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There has been extensive national media coverage today (August 11) on how medicine shortages have forced patients to visit multiple pharmacies to get their prescriptions filled or return to their GP to be prescribed alternative drugs. These media reports have been based on a survey involving more than 1,500 pharmacists in the UK, in which over a half of those polled said that their patients' health had been put at risk in the last six months. In response to a query from Pharmacy Business, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it monitors the medicines supply chain closely to prevent any shortages and acts swiftly when any issue arises. A DHSC spokesperson told Pharmacy Business: "We take patient safety extremely seriously and we routinely share information about medicine supply issues directly with the NHS so they can put plans in place to reduce the risk of any shortage impacting patients, including offering alternative medication.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and BeWell are working together to help provide efficiencies and productivity that address the growing pressures within community pharmacy. BeWell's Pharmacy Management Platform provides robust solutions that include Patient Relationship Management, Omnichannel Communications and Engagement, Services and Bookings Management, access to patient records, NHS Login supported Patient Application, and repeat prescription capabilities for Pharmacy Website and Patient App that include integrations with Surgery Online Services. This single interoperable platform is also integrated with pharmacy PMRs, connecting back office and administrative functions with front-of-house digital patient experiences. In line with the NPA's vision, BeWell has taken a leading role in formulating a unique ecosystem of pharmacy partners uniting marketing agencies, PGD-based service providers, and delivery method partners - integrating their capabilities within the BeWell platform.

In partnership with the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) has recently established an innovative cardiometabolic clinic. The clinic focuses on reducing cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes who have recently been discharged from LTHT following a heart attack. It is delivered jointly by the cardiology department at Leeds General Infirmary and the diabetes services at the Trust. This is a patient-centred approach to reducing that risk, with pharmacist-delivered clinics scheduled for six to eight weeks after the heart attack. Stephen Wheatcroft, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist at LTHT, said: "This is an exciting and innovative development, one of the first in the country. Previously, Type 2 diabetic patients presenting with heart issues would have been treated by two separate specialty teams. This is the first time there has been a specific clinic combining the cardiac and diabetes team working together. "We aim to reduce the risk for patients, with earlier multidisciplinary hospital care, to help discharged patients achieve better diabetes control, through improved medication support and optimisation, reducing the need for further treatment and future hospital stays. Overall, it will mean a better patient experience, with improved monitoring and information about treatment options, along with a reduction in waiting times for review in a specialist clinic."

The NHS has signed the first-of-its-kind subscription deal for two antimicrobial drugs - cefiderocol and ceftazidime-avibactam, manufactured by Shionogi and Pfizer respectively - that will help around 1700 patients per year with severe bacterial infections. Under this deal, pharmaceutical firms will receive a fixed yearly fee - capped at a level that represents value to taxpayers - in order to incentivise funding for innovation that can generate a pipeline of new antibiotics for NHS patients. NHS said the deal will help patients with serious infections that have evolved so much that antibiotics and other current treatments are no longer effective can be given a potentially life-saving alternative. The drugs will provide a lifeline to patients with life-threatening infections like sepsis, hospital or ventilator pneumonia and blood stream infection. Announcing the deal at NHS ConfedExpo, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard called the revolutionary subscription deal a game-changer and the latest NHS success in using its commercial power to benefit NHS patients in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. "Superbug-busting drugs on the NHS will save lives and strike a blow in the global battle against antimicrobial resistance," Pritchard said.

Thousands of lung cancer patients in England will benefit from a ground-breaking new drug that can reduce the risk of relapse. This follows a deal brokered by NHS England and approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for atezolizumab therapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). More than 850 patients are expected to be eligible for the drug in the first year, rising to more than 1000 in the third year. It is the first immunotherapy approved for patients with early-stage NSCLC who have undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Clinical trials have shown that atezolizumab can reduce the risk of cancer relapse or death by 34 per cent in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

When you visit a hospital, one of the last things that come to mind is worrying about legal aspects and what rights you might have - or lack. But these issues and your understanding of them are more important than ever. Knowing exactly what hospitals can legally and cannot do to you is an essential part of ensuring your protection as a patient when going in for care. In this blog post, we'll break down the legal details behind being treated at a hospital so that you can feel more confident when making healthcare decisions. Let's dive into the legal aspect of visiting a hospital, outline what hospitals can and cannot do to us, discover our rights as patients, and review any other considerations worth keeping in mind! OVERVIEW OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW AND HOW IT RELATES TO VISITING A HOSPITAL When going to a hospital, concerned patients and their families should be aware of the legal risks posed in medical malpractice cases. These potential issues can have life-altering consequences if misdiagnoses, wrong medication administration, or improper treatment occurs. Now, whether you seek damages for your injuries at Staten Island University Hospital or in a different hospital in your hometown, it is important for visitors to understand that the law has set forth regulations regarding acceptable standards of care expected by our nation's hospitals. Those regulations can include procedures of qualified professionals that protect patients from financial exploitation and physical or emotional distress caused by medical negligence. Understanding how this information applies to you will help you protect yourself legally if your rights are violated while visiting a hospital.

In 2023, almost 14,000 people in England are estimated to have died due to excessive waits in emergency departments, averaging more than 260 deaths per week, according to new figures from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM). The RCEM estimate is based on a large study of NHS patients published in the Emergency Medicine Journal in 2021, which found one excess death for every 72 patients who spent eight to 12 hours in an A&E department. Following a Freedom of Information audit of NHS trusts, the college has found that 65 per cent of people waiting 12 hours or more in A&E were patients waiting for a hospital bed. NHS data for England revealed that over 1.5 million patients waited 12 hours or more in major emergency departments last year. Based on the RCEM calculation, this indicates that over a million of those patients were waiting for a bed.

A reclining wheelchair has a back rest that will recline from almost vertical back almost 90 degrees (almost horizontal). The recline action causes the hips of the user to open up and transform them from a seated position to a position more skin to laying on their back. Recline is a great feature in wheelchairs but not necessarily the most useful. Recline works just like the lazy boy chairs drops the back down toward the floor. This feels good for a short time, but puts pressure on the lower back region after a time. If have ever laid flat in bed for any length of time lower back doesn't have proper support in the curve and will begin to ache after a time of not changing position or elevating upper body. Recline can also create sheer in the very thin skinned individuals. Recline systems provide a change in orientation by opening the seat-to-back angle and, in combination with elevating legrests, open the knee angle as well. Recline systems may include a reduced sheer back that moves down as the seat-to-back angle opens. Sometimes the armrests slide back as the seat-to-back angle opens to help prevent the arms from slipping. Wheelchairs are compact-folding, lightweight wheelchairs which provide comprehensive positioning, for children, teenagers, and young adults who require tilt adjustment for pressure relief, digestion and respiratory assistance. Accessories For Recline Wheelchair: Anti-Tippers: Accessories such as Anti-Tippers are appropriate when a patient is very active and there is a risk of falling. Seat belts: A seat belt will prevent a patient from sliding down or out of a chair. Brake extensions: Brake extensions are recommended for ease of use, particularly with patients who have weak hand strength, Arthritis or similar conditions. Positioning Devices: Cushions, laterals, lap trays, back supports, and many other similar devices can appropriately position a patient in a chair. Down-Side of Reclining: There are a couple of problem

Pharmacies and other spaces should be able to facilitate the provision of health care to bring services closer to patients and reduce demands on general practice, suggested a report by Tony Blair Institute. In a paper 'Modern and Sustainable NHS Providing Accessible and Personalised Care for All', it has propose six areas for reform where radical-but-practical policy action will begin to transform the future of the NHS and deliver better patient care. It has proposed to create new access routes for services and providers. It added: "The range and availability of health-care services must increase to reflect citizens' demands and their increasingly complex needs. "Pharmacies, gyms, supermarkets, workplaces and other spaces should all be able to provide or facilitate the provision of health care, bringing services closer to patients and reducing demands on general practice. It suggested: "We must move towards greater community-based care and the creation of a neighbourhood health service, with more routes for direct patient access, to ensure services are available when and where people need them. These should all be accessible through a single, simple digital front door to the NHS."

Modulator therapies, manufactured by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX.O), may no longer be available for new cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in the UK. A draft guidance recently published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) stated that it would not recommend the use of Kaftrio, Symkevi and Orkambi on new CF patients. Kaftrio and Symkevi are currently recommended for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged 6 years and older, while Orkambi is used for patients aged 1 and older. The NICE draft guidance highlighted medicine costs and the strain on resources and finances faced by the National Health Service (NHS) as reasons for removing these drugs.

This Pharmacy First Common Ailments service will help patients seek treatment for seven common conditions directly from a pharmacy without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. Launching on 31 January next year although it is subject to IT being ready, the service will cover ailments including "sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs)" in women. People with symptoms of the above seven conditions will be supplied with a prescription-only treatment under a Patient Group Direction (PGD). Patients seeking assistance at the pharmacy, whether walk-in or referred by NHS 111, GPs, or other sources, can receive consultations. The new service includes self-referring patients plus referrals, and the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) will also be a part of it.

In a recent report released by the Company Chemists' Association (CCA), data from the NHS Pharmacy First service indicates a substantial uptake and positive impact on patient care just two months after its launch. The CCA's findings shed light on the service's efficacy in meeting patient needs and its potential to alleviate pressure on General Practices (GPs) within the NHS. According to the report, over 90,000 Pharmacy First consultations were conducted solely by CCA members within the initial two-month period. Impressively, 88 per cent of these consultations, totaling 81,627, were deemed eligible for NHS-funded care indicating a significant demand for the service among patients. In the first month, the data revealed that more than 90 per cent of eligible patients received necessary care directly through Pharmacy First, bypassing the need for further referral.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has unveiled proposed updates to the NHS Constitution for England, signalling a significant step forward in prioritizing patient privacy, dignity, and safety. At the heart of these reforms lies Martha's Rule, a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy and the enduring legacy of 13-year-old Martha Mills. Martha's Rule, born from the tragic loss of Martha Mills due to a failure in escalating her care, stands as a beacon of hope for future patients and their families. Prompted by Martha's parents' tireless campaign, this rule empowers patients to request intimate care from providers of the same biological sex, ensuring that individual needs are recognized and respected. Additionally, it guarantees the right to a rapid review from an external care team when a patient's condition deteriorates, offering a lifeline in moments of crisis.

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".

Jackie Giltrow and Jose Moss have been appointed as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety group, respectively, bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise in pharmacy practice. Supported by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and hosted by the Company Chemists' Association (CCA), the CPPSG serves as a collaborative platform for large community pharmacy organisations to openly share and learn from each other's experiences. A CPPSG Chair now, Jackie Giltrow, Clinical Governance Lead at Paydens Limited is a seasoned pharmacist and expert in risk management and patient safety. With nine years of experience as a member of the CPPSG, Giltrow's appointment represents a continuation of her longstanding dedication to advancing patient safety initiatives within community pharmacy settings.

NHS England has confirmed the initial sites that will test and implement Martha's Rule in the first phase of the programme. This follows the announcement in February regarding NHSE funding for the major patient safety initiative for this financial year. The scheme is named after Martha Mills, who died from sepsis at the age of 13 in 2021. She had been treated at King's College Hospital, London, where a failure to escalate her to intensive care and a lack of response to her family's concerns about her deteriorating condition contributed to her death. Martha's Rule aims to provide a consistent and understandable way for patients and families to seek an urgent review if their or their loved one's condition deteriorates and they are concerned this is not being responded to. NHS England on Monday (27 May) announced that the scheme will be implemented at 143 hospital sites across the country by March 2025.

Tynor Cervical Collar Soft Cervical collar soft is used for supporting the neck and protecting it against jerks impacts and vibrations. Recommended where a partial or controlled immobilization of the cervical region is required. Ultimate comfort. Partial immobilization. Optimal support. Excellent aesthetics. Absorbs impact. Tynor Cervical Collar Soft Features Soft polyurethane Provides unmatched comfort, used as prophylactic collar, reduces pain and provides comfortable support during traveling. Covered with hypoallergenic cotton stockinet. Better patient comfort, no allergy or rash even to sensitive skin, better compliance No hard, bony reinforcement Improves patient comfort, particularly recommended for geriatric patients, excellent for prolonged use. Anatomical design Uniform support to the mandible, effective action and better fit, better comfort. Perforated collar body Improved ventilation, more patient comfort, better compliance.

Numbers of therapies are available to treat patients that have low T levels. Not all treatments are legal to use. Some treatments are allowed to remove GH deficiency in patients. These treatments are still under investigation for long term safety purposes. Testosterone therapy or GH replacement therapy are generally used to treat patients. Many safety measures are necessary to take for GH replacement because it can have side effects if patient has some other disease also and is under treatment for GH replacement.

Recliner Wheelchair Recliner Wheelchair with commode is a self and attendant driven transportation wheel chair which can be used to carry patients.Wheelchairs are patient transportation vehicles and come with many features. Traditional fixed wheelchairs made of iron or other unfinished metals used to be inconvenient and inflexible. JSB range of Folding Wheelchairs are flexible and come with a smooth steel finish. In addition, the removable commode attachment can be used as a commode chair. Recliner Wheelchair Detachable Commode Attachment and Commode Stool. Recliner Back for patient to lie down or relax. Headrest for patient's comfort. 8" PVC Castor front wheel. 24" Solid Rear wheel. Self Driven : Patient can move wheelchair by themselves Karma Reclining Wheelchair Vip 515 Karma Reclining Wheelchair VIP-515 transit wheelchair is built using an aircraft grade aluminium frame which is cleverly designed to shift the centre of gravity forwads as the wheelchair is tilted or reclined. This provides enhanced stability and will allow a tilt range from 0 to 35 degrees. VIP-515 Wheelchair is exceptionally well made with quality fittings and strong construction. It uses the highly popular Aegis Microbe Shield upholstery that protects the wheelchair from odour, staining and deterioration caused by bacteria and fungus. Karma Reclining Wheelchair Vip 515 comes with a host of features ensuring the user has maximum comfort support and reliability. These include; height adjustable flip back armrests that make side transfers easier and make sure the users arms are supported at a comfortable height. The arm pads are wider than normal creating increased comfort and the footrests are height adjustable and swing both in and out plus they offer tool free detachment, making storage easier and requiring less space.

With its long expertise in the healthcare field and recognition as an objective education provider, EUPATI (The European Patients Academy on Therapeutic Innovation) is a valuable resource for anyone looking to do Patient Engagement.