Members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) highlighted the work of pharmacists in making medicines use and the whole NHS more environmentally
sustainable at the Welsh Senedd this week.
Politicians present were informed that around 25 per cent of the NHS' carbon emissions result from medicines use, and therefore pharmacists' expert skills are
crucial for reducing these emissions.
RPS Wales Director, Elen Jones, was among the RPS staff who attended the event, which was co-hosted with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
Commenting on the event, Elen said: "It was great to get so many productive conversations with the politicians to highlight the great work pharmacists are already
doing in the sustainability field and to explain what further steps are required to reduce the negative environmental and ecological impact of medicines."
Pharmacists with 'relevant experience in a pharmacy setting' can enroll for accredited independent prescribing course, as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has decided to scrap the requirement of spending at least two years on the register and having previous experience in a specified clinical or therapeutic area before enrolling for the course.
The GPhC Council meeting held on Thursday instead proposed that applicants must have "relevant experience in a pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand
and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber." This experience and awareness will act as the basis of their prescribing practice whilst training.
The regulator noted that the majority of stakeholder organisations, including the Chief Pharmaceutical Officers, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the statutory education bodies, were in favour of removing the requirement in a consultation on the topic.
They highlighted that a specific two-year period was not in itself a robust indication of whether an individual was ready to become a prescriber.
They also highlighted that the rapidly developing roles in the profession meant more pharmacists were likely to gain the necessary experience more quickly than in the past. A smaller number of organisations and a larger minority of individuals were opposed, citing that a specific two-year period gave pharmacists the time they needed to develop experience and confidence before being ready to enrol on a course.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis), which affects up to 20 per cent of children, is one of the most common conditions pharmacists encounter, but don't underestimate
eczema. Generalised eczema may compromise health-related quality of life (HRQoL) more than several other chronic diseases, including asthma, epilepsy and diabetes.
Despite the impact on HRQoL, underuse of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids often leaves childhood eczema poorly controlled.
UK researchers recently reported that several factors contribute to the underuse of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids in children with eczema. For instance,
most of the 30 parents and carers interviewed felt that they had received little information about eczema.
The lack of understanding may help explain why some parents and carers expressed concerns, such as the risk of skin thinning, about topical corticosteroids. Some
were not convinced that moisturisers (strictly, an emollient is an ingredient of a moisturiser) reduced itch and maintained control of eczema. Some felt that
moisturisers' efficacy declined over time.
Parents and carers also admitted to "incomplete knowledge and skills" about managing eczema (such as whether they should apply moisturisers regularly) and
reluctance to manage eczema in collaboration with their child. Parents and carers wanted advice about using treatments and explanations of moisturisers' and
topical corticosteroids' mechanisms of action. The authors note that healthcare professionals could help identify and address gaps in knowledge.
We have been specialising in community pharmacy sector for over 30 years and have helped many pharmacists acquire their first pharmacy. We have seen several
of those first-time buyers transition into multiple pharmacy owners under our specialist guidance and support through the years.
Acquiring the first pharmacy can be a challenge to most pharmacists especially when they do not have the necessary skill in reading the numbers presented in terms
of the target pharmacy's performance and how to interpret these in order to arrive at a valuation for the purpose of submitting an offer.
Without the guidance of a specialist accountant in community pharmacy, one of the major risks is that one could end up paying more than what the pharmacy is worth.
Once the offer is accepted, there are other challenges to overcome to get the deal over the line.
1) Assessing the risk
2) Valuation of the business
3) The negotiation process
4) Asset or company purchase
5) Financial due diligence
6) Asset/share purchase agreement
7) Finance the purchase
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a partnership with the charity Marie Curie to develop professional standards in end of life care for community pharmacy.
Available for pharmacy teams across the UK, the standards will provide a free, evidence-based framework to help community pharmacies self-assess and continuously improve their end of life and bereavement care for patients and carers.
They will enable community pharmacy teams to work together to develop their own practice.
RPS is setting up a professional standard steering group which will have community pharmacy experts, experts within the field of palliative and end of life care,
lay members, and healthcare professionals who interact with community pharmacy.
Elen Jones, director lead for palliative care work at RPS, said: "RPS has a long-term commitment, striving to ensure that people living with life-limiting conditions
who are approaching the end of life have timely access to medicines and clinical support from a skilled pharmacy team.
"The development of these standards, in partnership with Marie Curie, is a crucial step to support community pharmacy teams to undertake simple quality improvement
measures and build upon the care they already provide to this group of patients and carers."
Ninety-six per cent of community pharmacists surveyed in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Workforce Wellbeing survey said they were at 'risk of burnout'.
A higher number of respondents working in community pharmacy (20%) reported not being offered breaks compared to all other sectors (8%) and were more likely to
experience verbal or physical abuse from patients and the public (69% vs an average 44%).
The annual Workforce Wellbeing survey also revealed that 88 per cent of pharmacists surveyed are at high risk of burnout due to winter pressure. Therefore, RPS is
calling for workforce planning for pharmacy to address skill mix and staffing levels so that workloads can be effectively managed.
Top factors causing poor mental health and wellbeing revealed by the survey include inadequate staffing (70%), lack of work/life balance (53%), lack of protected
learning time (48%) and lack of colleague/senior support (47%).
This is the fourth survey RPS has run in partnership with the charity Pharmacist Support on the state of mental health and wellbeing in pharmacy.
The findings demonstrate continued pressure on pharmacists and trainees across the workforce, especially in community pharmacy where 96% of those surveyed said they
were at risk of burnout.
Pharmacy leaders have called for reassurance that the workforce plan, expected by April 2023, will cover the entirety of the pharmacy workforce across the
health service, including in community pharmacies.
A joint letter has been signed by representatives from 14 pharmacy organisations which highlights that with continued pressures on services, it is more important
than ever to support the pharmacy workforce so that the staff needed to deliver patient care now and into the future can be recruited, trained and retained.
Mark Koziol, Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) Chairman said: "Our pharmacist members practise across the entire health system and have the potential to do far
more to help patients and improve public health, but they can only do so safely if they are in appropriately staffed workplaces. This is a workforce issue, so it is
important that the Government works with representatives of the pharmacist workforce, and of their employers, to get a suitably agreed plan in place."
Thorrun Govind, English Pharmacy Board Chair, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), said: "It will be crucial to use the skills of all our health professions to support
the NHS recovery, reduce health inequalities, manage the growing cost of long-term conditions, and deliver best value from medicines.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has rejected Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England's proposal on price
concessions reform and relief measures to ease pressure on pharmacies.
The Committee called the proposal 'insufficient' to meet the sector's needs considering the impact of the current crisis, reflecting on the economic pressures
that accelerated through the autumn and winter.
The Ministers and other decision-makers have shown their interest in the potential role of community pharmacy, particularly in using a Pharmacy First approach
and making use of PGDs and the skills of independent prescribers.
But the Committee had made clear to them that without new money this is all a pipedream. "We need an urgent injection of funds into the sector, otherwise we will
continue to see a degradation of services and eventual collapse of the network. The Committee is clear that there is no further place for warm words while pharmacy
collapses," said PSNC.
The Committee reflected that the 5-year CPCF agreement had been based on working together to create the capacity and context necessary to deliver the shift towards
greater service delivery. Not only has that capacity-release not happened due to slow progress by Government, but pharmacies have also been burdened with these
additional, and insurmountable, challenges.
The Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group held its second meeting to discuss the future modelling of pharmacy practice.
Some of the leading bodies from the community pharmacy sector have joined the group. The members explored themes centred around accountability, delegation and
responsibility.
The session included a wide-reaching discussion, including what future guidance might look like and the continued patient access to the pharmacist through a
comprehensive, accessible and equitable community pharmacy offer.
Chair of the group, Dr Michael Twigg, Associate Professor of Primary Care Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, said: "The primary objective of the group is to
develop a co-designed and co-produced solution that will not only enhance the patient experience within community pharmacy practice, but that will enable the
community pharmacy workforce to maximise role and professional skills.
"At its second meeting, the group was unanimous that any changes in the delegation, responsibility and accountability space should be in the patient interest,
distil confidence for patients and ensure that community pharmacy remains accessible and equitable."
Developing a new medical drug is no small feat. It requires extensive research, knowledge, expertise in the field, rigorous testing and iteration of prototypes,
and strong organizational skills to manage these tasks. It is important to use the right tools to make this process as efficient and successful as possible. With the
right tools available, you can streamline development, manage resources and personnel more effectively, and maximize the chances of success. Here are some tools that
might be useful when developing a new medical drug:
ANALYTICAL TESTING TOOLS
One of the best tools available to medical drug developers is analytical testing tools. These allow you to quickly and accurately test various components of the new
medication, ensuring that it meets all safety requirements and is ready for clinical trials. As highlighted by the team behind Venogen, various methods of analyzing,
chemical identification, and purity certification can be used to ensure product quality. Be sure to select a tool that can accurately analyze the specific components
of your new drug.
When finding analytical testing tools for your drug development process, it is important to consider the tool's scalability. Consider the size and scope of your
project and select a tool that can grow with you. You can also work with experts to find the right analytical testing tools for your development needs.
A community pharmacist, Viral Doshi was honoured with the British Citizen Award (BCA) on Thursday (26 January) at the Palace of Westminster for transforming
his community centre into vaccination hub during Covid-19 pandemic.
Viral was presented with his Medal of Honour by Liam Sargeant, Senior Company Communications Manager, from supporters P&G and TV presenter and Patron of the BCA,
Nick Knowles, who hosted the event.
At the height of the pandemic, Viral obtained approval to transform his community centre into a vaccination hub. Located in the heart of a multi-ethnic population,
with social deprivation, surrounded by wards experiencing high rates of Covid-19. His determination to increase uptake and reduce vaccination hesitancy, led to
80,000 vaccinations being administered, the overall highest vaccination uptake in North West London.
Viral is a passionate advocate for the role that GP practices and community pharmacies can play in supporting the health agenda. His objective, to provide better
choice and access for the community have been fully met and appreciated by patients. His initiatives led to a dramatic increase in the clinical skills, knowledge
and services offered by local community pharmacies around a variety of health topics. This enabled pharmacies to adopt a holistic health approach to working with
their communities.
Are you looking to start a career in the medical field but don't know where to begin? There are many different paths to choose from when it comes to entering
the medical profession. It can be daunting trying to figure out which one is right for you. But with some research, planning, and dedication, you can find your way
into this rewarding and fulfilling industry. Here are 8 tips that will help get you started on your journey toward becoming a successful healthcare professional.
1. ONLINE PROGRAMS
If you have already decided on a career path and need to obtain additional qualifications or knowledge, there are many online programs available for medical
professionals. These courses provide students with the opportunity to learn from home and gain experience in their chosen field without sacrificing the quality of
education. You can find an online medical assistant programs, medical biller and coding programs, lab technician training, and more. It's important to research each
program and make sure it's accredited before enrolling. While online programs may not offer the same hands-on experience as a traditional school, they can be an
affordable and convenient way to get your foot in the door.
2. VOLUNTEERING OR WORKING IN A CLINICAL SETTING
Volunteering or working part-time in a clinical setting is an excellent way to gain experience and decide if the medicine is the right profession for you. Even
volunteer work can provide invaluable insight into how the medical field works, allowing you to network with professionals, observe procedures and treatment methods,
and develop skills from patient interaction. Additionally, any volunteer work or job experience related to healthcare that appears on your resume establishes you as
a serious candidate for a career in medicine. While you are likely to find many volunteer opportunities, be sure to do your research and only take positions in
reputable organizations.
Low dental surgery cost in India are completely equipped with world class-and advanced technology with a relatively certified and skilled dentist to deal with troubles associated with teeth.
The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) has been running as a national advanced service since October 2019 to relieve pressure on the National
Health Service which aims to help with on the day demand in relation to minor illness and medicines.
The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service CPCS (NHS CPCS) aims to meet the objectives of the NHS Long Term Plan to use community pharmacists' skills to
advise patients, and to build relationships with GP surgeries, primary care teams and wider NHS providers and to assist with urgent care system repeat prescription
requests. Referrals from the GP referral pathway and urgent care systems and urgent treatment centres are digitally routed to community pharmacies so that patients
can receive same-day appointments and have their queries resolved.
The numbers
Based on the estimated annual number of minor ailment GP appointments, the service was expected to save the NHS up to £640 million per year . Three years later, the
nation has weathered the Covid 19 pandemic, which had widespread effects and put further strain on already overstretched NHS staff.
The pandemic impact has resulted in higher numbers of GP appointments than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, this may offer an opportunity to proactively engage
pharmacy teams in patient contact help ease strain across the wider NHS.
India is increasingly more becoming a famous spot for affordable eye surgery cost in India. Patients from all over the global travel to India for getting treated at state of the art centers, skilled medical staff offering world class treatment.
ECG has launched a new 'simple and straightforward' Patient Group Direction (PGD) service for pharmacists working in primary care, together with a service
which offers direct access to an NHS Consultant for medical advice to offer robust safeguarding as and when needed.
Taking on more clinical services with the PGDs can feel daunting and a big responsibility for healthcare professionals. ECG's new medical advice service (for anyone
purchasing their PGDs) will offer pharmacists the opportunity to call and speak to a clinical member of the ECG team who will triage the calls and support them.
If required, the call will be connected to an experienced NHS Consultant to offer immediate medical advice. The service will start with a Monday-Friday 08:30-16:30hrs
provision with an option to increase to 24 /7 for those working out of hours. This is inclusive in the PGD pricing offer.
ECG has been the market leader in providing vaccination training to pharmacists since 2004, providing robust knowledge and clinical skills to enable pharmacists to
develop their private and NHS commissioned vaccination services (such as flu and covid). By developing their close working relationship with all of the multiples,
many smaller chains, membership groups and independents over the years, ECG has continued to further consolidate their 'one stop shop' approach to supporting the
sector.
ECG wants to offer this sector choices in the level of guidance and support that the individual healthcare professionals feel they need to offer safe care to
patients.
Nine in ten people surveyed by Ipsos on behalf on NHS positively rated the advice they received from their local pharmacies.
The results from Ipsos found that the vast majority of patients (91%) who had used a community pharmacy in the previous year for advice about medicines, a health
problem or injury, or what health service they should use said they received good advice.
The research comes as more than 11,000 pharmacies in England can now access training to spot signs of cancer as part of a new drive to catch tumours earlier when
they are easier to treat.
Thorrun Govind, Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society English Pharmacy Board, said: "Community pharmacists are working exceptionally hard to make sure that the
public gets the right advice at the right time. This new data shows the public appreciate both the accessibility and quality of advice they receive from community
pharmacists.
"I am delighted that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is working with the NHS to deliver professional development for community pharmacists to further enhance their
clinical consultation skills.
An executive director of Day Lewis and also board director and member of Association of Independent Multiple pharmacies (AIMp) Jay Patel highlighted the key
issues and on ground challenges faced by the community pharmacies in a meeting hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and health secretary Steve Barclay in Downing
Street on Saturday (January 7) to tackle the NHS pressure.
In his interview with BBC, he said: "He (prime minister) was very engaging and trying to understand the key issues and practical challenges on the ground."
Patel described the meeting atmosphere as 'collaborative and proactive', and said, "people were genuinely asked their options and there were listeners too."
On BBC, answering to a question on 'how community pharmacies can alleviate the NHS pressure?', Patel said: "Pharmacies is the workplace for this. We have trust of
our patients; we have high skilled workforce both clinically and professionally. One of the opportunities we have is working around the acute treat
Community pharmacies will be able to deliver approximately 15 million blood pressure screenings by 2026, revealed the Company Chemists' Association (CCA)'s new
research.
This will also prevent 15,000 people from suffering heart attacks or strokes. CCA has called the Government to take up their offer and commission pharmacies as the
first port of call for cardiovascular care.
"Thousands of lives can be saved with ambitious commissioning and the investment to match," said CCA.
There is an opportunity to use the expertise of community pharmacy to go further and provide the care these newly identified patients' need. To do this the sector
needs funding and workforce.
The association said: "Community pharmacy is under great financial pressure, suffering a real term funding cut of over 30% over 8 years. With funding, the sector can
transform to deliver this critical need for patients.
Whilst there are plans to train Independent Prescribers (IPs), there are no clear roles for them to use these skills. There is a need to accelerate training plans to
allow pharmacists to deliver the service described here and play their part in CVD management."