A new report commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has revealed harsh financial realities faced by community pharmacies in England.
The report by Professor David Taylor of University College London warned that 1000s of community pharmacy closure might take place by 2024 in England if the sector
was not supported with additional funds.
At the launch of the report titled 'Protecting UK Public Interests in NHS Community Pharmacy', Prof Taylor said: "There will be several 1,000s of closures over the
next few years unless we take appropriate action, which doesn't mean to pour money all over it, but it is to fund appropriately when necessary.
"At the moment, if we got a partial collapse in the pharmacy network it would disrupt medicine supply and increase health inequalities… For me, it's missing out on
the future development of better and more accessible care, which would be the tragedy of reducing, harming and damaging the pharmacy network unnecessarily."
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has appointed Dekra to certify medical devices in the UK.
Dekra Certification UK has joined the three current UK approved bodies, increasing the UK's capacity to process conformity assessments for medical devices to ensure
safe and effective devices reach the UK public.
An approved body is an organisation that has been designated by the MHRA to assess whether manufacturers and their medical devices meet the requirements set out in
the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002.
Following an appropriate assessment, the new approved body will issue relevant certification allowing manufacturers to place a UKCA marking on their products before
putting them on the market.
Dr Laura Squire, chief healthcare quality and access officer at the MHRA, said: "This is a major milestone in our mission to ensure patients across the UK have access
to the high-quality medical devices they need to protect their health.
Water is the lifeblood of any business - employees must stay hydrated and productive, and it's needed for many industrial processes. That's why businesses
need to filter their water and remove any harmful contaminants.
Here are six major reasons why businesses should filter their water.
HEALTH HAZARDS
Unfiltered water can contain harmful contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause serious health problems. If these contaminants get into the
water supply, they can make employees sick and lead to absenteeism. In some cases, these contaminants can even be deadly.
Therefore, if you notice that your employees are getting sick more often, it could be because of the water they're drinking. Other signs could be discolored water,
strange taste or odors, or water that contains sediment. Regular water testing and investing in a quality water filtration system can help to remove these
contaminants and keep your employees healthy.
On the other hand, there are regulations and guidelines in place to make sure that the water supplied to businesses is safe. The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regulates public drinking water, and businesses are required to follow these regulations.
The Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) has announced that Michaela McAleer will be replacing Trevor Patterson as Chief Executive of PSNI.
After 15 years at the helm, Patterson announced his intention to retire. Jonathan Patton, Vice President of the Society said, "Joining the Society from the
construction sector Trevor brought fresh thinking and vigour to the Society and quickly established his credibility with pharmacists, Council, stakeholders and
fellow regulatory bodies."
"Trevor has presided over tremendous change and development through his tenure with equal measures of professionalism and passion on creating safer protections
for the public and ensuring pharmacists achieved world class standards in their profession. We are saddened to see him depart but on behalf of Council I wish him a
long and healthy retirement and wish him well in the next chapter of life. We are indebted to him for his dedication to the Pharmaceutical Society NI."
"Losing the constant and continuity of our 15 year serving Chief Executive ushers in a time of change and evolution for us as the Pharmacy Regulator. We are in the
midst of a fast moving and changing environment as we implement continuous improvement.
Pharmacies have administered more than five million flu vaccinations under the national flu vaccination service in 2022/23, revealed the advanced service flu
report published by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
According to the report, 5,007,578 million vaccinations has been administered by community pharmacies in 2022/23. Whilst in 2021/22 the total number of vaccines
administered in community pharmacies was 4.85 million.
The service has continued to achieve year-on-year growth in the number of vaccinations administered since it launched in 2015.
Commenting on the end-of-season figures, Alastair Buxton, Director of NHS Services, Community Pharmacy England said: "This season's flu vaccination figures are yet
another example of the incredible contribution that our members and their teams make to protect the public and the NHS as part of a key public health programme.
"Given the significant financial and workforce pressures that our members continue to face, this year on year growth is a fantastic achievement and a testament to
their hard work and dedication.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has initiated the evaluation of its five-year strategy for changing the way it manage concerns about pharmacy
professionals. It has urged people to share their experience of fitness to practice.
The evaluation will look at how the strategy has improved the experience of people involved in fitness to practice (those who raise concerns, professionals,
witnesses etc.); impacted the culture amongst pharmacy professionals and their attitudes to openness and honesty; improved the process and made it fairer and
changed perceptions of fitness to practice.
The first phase of the evaluation process will take place from July to September 2023.
The council said: "We are committed to making our ambitions a reality for the benefit of everyone involved and your contribution will help us to make sure patients
and the public continue to be protected while being fair to pharmacy professionals."
In June 2021, GPhC published its five-year strategy- Managing concerns about pharmacy professionals: Guided by its 2030 vision and commitment to equality, diversity
and inclusion, the strategy outlines a programme for change.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee has removed a pharmacy technician from Register after been found guilty of possessing
'indecent photographs of a child'.
Graeme Arthur, a pharmacy technician first registered with GPhC on 1 September 2019, under the registration number 5039154, was found guilty at Peterlee
Magistrate's Court in August 2022. He received an 18-month Community Order, and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 5 years, He was also ordered to
undertake a period of rehabilitation activity for 40 days.
In the remote video linking hearing held on 2 - 3 May, the Fitness to Practise Committee found Arthur's fitness to practise to be currently impaired on grounds of
protection of the public and in the wider public interest of declaring and upholding the Standards of the profession and maintaining public confidence in the
reputation of the profession.
The committee considers this to be a serious conviction for an offence which has included possession of the most serious category of images of sexual abuse of
children. It said: "Although Mr Arthur had no direct contact with the children concerned, the nature of the abuse is that it thrives on the demand from those
who search for and view the images online. As such, children come to actual harm indirectly through the activity of someone viewing and possession of images of
sexual abuse."
Well Pharmacy has announced that the bookings for the flu vaccine later this year are now open.
This is earlier than usual and gives people the best chance to prepare for flu season, knowing that their vaccine can be done as soon as possible when the season
starts.
Appointments for the flu jab can be booked for a date later this year. The price for the private service is £17.99, but jabs for people eligible on the NHS will be
free.
Well Pharmacy stresses that it is important that people remain flu savvy and protect themselves and others.
Free NHS flu jabs will be available to those over 65 in England and Wales currently, and to people eligible in a clinical risk group.
The Company Chemists Association (CCA)'s workforce finding showed that by 2024 eight years' worth of growth of the pharmacist workforce will have been
funnelled away from community pharmacies.
"In 2019, when NHS leaders realised they were unable to find enough GPs to meet the public's needs, they hastily decided to recruit pharmacists and other
healthcare professionals to fill the gaps. This was implemented without any corresponding efforts to increase the supply of pharmacists, creating huge shortages,"
said CCA.
"The bulk of the NHS's recruitment drive was paid for using additional money ringfenced by the NHS - the £2.4bn Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). We
estimate over the life course of ARRS funding (2019-2024), the equivalent of eight years of growth in the number of pharmacists in England will have been funnelled
directly into primary care at the expense of other sectors.
At the current rate, CCA estimate that community pharmacy will have experienced the equivalent of three fallow years by 2024.
To ensure the pharmacy network is protected and able to take pressure off other parts of the NHS, there are several urgent measures which must be implemented.
Countering the impact of primary care recruitment: Community pharmacists should be commissioned to provide 'packages of care' on behalf of GPs, rather than taking
pharmacists away from accessible high street settings.
The Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) has expressed its keenness to work with the NHS nationally and at the ICB level to discuss how the pharmacist
workforce can most effectively be part of the multidisciplinary team, after the publication of Long-awaited NHS England workforce plan.
Welcoming its publication Alison Jones, PDA Director of Policy said: "It gives greater clarity around the future direction and strategy for professional development,
training, and opportunities for those currently working in the health service or considering their future career. There is a strong emphasis on further development
of the clinical role of pharmacists to support better patient care.
"However, this is a plan that will take years, indeed decades to come to fruition and its success will need to be underpinned by significant funding for its entire
life course.
Workplace pressures, reductions in support staff, and a lack of protected learning time are matters of immediate concern for many PDA members, issues which are
regularly highlighted through activities, such as the safer pharmacies survey.
A group of pharmacists on Saturday (July 2) took part in this year's Pride in London parade, as the annual LGBTQ+ celebration returned to the capital after
three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those who participated in the march called on the government to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT+ people, reform the Gender Recognition Act, and provide equal
protection for LGBT+ communities against hate crime.
The event which drew a crowd of a million people marked the 50th anniversary since the first ever parade in London in 1972.
Amandeep Doll, head of professional belonging at RPS, said: "It was a privilege to join in the recognition of the diversity of the LGBTQI+ community and our
profession, especially on such a historic occasion. Our group of pharmacists and allies from all parts of the country loved the excitement and buzz of the day."
Pharmacy technicians will soon be recognised as fully regulated healthcare professionals in North Ireland.
Work has begun to bring pharmacy technicians under statutory regulation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, health minister Robin Swann has announced.
The public consultation was launched in March 2022 on a proposal to introduce statutory regulation of the Pharmacy Technician workforce in Northern Ireland.
The minister said: "This will be a key enabler to enhancing the contribution that pharmacy technicians can make to the delivery of healthcare across all settings.
It will allow the regulator to strengthen its role in protecting patients and promoting high standards, thereby enhancing the public's confidence and trust in
pharmacy practice."
He added: "While there are many practical issues to be worked through with stakeholders, and legislative change required, I have now instructed my Department's
officials to develop a detailed project plan to bring about the statutory regulation of pharmacy technicians by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland".
All pharmacy businesses are reporting that they are struggling to find the registered professionals needed to open their pharmacies, clarified the Company
Chemists' Association (CCA) in response to an attack by the Pharmacists' Defence Association.
Last week, PDA allegedly accused some large pharmacy chains of 'orchestrating' full or part-time closures of some of their shops due to the staff shortage.
In its Open Letter published on Tuesday (July 19), PDA demanded urgent action "to protect patients by ensuring that essential community pharmacy services are
provided safely and consistently".
"All parts of the healthcare system are struggling to recruit staff and to assume that pharmacies would be immune to such pressures, seems fanciful," said CCA.
"CCA members are working extraordinarily hard to prevent temporary closures, but recruitment and retention of pharmacists is becoming increasingly tough. The recent
rise in Covid cases and the beginning of the summer holiday season in parts of the UK have only worsened the situation."
The Association also showed data from the PSNC Pharmacy Pressures Survey (April 2022) which found that 91 per cent of pharmacies are experiencing staff shortages,
clearly demonstrating that these shortages are affecting the entire sector.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has launched a brutal attack on some large pharmacy chains for full or part-day closures of some of their shops
throughout the UK.
It published an Open Letter on Tuesday (July 19) demanding urgent action "to protect patients by ensuring that essential community pharmacy services are provided
safely and consistently".
PDA chair Mark Koizol, who wrote the letter, went on to allege that many of those closure were "being orchestrated".
He wrote that the "pharmacist shortage" narrative cited as a reason for these closures was "very different" from "the reality experienced by our members", including
both employed and locum pharmacists.
"We have evidence to show that these closures are being announced up to four weeks in advance," Koizol claimed.
He gave examples of how a large company attempted to reduce the pre-agreed rate of locums and where this was not accepted, the shift was cancelled, resulting in the
pharmacy being closed for part or full day.
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important and valuable industries in the world. It is responsible for developing and producing medicines that
improve and save lives. However, there are some things you may not know about this fascinating industry. In this blog post, we will discuss six interesting facts
about the pharmaceutical industry!
1. THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF PHARMACEUTICALS IS HIGHLY REGULATED
All pharmaceutical products must go through a rigorous manufacturing process before they can be made available to patients. This process is heavily regulated by
various government agencies to ensure that the medicines are safe and effective. The pharmaceutical manufacturing process usually involves multiple steps, including
the preparation of raw materials, the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and the packaging and labeling of finished products. To ensure
patient safety, all pharmaceutical companies must adhere to strict regulations set by government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These
regulations are designed to protect patients by ensuring that medicines are safe and effective.
As the new school year approaches parents won't just be in a flurry of buying new pencil cases and the next size up in shoes but also will be looking to
stock their cupboard for their health needs for the next year.
Along with the Supermarket's Back-to-School sales there is also the opportunity to help parents with a clever display of the top needed cupboard accessories with
some smart recommendations to help with choices.
Looking at the UK retail market it is also worth considering that we are seeing a push for sustainability in products with those touting green credentials starting
to stand out from the competitors but with a backdrop of rising prices making price perhaps more important than ever.
Cuts and scrapes
One to definitely think about in the children's health range for back to school is plasters and wound cleaning preparations for those inevitable playground grazed
knees, cuts and scrapes.
With a focus on sustainability and some strong green credentials Elastoplast Green and Protect should be considered for any back to school health display with
eco-friendly construction and a climate neutral product but there is also Patch Kids Bamboo Sensitive Plasters which boast being home compostable.
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.
The Swiss competition commission (COMCO) has opened an investigation of Novartis over possible unlawful use of a patent to reduce competitive pressure, the
Swiss drugmaker confirmed on Thursday, September 15.
COMCO conducted an early morning raid on the company on Sept. 13, it said in a statement that did not name Novartis, which subsequently said in its own statement
that it was the group under investigation.
"The company allegedly attempted to protect its drug for the treatment of skin diseases against competing products by using one of its patents to initiate litigation
proceedings," COMCO said in a statement.
Novartis said COMCO had started an investigation in collaboration with the European Commission into the assertion of a patent in the broader field of dermatology
treatments.
"In connection with this investigation, COMCO representatives visited the company headquarters in Basel," it said.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a second "bivalent" vaccine as a Covid-19 booster.
The updated booster vaccine made by Pfizer/BioNTech, targeting two coronavirus variants, has been approved for use in individuals aged 12 years and above.
In each dose of the booster vaccine, 'Comirnaty bivalent Original/Omicron', half of the vaccine (15 micrograms) targets the original virus strain and the other
half (15 micrograms) targets Omicron (BA.1).
Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive said: "I am pleased to announce that we now have a second approved vaccine for the UK Autumn booster programme. The clinical
trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech bivalent vaccine showed a strong immune response against the Omicron BA.1 variant as well as the original strain.
Bivalent vaccines are helping us to meet the challenge of an ever-evolving virus, to help protect people against Covid-19 variants. We have in place a comprehensive
safety surveillance strategy for all UK-approved Covid-19 vaccines, and this will include the updated booster we approved today."
