The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has called on pharmacy employers and pharmacists organisations to make donations towards the Pharmacist Support charity in the new year.
The association has urged them to donate £1 per pharmacist employee or member to the charity group to increase its funding from 2022 onwards.
Pharmacist Support, an independent charity, provides a variety of support services to pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists and pharmacy students in Great Britain.
It provides support through twelve sessions of fully funded counselling topharmacists, students, or trainees.
Since 2018, the association has donated more than £150,000 to the charity, in turn supporting its members who additionally seek assistance from Pharmacist Support.
Acknowledging publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland's new professional vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland - Pharmacy 2030, a Parliamentary Motion has been lodged in the Scottish Parliament.
The vision, produced in collaboration with the National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland, expects all pharmacists in a patient-facing role to become independent prescribers by 2030.
The motion recognised the aim of the publication that by 2030 pharmacy teams will work together, using their expertise to make the best use of medicines and, will take a person-centred approach, providing care holistically rather than by clinical condition.
It highlighted the important role that RPS would play by working with partners across health and social care to turn this vision into a reality.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association has reported an increase in the number of pharmacists calling its advice line to inform about the incidences of violence and intimidation from protesters opposing the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
The association noted that such incidents have become more common with protesters "gaining entry to premises in groups and trying to disrupt Covid-19 vaccinations from taking place."
In many cases, pharmacists, staff, and members of the public have been subjected to verbal threats, causing distress and anxiety among those working to deliver the vaccination programme in a safe environment.
The PDA reminded that employers, having a contract with the NHS for the Covid-19 vaccinations, have a duty to keep their staff safe whilst at work.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards for pharmacy premises also carry a duty to ensure the safety of staff and the public receiving services on those premises.
All children aged five to 11 in England will be offered a Covid-19 vaccine, the government said on Wednesday (February 16) - following similar announcements
in the rest of the UK.
The move, coming nearly two months after British regulators approved Pfizer and BioNTech's shot for use among the age group, sees Britain following the lead of the
United States, the European Union and other countries.
It has only been vaccinating at-risk under-12s and those who live with immuno-suppressed people, using a lower-dose formulation of the jab that was found to be "safe
and effective".
However, health secretary Sajid Javid - who has responsibility for England only - said he had now accepted guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation, which advises UK health departments, to expand the rollout.
"The NHS will prepare to extend this non-urgent offer to all children during April so parents can, if they want, take up the offer to increase protection against
potential future waves of Covid-19 as we learn to live with this virus," he said in a statement.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has opened a survey which asks its members how they would want to take part in and learn about decisions made by the RPS.
The RPS said the survey was a core part of the independent review of member participation and communications led by communications consultancy Luther Pendragon.
It said: "We will be asking our members to join focus groups to give their opinions on how participation can be developed and strengthened, and how RPS communications
about decisions it has taken on behalf of the profession through its governance boards can be improved. We will also be asking our elected members and key external
stakeholders for their views over the coming weeks."
The Luther team will then build a series of recommendations for RPS and develop a corporate communications strategy which will include action plans to enable greater
participation.
RPS president Claire Anderson said: "We want to hear from as many of you as possible through our survey to inform how the organisation works with and engages with you,
our members.
An oral drug combination by Novartis showed promise in treating a subgroup of patients suffering from a common childhood brain cancer in a trial.
In the mid-stage trial, 47 per cent of the patients that were given the two drugs Tafinlar and Mekinist saw their tumours shrink, far above a rate of 11 per cent
in a comparative group of participants on standard chemotherapy, the drugmaker said on Monday, June 6.
The participants, aged one to 17 years, were suffering from low-grade gliomas (LGG), the most common childhood brain cancer.
The trial only included those who were found to have a mutation known as BRAF V600, a genetic contributor in about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of paediatric LGG cases.
Among further results of the trial with 110 participants, the median time without disease progression was 20.1 months for those given the Novartis drug combo,
compared to 7.4 months on chemotherapy.
The new oral treatment candidate also caused less severe side effects than burdensome chemotherapy.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a new professional guidance for prescribing practice on Monday (June 6) which it says will be "for the
benefit of all independent prescribers across the UK".
Based on collaboration with multi-professional stakeholders, the document is a guidance tool for prescribers wanting to expand their prescribing scope of practice.
Commissioned by the Welsh government, the document was developed through an expert group with representatives from many healthcare professions, including from Higher Education institutions, professional bodies, regulatory bodies, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Education
and Improvement Wales, and representatives from hospital, community and GP practice.
RPS president Claire Anderson said: "It's fantastic to see the growth in prescribing, both across the profession and more widely, to improve patient care.
The government has announced a freeze to the NHS prescription charges, first time in 12 years, to help people ease with the cost of living and ensure
prescription medication remains accessible.
Charges for prescriptions will remain at £9.35 for a single charge or £30.25 for a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), the Department of Health and
Social Care (DHSC) said, adding that the measure will help save £17 million.
The 12-month PPCs will remain at £108.10 and can be paid for in instalments, meaning people can get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week, it added.
The NHS low income scheme will also help with prescription payments, with free prescriptions for eligible people in certain groups such as pensioners, students,
and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes.
"The rise in the cost of living has been unavoidable as we face global challenges and the repercussions of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. While we cannot completely
prevent these rises, where we can help, we absolutely will," Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said.
"This is why I am freezing prescription charges to help ease some of these pressures and put money back in people's pockets."
A group of drugs commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction may be able to boost the effect of chemotherapy in oesophageal cancer, according to new research
funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council.
The research, published on Tuesday (June 22) in Cell Reports Medicine, found that the drugs, known as PDE5 inhibitors can reverse chemotherapy resistance by
targeting cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) residing in the area surrounding the tumour.
Although this is early discovery research, PDE5 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy, may be able to shrink some oesophageal tumours more than chemotherapy could
alone, tackling chemotherapy resistance, which is one of the major challenges in treating oesophageal cancer.
Oesophageal cancer affects the food pipe that connects the mouth to the stomach, and while it is a relatively rare cancer, the UK has one of the higher rates in the
world, with 9,300 new oesophageal cancer cases in the UK every year.
Resistance to chemotherapy in oesophageal cancer is influenced by the tumour microenvironment, the area that sounds the tumour. This is made up of molecules, blood
vessels, and cells such as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are important for tumour growth. It feeds the tumour and can act as a protective cloak,
preventing treatments like chemotherapy from having an effect.
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;
While Northern Irish business groups has welcomed the certainty a new EU-UK deal on post-Brexit trade rules for the region provided, the pharmaceutical
industry too has expressed cautious optimism.
In his speech on the Windsor Framework on Monday (February 28) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the agreement "delivers a landmark settlement on medicines".
"From now on, drugs approved for use by the UK's medicines regulator will be automatically available in every pharmacy and hospital in Northern Ireland," he
announced.
The National Pharmacy Association's Northern Ireland manager Anne McAlister expressed a sense of cautious optimism.
She said: "While the devil may yet be in the detail, the Windsor Framework would appear to be good news for pharmacies in Northern Ireland. It seems to address
the main concerns we have expressed about medicines supplies to NI, but we want to examine the small print to ensure the new arrangements meet the needs of our
members and the patients they serve.
Injuries can be devastating, not only physically but emotionally as well. It's hard to adjust to the new reality of your life after you have been injured,
and it's even harder when you feel like no one understands. But there are certain things that every injured person needs to hear in order to keep going. These six
important things to know to make things easier:
1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Everyone has gone through something similar, so don't feel like you have to carry this burden all by yourself. Reach out for help and support from family, friends,
and professionals who can understand what you're going through and provide guidance as needed. In addition, there are many support groups available that can help
you connect with others in similar situations. Also, don't be afraid to seek out therapy or counseling if you need it. For example, if you are going through a
traumatic experience, PTSD counseling can help you process your feelings.
2. IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
It is understandable that you may feel overwhelmed or angry. You are allowed to have these emotions and it does not make you weak or ungrateful for all of the help
that you have received. Allowing yourself to express and process these emotions in a healthy way is important for your mental health. Find someone who will listen and
allow yourself the time and space to be honest about how you feel. In addition, it's important to take time for yourself and find healthy ways to cope such as
exercise, art or music therapy, or simply engaging in activities that make you happy.
Community pharmacists in England have slammed the government's latest decision to reduce the number of people who get a free winter flu jab in the 2022-23 flu season, as concerns related to Covid-19 still exist.
This follows a letter from the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) to clinicians, which stated that the flu vaccination service in 2022-23 will be offered to
patient groups eligible in line with pre-pandemic recommendations. The eligibility was widened significantly after the pandemic struck in 2020 to help reduce the death toll from the Covid-19.
With the change in place people aged 50-64 and schoolchildren aged 11-15 will not be eligible to receive the free jabs on the NHS next winter, pushing millions of people to pay for their jabs privately.
It further recommended that vaccination for frontline healthcare workers and social care workers should be provided by employers as part of the organisation's policy to prevent the transmission of infection.
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.
National pharmacy bodies have welcomed two VAT changes related to community pharmacy services announced in the Spring budget on Wednesday (15 March) but were
disappointed that the budget brought no further relief for the sector in a crippling funding crisis.
It was announced that from 1 May 2023, VAT exemption on healthcare would be extended to include medical services carried out by staff directly supervised by
registered pharmacists.
The government will also extend zero rate on prescriptions to medicines supplied through Patient Group Directions. This measure will be introduced in autumn 2023.
HM Treasury said these measures were being introduced to ensure that the VAT system keeps up with changes to how the NHS operates and how healthcare is delivered
across the country.
More widely, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised to halve inflation and said that the NHS would soon publish its long-term workforce plan.
Simon Harris bought an average-sized store from a national chain and turned it into a profitable business in just over a year - a great example of how to
start up a pharmacy and become successful. His formula was quite simple - recognise the available opportunities, take some calculated risks and reap the rewards.
Simon went into pharmacy because he felt it was a profession that would allow him to "help people" and have a direct impact on their lives. "I also thought it was
a profession which would allow me to have my own business one day."
Since qualifying as a pharmacist from Bath University in the late 90s, Simon did his pre-reg at a large Boots store in Broadmead, where we had some "great experience"
as a pharmacist manager.
He decided to take a year out and went around the world with his "now wife" and ended up working as a pharmacist for a pharmacy group Down Under which had a contract
with the sports industry, i.e. Australian Open and the Australian Football League.
"It was quite an experience because at the time I knew nothing about Aussie football but I ended up being their pharmacist after a short conversion course."
The 1000th Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) programme in Centred Soul, Newry received funding from the Department of Health in Northern
Ireland to improve the health and wellbeing of women in the local community.
BCPP programme is led by Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) in Northern Ireland and is funded by the Department of Health.
It supports communities and community pharmacists to address locally defined needs so that people make connections, listen to and understand each other better and
work together to address the social determinants of health and health inequalities
Department of Health's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison said: "I am delighted to mark the 1000th project to receive funding to improve health inequalities
in the Newry area.
"Since 2001 we have invested over £7 million in local community groups and pharmacy partnerships across Northern Ireland, to work together on a specific, local health
need.
"The Centred Soul project is a great example of how BCPP Programme contributes to tackling inequality and improving community health and wellbeing locally.
AstraZeneca on Wednesday (April 5) said a combination of its cancer drugs Imfinzi and Lynparza met the main goal in a late-stage trial in patients with
advanced ovarian cancer.
The drugmaker said treatment with a combination of those drugs, along with chemotherapy and bevacizumab - the existing standard of care - improved progression-free
survival in newly diagnosed patients with advanced ovarian cancer without certain mutations.
Lynparza is jointly developed with U.S.-based Merck & Co as a treatment for breast cancer in early stage with certain mutations. Imfinzi alone, along with
chemotherapy and bevacizumab, did not reach statistical significance in its interim analysis, the drugmaker added.
Philipp Harter, director, Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecologic Oncology, Evangelische Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Germany and principal investigator for the trial,
said: "DUO-O showcases the power of academia and industry collaboration in advancing new treatment combinations for patients with ovarian cancer. I'm grateful for
the academic cooperative study groups and patients around the world that made this trial possible and look forward to sharing the results with the clinical community."
Susan Galbraith, executive vice president, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "While there has been significant progress for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, an
unmet need still remains. These data from the DUO-O trial provide encouraging evidence for this this Lynparza and Imfinzi combination in patients without tumour
BRCA mutations and reinforce our continued commitment to finding new treatment approaches for these patients. It will be important to understand the key secondary
endpoints as well as data for relevant subgroups."
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation following 'rocketing prices of antibiotics in the wake of Strep A cases', Sky News
reported on Wednesday (December 14).
On Monday, the Department of Health issued a medicine supply notification for antibiotics for the treatment of Strep A.
"Supplies of antibiotics for the treatment of Group A Strep have seen a surge in demand and may be temporarily in limited supply at certain wholesalers and
pharmacies. Supplies are available with manufacturers, and deliveries into wholesalers and pharmacies are being expedited and are expected in the coming days" said
DHSC.
Sky quoted a spokesperson for the CMA as saying: "People have got real concerns about the price of antibiotics used to treat Strep A, and we want companies to be
clear about their obligations under the law.
From over-the-counter flu tablets to crucial antibiotics and antidepressants, medicines are running scarce in UK pharmacies this year, causing concerns among
patients, the government, and the wider pharma industry.
Drug shortages have accelerated over the past year due to a clutch of problems including the after-effects of the pandemic on supply chains, the war in Ukraine,
and soaring input costs weighing on manufacturers. More recently, a sudden spike in respiratory infections - another by-product of Covid-19 that neither pharma
companies nor the government were able to predict - has deepened the crisis, with 70 commonly taken drugs out of stock in Britain as of February.
The problem is not unique to the UK. In a recent survey of groups representing pharmacies in 29 European countries, three quarters said shortages were worse this
winter than a year ago, with a quarter reporting more than 600 drugs in short supply. The US is also facing significant shortages of popular prescription drugs like
amoxicillin and Adderall, an ADHD medication.
To some extent, the current disruption is laying bare wider challenges facing the industry for several years that were only exacerbated by the pandemic.
The over-reliance on foreign suppliers for most active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is one of them. This model has left companies more susceptible to supply
shocks, which have in turn increased in frequency and severity due to pandemic lockdowns, the war in Ukraine and other issues such as the shortage of shipping
containers.
Pharma's long and opaque supply chains, alongside regulatory complexities, also mean it is taking longer for drugmakers to reconfigure manufacturing and distribution
in times of additional need.
