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Thornton & Ross is all set to expand its consumer healthcare offering by acquiring the well-established Opticrom eye-drops brand from Sanofi in the UK. Opticrom forms part of a wider transaction between Thornton & Ross' parent group, STADA, and Sanofi for eight local consumer healthcare brands across several countries, including Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Spain and the UK. The transaction will be financed with a combination of cash on balance sheet and existing facilities, and is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary approvals of relevant regulatory authorities. Opticrom Allergy 10ml bottle and 20 single doses for itchy, watery, red and inflamed eyes can be found behind the pharmacy counter, while Opticrom Hayfever 10ml bottle is available to purchase via self-selection to soothe and relieve eye symptoms of hayfever. These non-prescription medicines contain 20 mg/1ml sodium cromoglicate (2.0% w/v) and offer relief within 2 minutes.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has launched a four point plan at its parliamentary drop-in event for MPs and peers hosted on Tuesday (15 November). The event lasted for two hours, during which MPs had the opportunity to drop-in and have their blood pressure measured by pharmacists with experience of working on the front-line and were briefed on the urgent need for action to address the pressures on the sector. Outline of the four-point plan: Resolve the funding squeeze: Community pharmacy needs an immediate funding uplift to prevent large-scale pharmacy closures, as well as emergency business relief to get through this winter. Tackle regulatory and other burdens: Pharmacies must be protected from medicines market shocks, supported to help them weather the workforce crisis, helped to free up capacity and freed from red tape that does not enhance patient care. Help pharmacies to expand their role in primary care: Pharmacies could do more to support the delivery of primary care for example through offering clinical services for long-term conditions - like hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disease, supporting people to adopt healthier lifestyles and prevent the development of long-term conditions, medicines optimisation, and a much wider variety of NHS vaccinations.

Pharmacists can dispense Paracetamol 120mg suppositories in accordance with the prescription, as the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that sufficient stocks are available to meet normal demand. This means the Serious Shortage Protocol - SSP033 - for Paracetamol 120mg suppositories has now expired since 26 August 2022. Top tips for SSP claims NHSBSA advise that contractors must follow the specific endorsement guidance issued with each SSP and endorsements should be clear and unambiguous - NHSBSA processing staff must be able to determine what has been supplied. NHSBSA have published information on common SSP endorsing errors they see when processing claims. Any paper prescriptions with SSP claims need to be placed in the red separator provided by the NHSBSA. Although an SSP cannot be used outside its period of validity, claims can be submitted up to three calendar months after expiry or withdrawal of the SSP to help manage any owings for other items issued on the same prescription form. For example, for SSP033 Paracetamol 120mg suppositories, which expires at 23.59pm on Friday 26 August 2022, the NHSBSA would continue to look for the "SSP" endorsement on prescriptions for Paracetamol 120mg suppositories that are submitted with the August batch (submitted by 5 September), September batch (submitted by 5 October) and October batch (submitted by 5 November).

Pharmacy contractors will no longer need to print and submit a paper copy of their completed FP34C declaration made through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal when submitting their paper prescription bundle to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), said the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC). Instead, from August 2022 (for July 2022 prescriptions), NHSBSA will post out a paper Account Identifier Document along with the red separators and pharmacy address labels each month. "The Account Identifier Document should be placed alongside the paper prescription bundle before it is dispatched for payment to the relevant pricing division of NHSBSA," said PSNC. With the help of Account Identifier Document, NHSBSA will be able to easily identify the pharmacy that has submitted the prescription bundle, which will help to speed up prescription processing. "If the Account Identifier Document is lost or misplaced, contractors will still be able to download and print another copy from MYS. The July 2022 Drug Tariff will be updated to reflect this change."

In the UK, many people with nonoptimal diets are at risk of nutrient deficiencies, as they receive less than the recommended intakes of several key vitamins and minerals, which can impact overall health. Dietary supplements can be one method of treating a deficiency. Dietary supplements like vitamins, antioxidants, fibre, and amino acids are sold in pharmacies across the world, and it is estimated that half of UK adults use at least one dietary supplement per day. Combined with an increased popularity in vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan and flexitarian diets, there's a chance patients are not consuming enough vital vitamins and minerals. If you think a patient's diet may be lacking in some of the important nutrients our bodies need to function properly, the advice below will provide more information about five of the most common nutrient deficiencies, and where to find these nutrients from easily accessible and plant based sources. 1. Omega-3 Essential fatty acids come in two forms; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and are both sources of energy and play key roles in the development of cell membrane structures. They also play a role in protecting against a variety of diseases and regulating blood pressure and inflammation. DHA is an important component of neurons and healthy nervous systems. Traditionally, seafood, red meat and dairy products have been touted as the main dietary sources of EPA and DHA. Although EPA and DHA can be difficult to source from plant based foods, ALA - the most common fatty acid - is found in plant based foods and can be converted into long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver condition that requires timely diagnosis. It involves a spectrum of liver conditions ranging from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and can eventually evolve into cirrhosis. Over the years, liver biopsy has been the popular diagnostic procedure for NASH/NAFLD. However, considering the progressive nature of NAFLD, sole reliance on liver biopsy procedures does not only lack feasibility but is also susceptible to suboptimal standardization. Going through liver biopsy surgery is unnecessary at the slightest observation of NAFLD symptoms. Observing NASH/NAFLD red flags is not enough to determine the presence of the disease. You will need a proper diagnosis to ascertain the liver condition. This article emphasizes the benefits of choosing the non-invasive liver test diagnostic procedure instead of the invasive method. UNDERSTANDING NASH/NAFLD Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of two types: simple fatty liver or NAFL and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Simple fatty liver or NAFL indicates the presence of fat in the liver. NASH is the least common and clinically aggressive variant of NAFLD.

A community pharmacist was applauded for his 'quick-thinking' action in treating a Co Down woman with a fatal bee sting. Joan Johnson, from Moira, was stung on her scalp in her home garden. After the bite, she noticed allergic reactions on her neck and ears with severe itching and redness. However, she was advised to visit her local pharmacy by the GP where the pharmacist, Stephen Joyce, quickly administered life-saving antihistamine and an adrenaline injection while an ambulance was called. Joan hailed the 'treatment' and the 'professionalism' of the whole team for saving her life. "What was just a simple bee-sting, quickly became something very serious. On arrival at the pharmacy on the advice from my GP, I was dealt with very promptly and Stephen was summoned and immediately took control of the situation. "I was given an urgent antihistamine, but quickly started feeling lightheaded and faint. The pharmacy team assisted me to a chair and called an ambulance," she said.

Community pharmacies in England could soon be allowed to make cancer referrals to hospitals under new plans to improve early detection of the disease. An NHS pilot scheme, which starts later this year as a pilot in an undisclosed number of places of England, will see community pharmacy staff spotting signs of cancer in people who might not have noticed symptoms. Pharmacy teams will be trained to spot red flags, such as patients with symptoms such as a cough that lasts for three weeks or more, difficulty swallowing or blood in their urine, and send them for scans and checks without needing to see a GP if they think it could be cancer. Amanda Pritchard, the NHS chief executive, will unveil the plans at the NHS Confed Expo conference in Liverpool on Wednesday (June 15), and say: "These plans have the power to truly transform the way we find and treat cancer, and ultimately spare thousands of patients and their families from avoidable pain and loss." The plans include new "roaming liver trucks" - which will be parked near GP surgeries, in town centres and food banks - to encourage people most at risk of getting liver cancer to get "on the spot scans" for diagnosis.

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.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has urged pharmacy contractors to use Manage Your Service (MYS) portal only for all monthly FP34C submissions. To secure access to earlier advance payments on 11 April 2022, the committee has advised pharmacy contractors to submit their claims for NHS pharmaceutical services delivered in March 2022 no later than 5 April 2022. PSNC said: "The Manage Your Service (MYS) portal is now the ONLY route available to contractors for all monthly FP34C submissions. From March 2022, contractors will no longer receive the paper FP34C submission document through the post. However, the NHSBSA will continue to post out red separators for contractors to submit relevant forms each month.

Have you ever wondered about the health benefits of ginseng? It's been used for thousands of years by people in Asia and Eastern Europe, but did you know it's good for more than just boosting energy? The ginseng plant deals with 11 combinations of short, slowly growing plants with fleshy roots. It can revive and improve well-being. This article will explore how this herbal plant can benefit your body. 11 Health Benefits of the Ginseng Plant There are two types of ginseng plants mainly: Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Studies have discovered that the distinct types have various uses. American ginseng is believed to be less stimulating in traditional Chinese medicine than the Asian one. There are several other herbs known as ginseng, like eleuthero or Siberian ginseng, but they don't have the valuable content of ginsenosides. Ginseng has traditionally been used for several medical illnesses. However, its benefits for most of them have yet to be thoughtfully researched. These include: 1/11_It may help your lungs work better. ginseng plant lowers lungs infections.Ginseng may also help your lungs, according to a published study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Researchers found that one of the active ingredients in ginseng, ginsenoside Rg1 has an anti-inflammatory effect on the lungs and can even protect against asthma and bronchitis. They found that rats with asthma had less inflammation after being given doses of ginseng for two weeks compared to rats not given any. They also observed that rats with pneumonia had fewer symptoms when they were treated with inhaled doses of ginsenoside Rg1 or orally administered doses of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE). 2/11_It may lower blood sugar levels. ginseng plant lower blood sugar levels. It's not just your imagination-ginseng can help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It also has been proven to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body. It

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,

If you have low testosterone levels, there is a good chance you have felt some physical side effects from that. You may have heard that certain physical activity helps combat the depletion, and there is truth in this. There is a link between increasing and fine-tuning an exercise agenda and raising testosterone levels. Below, the relationship is explored in more detail. WHAT DOES TESTOSTERONE DO? There is more to the function of testosterone than just in relation to your sex drive. Of course, that is important, but it also impacts muscle building, strength, energy levels, hair growth, and red blood cells. When levels are low, there are big consequences for anybody from hair loss to weak muscles and even exhaustion too. TESTOSTERONE AND OBESITY One of the biggest things that affects testosterone is being overweight. If you are carrying a few extra pounds, it would be beneficial to try to get into some healthier habits if you want to promote an organic increase in T-levels. HOW EXERCISE PLAYS A ROLE Exercise seems to be a natural inhibitor of testosterone, especially when you focus on particular strategies and workout styles such as strength training. Levels have been shown to rise immediately after exercise for anything from fifteen minutes to an hour plus. While it is different for everyone, the link is clear.

Organic Turmeric powder has long been used as a natural beauty agent as it is used to make a paste and face masks for treating various skin issues till now. As per the latest research, turmeric Soap helps banish dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Also, a study published in the journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology affirms that topical turmeric curcumin extract in a moisturizing cream and soap formula reduces the appearance of facial spots, fine lines, aging, and wrinkles on human facial skin. Also, it was found that hyperpigmentation can be reduced by 14-15% within four to five weeks of turmeric-based skincare products. Being a natural ingredient, turmeric soap is safe for all skin types and is even recommended for people with skin conditions. So let's further explain why this is so good for you. Naturally, turmeric is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties. The antibacterial and antioxidant content in turmeric battle acne, whereas the mighty antioxidant makes the skin tone clear. And the same properties go for turmeric used in soaps. Is turmeric soap good for your face? Yes, turmeric soap is virtually good for your face because modern dermatologists have explored its positive and healthy effects on the skin. On the other hand, it is becoming famous because of its beneficial impacts on the skin. Turmeric soap benefits for skin Backed by clinically proven research, this skin-healthy soap has the following benefits: 1. Antiseptic, Anti-bacterial & Anti-inflammatory Soap Turmeric is a known herb that treats acne. This is because it boasts natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities that prevent clogged pores and stop the growth of acne-causing bacteria while reducing redness and inflammation. As an anti-inflammatory agent, it can help calm the skin and prevent long-term acne scars. Anti-bacterial content in turmeric arrest acne breakout and prevents further infection both for skin as well as oral health. You must add this soap to your ski

In a move to make healthcare more accessible, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced plans to empower pharmacy technicians, dental therapists, and hygienists with enhanced authority following two public consultations run by the government in 2023. Revealed by Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom on Thursday 28th March, this strategic decision promises to usher in "a faster, simpler, and fairer access to primary care" by granting pharmacy professionals "the ability to both supply and administer medications". Based on the public consultations that garnered widespread support, with 97% backing the empowerment of dental hygienists and therapists and 84% favouring similar rights for pharmacy technicians, the new reform is aimed to cut through bureaucratic red tape and bolster efficiency in patient care. Dental hygienists and therapists, under the proposed change, will be empowered to administer select medications, including pain relief and fluoride, without the need for dentist approval.

Psoriasis vs Eczema, while both causing itchy, inflamed skin, are distinct conditions with different underlying causes and treatments. Understanding these differences is crucial for proper diagnosis and management. Symptoms: Psoriasis: Thick, red, scaly patches: Often on elbows, knees, scalp, but can affect any area. Silvery scales: Easily removed, revealing inflamed skin beneath. Eczema: Dry, itchy, red patches: Often on inner elbows, knees, hands, face, but can be widespread. Fine, scaling: Less prominent compared to psoriasis. Causes: Psoriasis: Autoimmune condition: Immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, causing rapid growth and buildup. Genetic predisposition: Family history increases risk. Eczema: Atopic dermatitis: Combination of genetic and environmental factors. Dry skin: Major contributing factor. Treatments: Psoriasis: Topical medications: Steroids, retinoids, vitamin D analogues to reduce inflammation and cell growth. Light therapy: Ultraviolet light exposure to slow skin cell production. Eczema: Moisturizers: Regular use hydrates and protects the skin barrier. Emollients: Oil-based creams to soothe dryness and itching. Key Differences: Cause: Psoriasis is autoimmune, while eczema is complex and involves both genetics and environment. Symptoms: Psoriasis typically has thicker scales and less itching, while eczema is drier and itchier.

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It can affect anyone, regardless of their profession or personal situation. Recognizing the warning signs of burnout is crucial for taking proactive steps to address it before it leads to more severe health issues. This article will explore the key indicators of burnout and provide practical strategies for managing and preventing it. Physical Symptoms of Burnout Physical symptoms are often the first signs of burnout. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, including chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and muscle tension. Persistent fatigue, even after a full night's sleep, is a significant red flag. This type of exhaustion can make daily tasks feel overwhelming and unmanageable. Insomnia, or difficulty sleeping, is another common physical symptom. Individuals experiencing burnout may find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to a vicious cycle of fatigue and sleeplessness. Headaches and muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, are also prevalent. These symptoms are often caused by the body's prolonged stress response, which keeps muscles in a constant state of tension.

Vissco Elastic Knee Support Muscle or Ligament strains can be really bothersome, especially at the knee joint. We often over-work our knees in strenuous physical activities and then suffer from inflammations or strains. It's always good to pick up an elastic knee support. It provides compression, warmth and improves blood flow to the soft tissue areas surrounding the joint. Three Velcro straps allow for an optimal and comfortable fit. Its lightweight, breathable and comfortable ensuring it's worn more often, thus improving its therapeutic results. The cotton knitted fabric releases sweat and permit airflow, which its ergonomic design ensures a two way stretch. WHEN TO USE Post-surgery Muscle and Ligament Strains Soft tissue discomfort (e.g. tendomyopathies) insertion tendinitis mild effusions or swellings. Vissco Elastic Knee Support Features Skin Friendly Easy Breathe Soft Support 4 Way Stretch Anti-Fungal