The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a public consultation on plans to reclassify a locally-applied hormone replacement
therapy product to treat the cause and relieve the symptoms of vaginal atrophy.
The MHRA is proposing that Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets, containing oestradiol, be made available over the counter as a "self care" product, under the
supervision of a pharmacist.
The Commission on Human Medicines too has advised that the application by Novo Nordisk, which is used to treat vaginal dryness, caused by oestrogen deficiency in
postmenopausal women, can be made available as a pharmacy (P) medicine.
The MHRA has been asking GPs, pharmacists and members of the public for their opinions on whether the tablets can be made available to women aged 50 and over who
have not had a period for at least a year.
If the reclassification goes ahead, pharmacists will be given training materials and a checklist to help them supply the medicine safely.
A Boots UK branch store in Hinckley town centre closed 'until further notice' as there was 'no pharmacist available' to work on Monday (May 9).
A local news report said: "The sign on the door reads: "Unfortunately, we are unable to open until further notice. We are working hard to get this rectified.
"We apologise for the inconvenience. Hearing care appointments please wait here to be greeted.""
LeicestershireLive reported a patient saying that their appointment for a hearing aid check had been postponed until Tuesday.
It added: "The customer was surprised to be told by staff that the store had to close as there was no pharmacist available."
Numark is set to launch a large-scale broadcast campaign to promote its Hey Pharmacist repeat prescription service on May 22.
The new campaign introduces, 'Repeat prescriptions. Made simple,' with a set of three TV adverts that feature three different heightened-reality scenarios. In
each advert, the hero discovers they have forgotten to order their repeat prescription at a less than ideal time but thanks to Hey Pharmacist, a few taps later
their problems are solved.
The adverts highlight how managing your repeat prescriptions has never been quicker or simpler in a tongue-in-cheek, comedic tone.
The campaign - which incorporates national broadcast and SkyAdSmart TV alongside digital, social, and in-store campaigns across England - promotes the Hey Pharmacist
app which provides Numark members in England with an end-to-end online repeat prescription proposition, helping them deliver a best-in-class digital capability which
highlights the benefits for patients who choose to collect their medication from their local Numark pharmacy.
Jeremy Meader, managing director of Numark, commented: "It is very exciting to see our first TV campaign go live. The creative does a brilliant job in bringing to life the benefits of Hey Pharmacist, highlighting how easy and effortless managing
prescriptions can be. We look forward to assisting more everyday heroes and supporting our members in showcasing this exciting digital proposition to a larger audience."
A group of 21 community pharmacies in the Midlands and Yorkshire will have a new name - Pickfords Pharmacy.
The group has been created by combining three independent pharmacy businesses which traded as Mr Pickford's, McGills Pharmacy and D&R Sharp.
All pharmacies in the new group will be rebranded over the coming months, with a series of launch events planned by local teams.
Speaking after the unveiling of the first branch to receive new signage in Hexthorpe Doncaster, Mimi Lau, Pickfords Pharmacy's chief operating officer, said:
"This is a turning point for the group, with all our pharmacies operating under one name with a consistent, contemporary brand.
"Initial reaction has been fantastic and very soon the name Pickfords Pharmacy will be widely recognised for the great service we deliver to customers and patients
every day."
Speaking of the consolidation, Nick Yarrow, the newly appointed group chief executive officer, commented: "Since the enlarged group came together last year, we have
been striving to ensure that the best elements of each business have been retained for the benefit of our customers and team members.
"This is part of our journey to be more than just a pharmacy - we want to be a trusted source of healthcare services at the heart of each one of the communities we
serve".
Leo Pharma, one of the leaders in medical dermatology, has appointed Kasper Künzel as Interim Vice President and General Manager for its UK and Ireland
business.
Kasper is an established leader within Leo Pharma, having previously been Vice President, IPO Preparedness Office, at Leo Pharma in Denmark.
Kasper brings over 17 years of pharmaceutical experience, previously taking on local and global leadership positions across Leo Pharma in functions including R&D,
Finance and Commercial. Having first joined Leo Pharma in Denmark in a financial function, his previous roles include General Manager in South Korea, Vice President
of Corporate Transformation, and Director of R&D Business Finance
He commented: "I am delighted to join the Leo Pharma UK and Ireland team and continue to build on the company's strong heritage in these markets. The UK and Ireland
team are committed to the Leo Pharma values as a leader in medical dermatology, and I'm looking forward to all we can achieve together this year.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA)'s analysis on permanent closures of community pharmacies in England showed that there has been a net loss of 670
pharmacies between 2015 and 2022.
The analysis highlighted that 37 per cent of permanent closures of pharmacies and GP practices have occurred in the 20 per cent most deprived parts of England.
Current trends indicate that primary care 'cold spots' could soon emerge - areas where there is significantly reduced or inadequate access to a pharmacy or a GP.
The CCA's analysis shows that some of the most deprived neighbourhoods concentrated in the North West, the West Midlands and Yorkshire have faced the highest losses
of local pharmacies and GP practices since 2015.
It demonstrates that the trend of permanent closures amongst pharmacies and GP practices is worsening. Moreover, this burden is likely to be felt unevenly with
permanent closures occurring disproportionately in areas of high deprivation. Without action, deprived communities, where need is typically greater, may no longer
be able to access the GP and pharmacy services they require.
The Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) has expressed its interest to support pharmacists impacted with the latest announcement of the closure of Tesco
pharmacies.
"Tesco have followed ASDA and LloydsPharmacy (at Sainsbury's) to announce cost cutting changes to their stores, impacting hundreds of jobs," the association said.
The PDA's interests in the announcement relate to the planned closure of eight in-store Tesco pharmacies and the impact of those closures upon pharmacists, however
the union is of course concerned for all those impacted.
The PDA Union will support individual PDA members impacted by the decision so that they are aware of, and can exercise, their rights at work in relation to this
situation.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director said, "In addition to the immediate impact on pharmacists employed at the stores marked for closure, this is the third instance in just
twelve days of reductions in the overall access to a pharmacy for NHS patients. We expect those who represent communities to be concerned about the loss of a key
part of their local NHS service."
A community pharmacist, Viral Doshi was honoured with the British Citizen Award (BCA) on Thursday (26 January) at the Palace of Westminster for transforming
his community centre into vaccination hub during Covid-19 pandemic.
Viral was presented with his Medal of Honour by Liam Sargeant, Senior Company Communications Manager, from supporters P&G and TV presenter and Patron of the BCA,
Nick Knowles, who hosted the event.
At the height of the pandemic, Viral obtained approval to transform his community centre into a vaccination hub. Located in the heart of a multi-ethnic population,
with social deprivation, surrounded by wards experiencing high rates of Covid-19. His determination to increase uptake and reduce vaccination hesitancy, led to
80,000 vaccinations being administered, the overall highest vaccination uptake in North West London.
Viral is a passionate advocate for the role that GP practices and community pharmacies can play in supporting the health agenda. His objective, to provide better
choice and access for the community have been fully met and appreciated by patients. His initiatives led to a dramatic increase in the clinical skills, knowledge
and services offered by local community pharmacies around a variety of health topics. This enabled pharmacies to adopt a holistic health approach to working with
their communities.
Type 1 diabetes patients can monitor their glucose with the newly introduced flash glucose monitors by the NHS.
The wearable gadgets with the size of a £2 coin, have a sensor that easily sits on the arm, allowing patients to check their glucose levels with a one-second scan.
Eligible patients are currently able to access the monitors on prescription from their local GP or diabetes team, helping them to better manage their blood sugar levels.
Everyone living with type 1 diabetes will be eligible for lifechanging flash glucose monitors on the NHS. The NHS Long Term Plan has already helped almost three in
five people with Type 1 diabetes to access the monitors that allow people to check their glucose levels more easily and regularly.
The change, confirmed today by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), means that everyone in England with the condition will be able to benefit from the convenient technology.
The national pharmacy bodies has created 'Save Our Pharmacies' campaign website to give new focus to calls for fair pharmacy funding in England.
The newly launched site contains key messages for public, politicians and stakeholders, and hosts campaign resources to be used by pharmacy teams.
The pharmacy bodies encourage members of the public and pharmacy teams to show their support for the campaign on social media, as well as signing the petition
and contacting their local MPs about fair funding.
A further resource in the form of a window poster is being printed and will shortly be mailed out to all community pharmacies in England.
It is the latest output of a joint programme of work being coordinated by PSNC, CCA, AIM and the NPA.
Two pharmacies in Rotherham are set to merge into one, if plans are approved by NHS England.
Weldricks Pharmacy has applied to merge its two Swinton branches, on Church Street and the Crown Street Surgery.
If approved, the branch on Church Street will be modernised, and additional consulting rooms will be added, while the Crown Street site will be closed.
Rotherham Met Borough Council's health and wellbeing board are set to make a representation supporting the plans, and say that analysis by public health "outlines
the very minimal impact that this change will have in terms of pharmacy access in the borough based on the service offer, opening hours and walking times to this
branch and the main pharmacy."
They say the current opening hours will remain the same, and there will be no disruption to services during the consolidation.
A statement from Weldricks adds that the decision to merge is down to funding cuts, and the company could go out of business if operating costs are not reduced -
'despite having been a local, family-owned business for almost 100 years'.
Community pharmacies in Cornwall have delivered more than 8000 face-to-face consultations over last 12 months.
Walk In Consultation Service (WICS) began 12 months ago when pharmacies in Cornwall started offering face-to-face consultations for a wide range of minor ailments,
and NHS treatment as required - the first service of its kind in England.
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Scilly Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) Chief Officer Nick Kaye joined Operations Manager Drew Creek in Parliament recently by invite
of Steve Double MP, St Austell and Newquay to meet with Minister for Health Neil O'Brien MP to present the service to them and Senior Civil Servants from DHSC and
NHSE with a view to rolling this service out nationally.
The data from these consultations show that over 6000 GP appointments were averted as a result of the service being available. After each consultation a record was
sent to the patient's GP for information.
If you're thinking of heading a startup, owning a local pharmacy could be an incredibly lucrative opportunity. When you set up a business in the healthcare
sector, it's important to ensure that you operate with transparency to keep yourself and your patients safe.
Whether you've acquired pharmacies before or you're turning to a new venture with different partners, learning the relevant steps before getting involved is
imperative. Successful pharmacies rely on medical expertise, professional knowledge, and an excellent quality of service.
Step 1: Do you need qualifications to be a pharmacist?
No matter if you already have a background in pharmacy or you're entering the field from an entrepreneurial perspective, you'll need to have the right qualifications.
You can become a pharmacist by completing a Master of Pharmacy degree at a university. Your chosen course needs to be approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council
and will take at least four years to complete. After your degree, you'll also need to take the one-year pharmacist foundation training scheme.
To access these courses, you'll usually need two or three A levels, including Chemistry. Alternatively, you could do a pharmacy foundation degree if you only have one
A level or equivalent.
YouGov polling commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has revealed that majority of the people responding to the poll said
that they would be concern by the pharmacy closure in their locality.
The results show the extent of the public backing for a Pharmacy First approach - PSNC has been arguing that a fully-funded service would be beneficial for pharmacies,
patients and the wider NHS.
The poll witnessed 1,774 adults' participation from England. It showed 68 per cent of people agree that they would find it easier to seek health advice for common
conditions, such as skin conditions or indigestion, at a community pharmacy rather than a GP surgery. Only 11 per cent disagreed that this would be easier.
While 75 per cent of people agree that they would like to see community pharmacies offering more healthcare services such as treating urinary tract infections or
sore throats. Only 6 per cent strongly disagreed with this.
When asked how important, if at all, are the services provided by community pharmacies to them, their family, or community, 78 per cent indicted this was very
important. Only 14 per cent said this wasn't important.
77 per cent said they would be very concerned if the pharmacy they use most often were to close permanently. Only 19 per cent said they would not be very concerned.
The recruitment of pharmacists in Primary Care Networks (PCNs) has exacerbated a general shortage of pharmacists, revealed an independent review of Integrated
Care Systems (ICSs) published on Tuesday (4 April).
The review, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, highlighted the impact that the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) roles for pharmacists are having on the community
pharmacy sector.
"Contracts with national requirements can have unintended consequences when applied to particular circumstances. For instance, the national requirements and funding
of Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) roles for community pharmacists within PCNs, has on occasion exacerbated the problem of a general shortage of
pharmacists, with some now preferring to work within primary care rather than remain in community pharmacies or acute hospitals, compounding the problem of community
pharmacy closures and delayed discharges."
It set out to consider the oversight and governance of ICS in England and the NHS targets and priorities for which Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are accountable,
including those set out in the Government's mandate to NHS England.
As part of this work, Hewitt and her team engaged with a wide range of stakeholders representing various local health and social care settings, including LPCs.
PSNC has urged community pharmacy contractors and LPCs to engage with their local MPs on the immense pressures that pharmacies are facing.
The organisaiton has also published some new resources to help pharmacists in this regard.
"PSNC is deeply aware of the funding crisis affecting the sector and is working hard to increase the pressure on [the] government to act now with an urgent funding
uplift. This has included upping investment in influencing activities and working closely with LPCs to take united action," it said.
PSNC has last month launched its Four Point Plan to safeguard the future of community pharmacy, setting out how pharmacy could be the solution to a number of
problems if, and only if, it is properly funded, resourced and supported.
As pressures continue to mount, further briefings now focus solely on the urgent need to resolve the funding squeeze in order to protect existing pharmacy services.
Usually as we head into winter, we can all predict what our patients will be asking us about. But, just like the rest of the year has been like no other in
community pharmacy, I'd expect this winter to be different too. This will present us with challenges, but also some great opportunities too.
One shift we have seen over the last seven months of Covid is that more and more people in the community are turning to their pharmacy for help, support and advice.
With our doors remaining open throughout the height of the pandemic, we've established ourselves firmly at the heart of local healthcare - a trend I'd expect to see
continue over the winter, especially now that a second wave, it seems, is upon us.
I think there's three different types of patients who we'll be seeing this winter coming to us for help and advice.
First, we'll see those with a simple winter illness - for example, a common cold. For these patients our advice will be focused around self-care and home treatments.
There is a wide range of products that we can recommend in the pharmacy from decongestants to combination products such as Night Nurse and nasal sprays.
With higher than usual number of cases of scarlet fever, caused by invasive Group A streptococci (iGAS) infections being reported in children across the
country, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England David Webb has assured pharmacies of sufficient supply of antibiotics.
In a letter, shared by the PDA, Webb also urged the pharmacies to order antibiotic stocks sensibly.
"Local pharmacy teams may be experiencing a temporary interruption of supply of some relevant antibiotics due to increased demand. On a national level, sufficient
stock exists for the NHS," he said.
He said NHS is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and has taken actions to help ensure medicines continue to be available.
He explained that the supplies of antibiotics for the treatment of Group A Strep, particularly phenoxymethylpenicillin presentations, have seen a surge in demand,
leading to potential constraints at certain wholesalers and pharmacies,
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is supporting pharmacists in England whose employment has been impacted by the creation of new NHS structures.
As a result of the 2022 Health and Care Act, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) were established in England, and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) were closed on 1
July 2022. Each of the ICSs includes two key parts: an Integrated Care Board (ICB) and an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP).
The association said: "The previous structures in England, established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, originally had over 200 clinical commissioning groups.
This number had reduced over recent years via mergers."
"However, this latest shift to just 42 commissioning entities means a significant change to significantly larger geographies and populations covered by each ICS.
Although each ICS and its activity can be subdivided into 'places', and within places into 'neighbourhoods', it is at the ICS level that the employer is formed."
"Whereas CCGs previously employed many local health professionals, including pharmacists, the new arrangements mean that ICBs are now that employer. The PDA is
supporting members who have contacted its Service Centre about the impact of these changes."
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has acknowledged the efforts of community pharmacies, wholesalers and procurement teams in securing supply of
antibiotics for the treatment of Group A Streptococcus infection in Northern Ireland.
"Locally community pharmacies, wholesalers and procurement teams have been working tirelessly to secure stock deliveries into Northern Ireland. The Department
acknowledges the immense efforts from all involved," it said.
"To put this in context, it is estimated that around one month's worth of stock based on normal demand was exhausted in less than 48 hours last week."
"While demand is well in excess of what is usual for this time of year, the system has been working hard to replenish stocks as quickly as possible, as such
wholesalers are still receiving and making deliveries, with more scheduled over the coming days."
