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Long waiting times for National Health Service (NHS) care are leaving people too sick to work in the UK, which is affecting the country's economy. One in three people missed work in 2022 due to delays in accessing NHS care, revealed a new survey by Pollsters Savanta. The market research consultancy surveyed 2,235 people in the UK this month on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. According to the survey results, 19 per cent of the participants could not go to work as they were waiting for a GP appointment. While 15 per cent of the respondents had to take a long period off work while they waited for treatment or surgery, 12 per cent missed work as they waited for emergency dental treatments. Overall, 36 per cent of those surveyed had missed at least some work because of difficulty getting NHS care.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is encouraging individuals to visit their local pharmacy for the treatment of minor ailments to avoid unnecessary days off from work, save the NHS money and improve patient care. A new NPA poll revealed that 55 per cent of workers missed at least one day of work last year due to coughs, colds, and other minor illnesses. The survey, which involved over 2,000 patients and was conducted by Research without Barriers, found that 31 per cent of respondents were absent from work for 1-6 days, 15 per cent for a week, 12 per cent for two weeks and 3 per cent for three weeks. This polling is part of the NPA's Ask Your Pharmacist Week campaign, which aims to dispel common myths around minor ailments and encourage greater use of local pharmacies for medical treatment. In England, pharmacies can now provide NHS treatments for a range of common ailments through the Pharmacy First Service, including ear infections, impetigo, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, 36 per cent of people surveyed were unaware of the Pharmacy First service, with 20 per cent believing such ailments could only be treated by their GP.

A new study from the University of Nottingham has highlighted the impact of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and information overload on employee mental health, linking these factors to increased burnout in the workplace. The research, conducted by the University's Schools of Psychology and Medicine and recently published in SAGE Open, surveyed 142 employees to explore the 'dark side' of digital working. It found that employees who are worried about missing out on important information and updates, as well as those overwhelmed by the constant flow of information, are more likely to suffer stress and burnout. Elizabeth Marsh, a PhD student from the School of Psychology, highlighted: "The digital workplace is now recognised as a key strategic asset in organisations that enables worker productivity and flexibility in context of hybrid working. However, the potential downsides in terms of worker well-being also need to be considered, especially given the proliferation of digital communication channels and tools since Covid." The study's findings support the team's previous research, which indicated employees who are more mindful in the digital workplace are better protected against stress, anxiety and overload. Traditionally, FoMO has been associated with social media. Now, this new research has shown its impact in the workplace.

Working as a fitness professional, there is one type of question I get all the time that shows that many people are missing the big picture regarding the benefits of strength training. This popular question usually goes something like this: Why You Should Not Try To Isolate Muscle Groups When Weight Training (Read the full article)

The message of Diwali - a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness - seems to take on new layers of meaning every year. At the height of the Covid pandemic, it brought to mind the importance of togetherness, as we all struggled through lockdowns and missed the human contact that is so important to us all. In 2022, sadly, it feels like there's a lot of darkness in the world. Diwali is so full of hope for the future and we certainly need some of that that right now. In troubled times, both in the UK and across the globe, Diwali provides an opportunity to reflect and hope for better times ahead. In their own way, pharmacies bring light to the communities they serve - giving help and reassurance to many vulnerable people. As chair of the NPA it is truly a privilege to support pharmacy teams to deliver this vital work all year round. Diwali is a family feast - at the NPA we like to think of ourselves as the family of family-owned pharmacies.

Salrook Healthcare, a family-run pharmacies in Chester has sold its two well-established community pharmacies named Westminster Park Pharmacy on Castle Croft Road and Owen's Chemist on Chester Street. Together, they dispense circa 13,000 items per month. The business has been owned by the Persaud family since 2014 and was recently brought to the market as a retirement sale. Following a confidential process with Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Aqib Sheikh, an existing operator with a pharmacy in Walsall, West Midlands. Aqib plans to enhance the business's service offering and grow his portfolio in the region. Chloe Yadav (nee Persaud), previous owner of Salrook Healthcare Limited, comments, "As a family, we are delighted to have completed the sale of the business to Aqib. Whilst we will miss our team who have become like family, it is good to know that the two sites have been acquired by a forward- thinking Pharmacist who will enhance the offering to the benefit of the patients and the community which they serve. My family and I wish Aqib and the whole team the very best of luck with the future." Aqib Sheikh, new owner of Salrook Healthcare Limited, comments, "I am delighted to have inherited such a well-run and profitable pair of pharmacy businesses in the charming city of Chester. I'd like to wish John Persaud the very best with his retirement and look forward to building on the work of the Persaud family."

Despite the widespread prevalence of pain, which affects 93% of the global population annually and leaves one in three individuals experiencing daily discomfort, there is a troubling reluctance to effectively address and manage pain. This reluctance contributes to increased suffering among people worldwide. We invite you to join our complimentary 1-hour Pain Management Webinar, thoughtfully designed to provide you and your team with essential strategies for understanding, addressing, and alleviating pain in your patients' lives. Explore topics such as the evolving role of pharmacists, the importance of timely pain treatment, and initiatives like Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign. This webinar is tailored for pharmacists in Great Britain, particularly those working in community, practice, PCN, and hospital settings. Don't miss this opportunity to improve patient care and make a positive impact on pain management. Register now to secure your spot!

"Record long NHS waits are forcing huge numbers of people out of work, including doctors and nurses," said Wes Streeting MP, Labour's Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary as Labour announced a new partnership with Nuffield Health today to tackle joint pain issues among NHS staff and reducing waiting lists. Musculoskeletal problems, including back, knee, hip, and neck pain, are the second leading cause of NHS staff absences, surpassed only by mental health issues. In December 2023 alone, NHS workers missed a record 198,000 days due to these issues, marking a 13 per cent increase from the 174,000 days recorded in December 2019. Nurses and health visitors accounted for 52,000 of these days, up from 47,000 pre-pandemic, while doctors took 3,500 days off, a 9 per cent increase from 2019. The partnership with Nuffield Health will provide up to 4,000 extra places for NHS staff in Nuffield Health's Joint Pain Programme at no cost.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) has found that the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) met 17 out of 18 of its Standards of Good Regulation during 2023-24. The GPhC's performance and that of other regulators is reviewed regularly by the PSA, with the results reported to the parliament. This year's report covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. The PSA concluded that the GPhC has still not met Standard 15 relating to timeliness of fitness to practise (FTP) investigations. The regulator missed this standard last year too. "We note the GPhC's work to reduce the time it takes to progress cases through its FTP system and are aware of the pressure caused by another significant increase in the number of FTP referrals. However, because timeliness has deteriorated this year, we have concluded that Standard 15 is once again not met," the PSA report said. "We have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to provide an update on the GPhC's performance, and we will continue to closely monitor the GPhC's performance in this area."

Alora Healthcare Systems keep designing and developing efficient and powerful telephony software to automate work flow for home care agencies. These telephony softwares monitor all visits as they are occurring reducing the risk of fraud visits. A home care agency will get an alert for delayed or missed visits.