Group items tagged

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called pharmacy employers and pharmacy trade unions to come together to a round table meeting to agree on principles for a way forward that ensures patients benefit consistently from access to high quality, adequately staffed, safe pharmacy services. It has also urged the governments, NHS organisations and individual pharmacy teams to define clear prioritisation plans, which can be embedded in organisational business continuity plans which set out the pharmacy services that are essential and must always be provided and can be de-prioritised at specific levels of pressures. The challenges for pharmacies are compounded by the escalating cost of living crisis. With unprecedented levels of burnout among pharmacists, pharmacy closures and the potential for strike action, RPS has called for three things- 'professionalism, respect and prioritisation.'

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) is aiming to reach an agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) on negotiation with regards to expanded services and payment model in the pharmacy sector. Chief Executive Janet Morrison, said: "We are working at pace in negotiations with DHSC and NHSE. The process remains on track with the Government's original timescale - i.e. aiming for agreement in July, with cross-government clearance later in July, and implementation from July through to September." CPE is involved in working groups on service expansion of Hypertension Case-Finding and the Pharmacy Contraception Scheme and service design for the Common Conditions Service; and are in in-depth negotiations on Payment models. These discussions critically look at the balance between funding core capacity and activity payments, how the funding streams will be distributed and how CPE will measure delivery and impact. NHSE has been leading on the development of the PGD pathways for each of the 7 conditions, with external medical, pharmacy and other experts feeding into the process - pharmacy owners from the Community Pharmacy England Committee have also been involved but the discussions are clinically led to ensure they comply with NICE principles and concur with Antimicrobial Stewardship policy.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has called for comments and views on the recently launched consultation on selecting the appropriate mode of consultation when assessing a person's needs by pharmacy professionals including pharmacist prescribers. The guidance note sets out what the pharmacy professional or prescriber, in agreement with the patient, needs to consider when selecting the mode of consultation - such as face-to-face; video-link, video-chat, or other online platforms; telephone and online questionnaires - best suited to gaining the information needed to deliver safe and effective pharmacy care. The principles outlined in the guidance apply to consultations undertaken in all pharmacy settings, including those undertaken by online pharmacy services providers. "Our plan is to include the contents of this guidance note in the document: 'In practice: Guidance for pharmacist prescribers' when we undertake our next review," said the regulator.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced 30 pence increase in prescription charges from £9.35 to £9.65 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. Board Chair for England at RPS, Thorrun Govind commented: "This is a kick in the teeth for people in England who are already struggling with rising bills and food prices. "Patients groups have warned that people are not collecting prescription medicines due to cost and pharmacists are seeing this worrying trend first-hand. "A Government impact assessment noted the risk of adverse effects of people not taking their medicines, resulting in future health problems for the individual, potential hospital admissions, and a subsequent cost to the NHS. "This decision seems to prioritise revenue generation over ill-health prevention and undermines the principle of an NHS free at the point of use.

The new 'How to Involve and Engage Patients on Digital Health Tech Innovation' learning module has been created specifically to support the development and delivery of patient-centric technologies, at a time of critical digital transformation in the NHS. The foundation level module will be freely available at www.orcha-digitalhealthacademy.com and on the Health Education England NHS Learning Hub (learninghub.nhs.uk). No training previously exists on conducting effective patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), leading to wasted resource on unsuitable technologies at a time when the healthcare system simply cannot afford it. The module aims to educate innovators who are creating new technology, and the clinicians who are prescribing these solutions. Crucially, the module also provides valuable support to the 500 NHS clinicians who are on the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. The module is an introduction to the first evidence-based framework for PPIE, launched by the University of Plymouth, the AHSN Network (the national voice of the 15 academic health science networks in England) and Boehringer Ingelheim UK & Ireland. It helps to fast-track learning for the EnACT principles described in the framework, outlining how to involve patients in product innovation and critical issues such as data privacy, intellectual property, inclusivity, reimbursement, useability, and recruitment of patients.

Northern Ireland will see changes in the regulatory landscape following the issuance of the Windsor Framework on 27th Feb 2023 and the corresponding EU Commission proposal. An agreement, in principle, has been reached by the UK and EU. The new path forward of the Windsor Framework marks a turning point in how both the UK and the EU will work together collaboratively and constructively to ensure that the same medicines are available in Northern Ireland at the same time as they are in the rest of the United Kingdom. Whilst this is a successful result for Northern Ireland patients, this is major change for companies that have made specific provisions in their supply chains for Northern Ireland. The supply chains of companies where provisions and changes were made such as introduction of GB specific pack may be impacted as a result. However, the burden on the UK Pharma supply chain will be eased. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor on February 27, 2023 Pharma companies will need to carefully consider making changes within their processes and supply chains pending the issuance of clear guidance from the MHRA on the regulation changes resulting from the Windsor Agreement and the corresponding EU Commission proposed regulatory changes associated with medicinal products within the Northern Ireland market. Smooth access to the EU market for Northern Ireland pharmaceutical and medical technology firms has been safeguarded within the constraints of the agreement. The pragmatic dual-regulatory system protects business, patients and healthcare services, and reflects that it is an essential state function to maintain and oversee the supply of medicines within the whole United Kingdom.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), led by Victoria Atkins MP and Maria Caulfield MP, has unveiled proposed updates to the NHS Constitution for England, aiming to fortify the principles of privacy, dignity, and safety for all patients. Martha's rule was prompted by a campaign led by the parents of 13-year-old Martha Mills who tragically succumbed to sepsis after staff at King's College Hospital failed to escalate her care to intensive care, despite her family's pleas regarding her worsening condition in 2021. Under the new guidance is the introduction of Martha's Rule, empowering patients to request intimate care from someone of the same biological sex ensuring that the distinct needs of men and women are recognized and addressed. Patients and their loved ones can exercise the right to "access to a rapid review from outside the care team if the patient is deteriorating." The consultation on the proposed updates is set to run for eight weeks, inviting feedback from patients, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders for a review

The General Pharmaceutical Council's Investigating Committee took decisive action on March 25, 2024, by issuing a warning to Dilsha Kiran Shah, registration number: 2049787, for her conduct as Superintendent Pharmacist of Jhoots Healthcare Ltd. Miss Shah's failure to uphold the Medicines Act 1968, specifically in ensuring the proper management of medicinal products, triggered this warning. The Act mandates supervision in "keeping, preparing, and dispensing medicinal products other than those on a general sale list." Moreover, pharmacies are inspected on five principles - Governance, Staff, Premises, Services including medicines management, and Equipment and facilities to meet the right standards. The alarm was initially raised in August 2021 when a Jhoots Healthcare Ltd pharmacy branch under Miss Shah's supervision operated without a responsible pharmacist. Despite explicit instructions, pharmacy staff were allegedly instructed to proceed without proper supervision, raising grave concerns regarding patient safety.

Tricycles are designed in such a manner that they offer ease to the users. It is made the use of optimum quality materials and latest technology methods that make them more durable. Three wheeled cycle designed enables individuals with physical disabilities or limitations the enjoyment of riding a bike. With the Hand Powered Low Seat Trike, wheelchair-users, people with Cerebral Palsy, Paraplegia neurological impairments or other mobility limitation can improve their overall health and social interactions with family and friends. Standard Single Hand Drive Tricycle: Frame: Made by E.R.W. Tubes 22.22 mm- 18 G. Seat & Back: MS, CRC Sheet Seat Size 18"x 16" Wheel Size: Wheel Diameter 28"x 1 1/2" Tyre and Tube Standard Company. Parts: Standard Quality Color: Black Painted Brake: Front Wheel liver System Drive: Rear Wheel Right Side Hand Operated Tricycle available in varied specifications, these tricycles are developed by utilizing the world-class raw materials and sophisticated technology tools. Another benefit of hand powered tricycle is the upper body strengthening obtained from riding it regularly. Physically challenged athletes and tri-athletes use hand powered tricycle for upper body strengthening and toning when preparing for athletic events or to simply get in shape and stay in shape. Features: For children with low tone, spina bifida, lower extremity paralysis, or cerebral palsy. Durable Steel Frame. Children propel the trikes with arm and/or leg power. Fully enclosed chain drive. Durable, low-maintenance, triple chromeplated, carbon steel frame is long-lasting Ergonomic handles for caregiver remove for easy transport. Adjustable front riggings provide ideal positioning for pediatric clients. Urethane rear tires mounted on "no flex" wheels. Virtually no-maintenance, dual-sealed precision bearings. Dual-axle positions allow for quick and simple seat-to-floor height adjustments of 15", 16" and 17" Seat width and depth options

We have two instruments: KD-I rapid test reader and KD-IV test reader. The both adopt the principle of reflectance spectrophotometer by using fiber-optical probe to collect reflected light and achieve the quantitative analysis of specimen. It is a portable, easy to use, rapid testing instrument designed to provide quantitative results for immunochromatographic lateral flow tests. This advanced point of care instrument delivers fast and accurate results in hospitals and laboratories. The quantitative tests are used for the test readers and can get a definitive result by the reader. It is easy to get a result by the test reader.

Chemtrue PCT Quantitative Test Kit adapts the technology of colloidal gold chromatographic immunoassay and principle of double-antibody sandwich to detect the level of PCT in serum and plasma specimens, thus identify bacterial infection, abacterial infection and inflammation. It can also be used to monitor patients with risk of infection and those who need intensive care, to detect systemic affects of bacterial infection or complications of septic.

Fish Oil, as the name recommends is acquired from fish. Yet, presently different supplements in the market sell Omega 3 fish oil supplements. Fish that are especially wealthy in the helpful oils known as omega 3 fatty acids are mackerel, herring, fish, and salmon. Two of the principles of omega 3 unsaturated fats contained in fish oil are Eicosapentaenoic destructive (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Corrosive (DHA).

The British scientists behind one of the major therapeutic Covid-19 trials have turned their focus to treatments for monkeypox, a viral disease that has been labelled a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. The team from Oxford University behind the so-called RECOVERY trial - which honed in on four effective Covid treatments - on Tuesday unveiled a new trial, dubbed PLATINUM, to confirm whether Siga Technologies' tecovirimat is an effective treatment for monkeypox. Although there are vaccines developed for the closely related smallpox that can reduce the risk of catching monkeypox, there are currently no treatments that have been proven to help hasten recovery in those who develop the disease. The UK has over 3,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox. The virus is transmitted chiefly through close contact with an infected person. It typically causes mild symptoms including fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes and pus-filled skin lesions. Severe cases can occur, though people tend to recover within two to four weeks. Siga's drug, branded Tpoxx, has been cleared to treat diseases caused by the family of orthopoxvirus that includes smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox by the European Union and United Kingdom, but due to limited trial data it is generally only used in severe cases in Britain.

WHAT IS PROTEINASE K MADE OF? Proteinase K is known enzyme belonging to the class of serine proteases that cleave adjacent to the carboxylic group peptide bonds of aromatic and aliphatic amino acids. It's also exhibited a very broad cleavage specificity. The enzyme was discovered in extracts of the fungus Engyodontium album. HOW DOES PROTEINASE K WORK? In molecular biology, main application of proteinase K is to digest proteins during nucleic acids purification in order to remove protein contaminants: - Proteinase K quickly inactivates nucleases (enzymes that digest nucleic acids) that degrade DNA or RNA molecules during the cleansing. - Proteinase K is activated by calcium. It does not affect the activity of the proteinase, but protects again autolysis, improves thermal stability, and regulates substrate binding capacity. To increase the stability of Proteinase K, thereby enhancing its action, Urea as well as SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) or elevated temperature at 37-60C is commonly used. Inactivation of Proteinase K is occurring at temperature above 65C. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PROTEINASES? Proteinase K is used to break down proteins in cell lysates (tissues, cell culture cells) and to release nucleic acids due to its action described above. Proteinase K application purpose: DNA isolation from various tissues; Removal of DNAses and RNAses: Proteinase K and RNases can act together in the lysis buffer to degrades contaminating RNAs and proteins;