Group items tagged

To help the pharmacists understand the Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for three Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products that was recently announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)'s, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has shared top tips on the correct SSP endorsement and submission requirements. Top Tips by PSNC for pharmacists on HRT SSPs: Always double check that endorsements reflect the requirements outlined in the supporting guidance published for each SSP on the dedicated page of the NHSBSA's website. When endorsing using EPS, contractors are reminded to select the SSP endorsement and input the correct three-digit reference number leaving a space in between 'SSP' and the three-digit reference number for example, SSP 019. Remember to insert the leading zero in the three digit reference number. Each of the affected HRT medicines has its own SSP reference number. Check that the correct SSP number is endorsed for e.g. for Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel the SSP endorsement should be 'SSP 019'. Please note the 'NCSO' endorsement is no longer accepted for SSPs. Endorse the SSP product dispensed including the quantity. Ensure your endorsements are accurate and clear - NHSBSA processing staff must be able to determine what has been supplied. Contractors should note that SSP claims submitted using EPS tokens are no longer permitted.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Assembly has announced the re-appointment of Professor Claire Anderson as President for a further term of two years on Tuesday (11 July). As president, Anderson will oversee delivery and implementation of the constitutional governance review; continue to extend the profile and influence of pharmacy as a profession by building and strengthening relationships with all the other pharmacy leadership bodies and organisations. She aims to ensure that RPS is invited to the table whenever medicines and public health are discussed by continuing to invest in strategic relationships beyond pharmacy Claire was first elected as President in 2021. In her address to the Assembly, Claire said: "This is a time of unprecedented change and I have decided to stand as President for a second term to offer much needed continuity. "I am passionate about our profession and committed to making the RPS and our members even more successful. I will also continue to be a dedicated ambassador and advocate for the profession nationally and internationally."

Following Community Pharmacy England's Parliamentary drop-in event on medicines supply issues last week, several MPs have since raised questions to the Health Secretary during a Health Questions session on July 18th. According to CPE, MPs from all Parties displayed great engagement with the current pressures facing community pharmacies, particularly regarding medicines supply issues. During last week's event, Mike Amesbury, the MP for Weaver Vale, was present and directed a question to the Health Secretary: "Eighteen community pharmacists in my constituency are reporting challenges with medicine supplies. What further actions will the Minister take to address and resolve this situation effectively?" In response, Health Secretary Steve Barclay MP stated, "We have a dedicated team in the Department that focuses on medical supplies, which are an ongoing concern. Challenges in this area are a routine part of our business."

National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has appointed Nick Kaye as its new chair on Monday (24 April). He has taken over the chairmanship from Andrew Lane, who stood down last month after serving his maximum term. Nick, who part-owns Hendra Pharmacy in Cornwall will serve for two years as NPA chair, after being elected unopposed at the first meeting of the new NPA board. Jay Badenhorst, Managing Director and Superintendent Pharmacist for Whitworth Chemists in the North East of England, is now vice-chair. Michael Guerin, the Managing Director and Superintendent Pharmacist of the Medicare group in Northern Ireland, continues as Treasurer. Nick Kaye said: "As a third generation community pharmacist, I feel very privileged to serve the sector that I love so dearly in this way. "Andrew will be a hard act to follow. But I can promise my unwavering commitment to independent community pharmacy, with Jay and Michael's 's support, plus that of board colleagues and our dedicated executive team.

AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AAH) has exceeded the milestone of delivering over 70 million COVID-19 vaccination doses across England, since it was awarded a contract in December 2020. In addition, AAH has delivered over 100 million ancillary items to more than 3,000 healthcare providers. David Bound, chief executive officer of AAH, said: "This is a huge milestone for AAH as we work tirelessly to support our communities. It's also a ringing endorsement of our delivery drivers, warehouse operatives, and specialist logistics teams and the determination, dedication, and passion they continue to show throughout this extraordinary period." The vaccination programme was also recognized by the Supply Chain Excellence Awards. Chris Emmott, senior project lead - Supply Chain, commented: "I'm incredibly proud that AAH was chosen for this job, particularly as we had the skills, the experience, and a great team to help facilitate the needs of the country. To get ready for a project like this, everybody's worked very long hours, they've worked weekends to get everything ready.

harac, an NHS-integrated one-stop platform for independent community pharmacies, and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have announced their long-term partnership to allow pharmacies to deliver the broad range of services needed to support the public. The NPA and Charac will collaborate with members of the NPA and beyond to accelerate the necessary digital transition of independent community pharmacies, particularly given their importance to poorer communities and less advantaged individuals at high risk due to potential pharmacy closures. The partnership is part of the NPA's efforts to improve the online presence of community pharmacies, including patient application, online booking, website design, and a delivery service. With Charac similarly dedicated to bettering digital interaction with patients, the new joint ecosystem will provide pharmacies with the necessary funding and cutting-edge technology to aid delivery of primary care.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has partnered with training provider Skills 4 Pharmacy to provide Level 2 and Level 3 pharmacy apprenticeships to its members in England. Skills 4 Pharmacy is an experienced pharmacy apprenticeship training provider dedicated to initiating and developing the careers of pharmacy support staff and technicians. They manage the recruitment of apprentices, as well as their enrolment and training. The apprenticeship package offers a Level 2 Apprenticeship - Pharmacy support worker and Level 3 Apprenticeship - Pharmacy technician. Amerjit Singh, Managing Director at Skills 4 Pharmacy said: "As a member for the last 23 years it is a great honour to be able to work alongside the NPA and promote apprenticeships. "As contractors we are facing challenging times, however I firmly believe that apprenticeship programmes which upskill and empower our workforce are essential for our future survival. Apprenticeships are a great way to build a strong talent pipeline and bring new skills to pharmacies.

Jeremy Meader has resigned as managing director of Numark after five years on the job, and having lead the wider PHOENIX group's sales and marketing teams for about eight years. A press release issued on Wednesday (February 1) said Mr Meader "has decided to leave the business to pursue his career outside of the PHOENIX group", the owner of Numark. It said: "PHOENIX thanks Jeremy for his commitment and dedication over the years and wishes him all the best for his professional and private future." Previous to joining PHOENIX, Mr Meader was head of sales at Alliance Healthcare, a role he took up in 2012 after serving GSK's Consumer Healthcare division for over 13 years in various capacity.

A recent Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) survey revealed that 80 per cent of its member working in the NHS in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rejected the NHS pay award. "For the first time in the history of our union, members have told us they are so angry that they would not rule out industrial action in conjunction with other NHS unions," said Paul Moloney, PDA Union national officer. "It is important that, whoever is to lead the government, they listen to this message and act now to ensure our members and others in the NHS do not face swinging cuts to their standard of living." PDA members were asked whether they would support industrial action if they had rejected the award and if other NHS unions would be taking industrial action. 58 per cent of those responding said they would support the PDA Union taking industrial action if members of other unions were also planning to take action on this issue. For now, however, the PDA Union will wait for other unions to publish the outcomes of their own consultations. As a union dedicated to representing the needs of only pharmacists, the PDA has been able to quickly survey members immediately after the pay award was announced.

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.

Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine is a specialized field that focuses on providing intensive care to patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries. It requires a unique set of skills, knowledge, and dedication to deliver optimal care in high-pressure situations.

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.

Despite being relatively new to the dispensing doctor market as a short-liner, Bestway Medhub is seeing exponential growth in the market in addition to the 3,500 independent pharmacies that we service and deliver to. We have however been servicing the dispensing doctor market for well over 40 years through our dispensing appliance contractor (DAC) Wardles. Wardles service and supply more than 55% of all dispensing sites with dressings, bandages, appliances, ostomy, wound care and hosiery. Graham Burford-Row To meet the needs of dispensing practices and surgeries we carry a large range of more than 10,000 Generics, PI's and OTC products. We offer net pricing so the practice can see straight away what price they are paying for their products - with no hidden fees. We offer all our practices 24-hour online ordering via our Bestway Medhub ordering portal and our recently launched Wardles FP Portal. Additionally, we have the backup of a telesales department with personal service from myself and a dedicated Internal Dispensing Dr Account Manager. We offer daily, weekly or monthly calls to those customers wishing to hear our special offers. Our deliveries are done daily via our third party full-line logistics partner for efficient deliveries, which no other short-line wholesaler offers. Bestway Medhub understands that dispensing practices are not only in the business of offering superior care to their patients and community, but they also offer numerous other services like clinics, nursing and referrals. By enabling practices to cost save, the funds could be used elsewhere instead.

Boris Johnson has picked Steve Barclay as the new health secretary following the resignation of Sajid Javid, who stepped down on July 5 after saying he had lost faith in prime minister's leadership. Barclay - who had served as chief of staff of the prime minister since February 2022 - was previously a junior health minister in 2018, responsible for NHS workforce and finance, before serving as Brexit secretary, chief secretary to the Treasury, and chancellor of the duchy. He is the fourth health secretary after Jeremy Hunt, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid in the past five years. In a statement on his appointment, Barclay said it was "an honour" to be take up the position, adding: "Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again - throughout the pandemic and beyond - what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives. "This government is investing more than ever before in our NHS and care services to beat the Covid-19 backlogs, recruit 50,000 more nurses, reform social care and ensure patients across the country can access the care they need."

Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy Clinic is a renowned and leading physiotherapy clinic in Altona. We take pride in providing our clients with excellent services, personalized care, and advanced treatments to our clients. Our skilled physiotherapists are dedicated to assisting you in reaching your health and wellness goals. Call or email us today to schedule an appointment!

Boots UK has agreed to grant a five per cent pay increase to its pharmacists following a collaborative agreement with the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA). This raise acknowledges the unique market conditions faced by pharmacists in the community pharmacy sector, Boots UK and PDA said in a joint statement on Oct. 9. According to the statement, the pay increase applies to all pharmacists within the PDA Union's bargaining unit, except for those who joined or received a pay raise after August 2023. Moreover, trainee pharmacists or those not meeting performance standards are not eligible for the raise. Additionally, pharmacists and store managers will receive a pro-rata, one-time non-consolidated payment of £750 in August 2024. This payment serves as recognition for their dedication to establishing and providing new core and advanced NHS services, particularly in light of the substantial changes anticipated in the upcoming year, the joint statement said. The services include new medicines, hypertension, contraception, and common conditions services in England, the clinical community pharmacy service in Wales, and the Pharmacy First services in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Alex Potter is the new Managing Director of PharmAssist Solutions UK, an online purchasing solution utilised by over 1,100 community pharmacies. Potter, previously the Director of Digital at Phoenix UK, will succeed the current MD, Amar Randhawa, and has expertise in the digital landscape across the industry, PharmAssist Solutions said in a statement. "We are delighted to have Alex on board," said Stuart Lucas, Chair of the PharmAssist Board. "His profound grasp of the pharmacy sector, combined with his expertise in digital innovation, will spearhead PharmAssist's evolution to meet the dynamic demands of its clientele." Meanwhile, Lucas expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Amar for his hard work and dedication over the last decade. "Amar, as the founder of PharmAssist, played a pivotal role in achieving numerous significant milestones and driving its growth," he added. "We wish him every success in his future endeavors."

American healthcare technology company Omnicell has appointed Edward Platt as the new Senior Commercial Director of its UK community pharmacy division. Along with this new role, Edward, who joined Omnicell in 2015, will continue his current leadership remit for Omnicell's UK & Ireland hospital division. He will be leading a revamped commercial team, which would be responsible for increasing Omnicell's footprint of automation and consumable solutions delivered into UK community pharmacies. As part of the revamp, the company has created dedicated specialist teams to ensure the needs and challenges of community pharmacists (small independents and small multiple operators) can be fully understood and supported.

Revitalize Respiratory Solutions is a pioneering company dedicated to providing cutting-edge respiratory services. Our expert team combines advanced technology with compassionate care to enhance the lives of individuals with respiratory challenges. From personalized treatment plans to state-of-the-art equipment, we strive to breathe new life into every breath.

WBA, Boots parent company revealed the results for its fourth quarter of the financial year, showing three months to August 2023. The reports published on 12 October show the loss of at least $1bn following a net loss of $3.1bn on an annual basis. This marks a decrease compared to a profit of $4.3bn in the previous financial year. The loss was attributed in part to a $5.5 billion after-tax charge related to opioid claims and litigation during the period, as well as the comparison against a $2.5 billion after-tax gain from the company's investments in Village MD and Shields Health Solutions in the same period last year. Ginger Graham, WBA's Interim Chief Executive spoke about the company's performance and its dedication to their customers and patients.