? What are Elderberries? You're probably familiar with elderberries, which look like any other dark blueberry. But there are many plant species, and they all have unique characteristics that might surprise you. Sambucus contains over 30 species of shrubs in the Adoxaceae family, including honeysuckle and snowberry (Symphoricarpos). The elderberry grows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America-and even as far north as Alaska! It thrives in moist areas such as river banks, fields, and forest margins, where it can grow up to 8 feet tall (2.4 meters). Elderberry flowers from May through July, depending on region; clusters of white flowers grow on cymes at the ends of branches before turning into red berries by late summer or early fall. Historical and Regional Uses People have used Elderberries for decades since the fifth century AD. Still, if you see the plant's name, you'll notice that the Elder shrub was so revered that its very name shows the respect it was given. Being grown by Native American and European herbalists throughout history,

Simon Harris bought an average-sized store from a national chain and turned it into a profitable business in just over a year - a great example of how to start up a pharmacy and become successful. His formula was quite simple - recognise the available opportunities, take some calculated risks and reap the rewards. Simon went into pharmacy because he felt it was a profession that would allow him to "help people" and have a direct impact on their lives. "I also thought it was a profession which would allow me to have my own business one day." Since qualifying as a pharmacist from Bath University in the late 90s, Simon did his pre-reg at a large Boots store in Broadmead, where we had some "great experience" as a pharmacist manager. He decided to take a year out and went around the world with his "now wife" and ended up working as a pharmacist for a pharmacy group Down Under which had a contract with the sports industry, i.e. Australian Open and the Australian Football League. "It was quite an experience because at the time I knew nothing about Aussie football but I ended up being their pharmacist after a short conversion course."

Ginger for Anxiety: How Does it Work? If you suffer from anxiety, you've probably tried countless methods to help yourself feel better. Some people swear by medications like Xanax or Prozac, while others prefer to take a more holistic approach. If you're on the latter side of the spectrum, you may want to consider adding ginger to your diet. Read on for everything you should know about how this powerful root can help with anxiety! Especially, gingerol is what ginger owns its intrinsic antioxidant effects, which reduce oxidative stress markers. This is the effect that is equally responsible for the anti-inflammatory abilities described in ginger intake. Although, none of this supports the answer to our question: does ginger help with anxiety? To understand the effects of ginger on stress, we need to find out what it does to the brain to reduce anxiety. STUDIES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GINGER IN TREATING ANXIETY: Miscellaneous studies have revealed that ginger profoundly affects human cognition and brain function. For example, one double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 70 middle-aged Thai women found that ginger root extract improved cognitive function and memory. Other studies performed in rat brains saw ginger improved mental capacity "somewhat through the antioxidant action of the extract." How Does it Work? Some of the most optimistic studies concerning whether or not ginger does help with anxiety implicate serotonin. Mainly one of these underlying studies, served on rats, primarily studied the cellular action to decide why ginger does help with anxiety in introductory studies. An animal study analysis found that ginger relieves anxiety by affixing serotonin receptors. The researchers found nine components of ginger that partially bandage the brain's 5-HT(1A) receptor. In turn, this stimulated reduced symptoms of anxiety in the tested subjects.

Northern Ireland will see changes in the regulatory landscape following the issuance of the Windsor Framework on 27th Feb 2023 and the corresponding EU Commission proposal. An agreement, in principle, has been reached by the UK and EU. The new path forward of the Windsor Framework marks a turning point in how both the UK and the EU will work together collaboratively and constructively to ensure that the same medicines are available in Northern Ireland at the same time as they are in the rest of the United Kingdom. Whilst this is a successful result for Northern Ireland patients, this is major change for companies that have made specific provisions in their supply chains for Northern Ireland. The supply chains of companies where provisions and changes were made such as introduction of GB specific pack may be impacted as a result. However, the burden on the UK Pharma supply chain will be eased. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor on February 27, 2023 Pharma companies will need to carefully consider making changes within their processes and supply chains pending the issuance of clear guidance from the MHRA on the regulation changes resulting from the Windsor Agreement and the corresponding EU Commission proposed regulatory changes associated with medicinal products within the Northern Ireland market. Smooth access to the EU market for Northern Ireland pharmaceutical and medical technology firms has been safeguarded within the constraints of the agreement. The pragmatic dual-regulatory system protects business, patients and healthcare services, and reflects that it is an essential state function to maintain and oversee the supply of medicines within the whole United Kingdom.

If you're thinking of heading a startup, owning a local pharmacy could be an incredibly lucrative opportunity. When you set up a business in the healthcare sector, it's important to ensure that you operate with transparency to keep yourself and your patients safe. Whether you've acquired pharmacies before or you're turning to a new venture with different partners, learning the relevant steps before getting involved is imperative. Successful pharmacies rely on medical expertise, professional knowledge, and an excellent quality of service. Step 1: Do you need qualifications to be a pharmacist? No matter if you already have a background in pharmacy or you're entering the field from an entrepreneurial perspective, you'll need to have the right qualifications. You can become a pharmacist by completing a Master of Pharmacy degree at a university. Your chosen course needs to be approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council and will take at least four years to complete. After your degree, you'll also need to take the one-year pharmacist foundation training scheme. To access these courses, you'll usually need two or three A levels, including Chemistry. Alternatively, you could do a pharmacy foundation degree if you only have one A level or equivalent.

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