Group items tagged

Sustainability also brings financial benefits to businesses. This has been proven by Prabjaudt Singh Channa, Director of Priory Pharmacy. Prabjaudt is a proud winner of the Sustainable Pharmacy of the Year 2023, awarded by Pharmacy Business in association with Teva UK. Prabjaudt thanked the award organisers for acknowledging the importance of sustainability within the sector and for recognising his modest endeavours to reduce environmental impact and safeguard future generations. "I just felt really happy and proud of this recognition because originally when I set myself down on this path, I didn't really think anyone would be that bothered about the small changes that we were trying to make and the impact," says Prabjaudt. In addition to his family's background in the field, his passion for chemistry also drove him to pursue a career in pharmacy. He finds being a pharmacy contractor enjoyable because it allows him to be flexible, pursue various interests and shape his professional path.

Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock vowed to put community pharmacists "right at the heart" of plans to transform the NHS as he paid tribute to the sector at the annual Pharmacy Business Awards on Wednesday (2). The showpiece awards of the pharmacy calendar recognised and celebrated the very best of community pharmacies and the critical role they play in the healthcare system. Business leaders from the pharma industry, healthcare executives and leading politicians were amongst the 650 guests that attended the event held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in central London. Among the politicians in attendance were the newly elected trio of Sadik Al-Hassan, who is a community pharmacist, Kanishka Narayan and Dr Zubir Ahmed. The Labour MP for Brent West, Barry Gardiner helped present the top award, the Pharmacy Business of the Year.

We're approaching that time of year where the sun is supposed to be shinning and things are supposed to quieten down over the summer holidays (note I said supposed to. . . well we have the sun at least). The elections are over, and a new party is in power. Wes Streeting is the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. He's met with GPs and Dentists and has great ambitions for Primary Care but when will he meet with community pharmacists? To be fair to Wes, he did visit a local pharmacy in his constituency, with CPNEL last year as Shadow Health Secretary (and was a guest speaker at the Pharmacy Business Awards 2023). He has also had meetings with NPA and CPE, so we know he understands the value of Community Pharmacy. The question is, do we as a sector and profession need to shout louder so that we aren't forgotten about, as healthcare plans are being drawn up? Community Pharmacy is a humble sector, not unlike most other HC sectors. The difference is that we often get forgotten. I have lost count of the times I've heard in meetings or conversations "Primary care and community pharmacy. . ." totally disregarding the fact that we are part of primary care.

In a delightful announcement, the University of Brighton has honoured NHS England's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, David Webb with its prestigious Doctor of Science honorary degree Webb's award is a highlight of the university's graduation ceremony which celebrated the graduation of over 3,400 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 92 countries at the Brighton Centre this week. The accolade recognises Webb's transformative work in the pharmacy services within the NHS, highlighting the profound impact his contributions have had on delivery of healthcare across the UK. Under Webb's leadership, significant advancements have been made in integrating pharmacy into NHS care pathways, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the healthcare system. Webb expressed his honour stating, "I am delighted to receive the honorary award of Doctor of Science from the University of Brighton in recognition of both my contribution to pharmacy in the NHS"

As the pharmacy profession continues to evolve, the role of Accredited Checking Technicians (ACTs) is becoming increasingly vital. Anne Ausden, the Deputy Manager of Jephsons Pharmacy, embodies this shift. With over 18 months in her current role, Anne oversees the pharmacy's daily operations, optimises medication use, and ensures high-quality patient care. Her work extends beyond the dispensary, offering blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, flu vaccines, and health education sessions. Anne, a 2023 Pharmacy Business Awards winner, shares her insights on the expanding role of ACTs with Pharmacy Business reporter Rudra Mulmule, particularly in light of recent legislative changes that allow pharmacy technicians to now administer medicines under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) and with the introduction of the Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) programme.

The King's New Year Honours List 2025 has been announced, recognising unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK. Over 1,200 individuals were honoured this year across various sectors, including healthcare, academia, sports, and voluntary service. Two pharmacists were honoured for their exceptional contributions to public health: Laura Catherine McIver, former chief pharmacist at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to the pharmacy profession and patient safety. Alan Malcom Kurtz, proprietor and manager of Fishers Chemist in South Norwood, London, received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to community pharmacy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thanked the recipients, saying: "Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities.

The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT) is set to provide financial aid for the families of those working in the convenience, grocery, and pharmacy trades starting next month. In an announcement, the Trust shared that the applications for the academic year 2024/25 for undergraduate bursaries will start from August 1 till October 15. LTCT bursary schemes are intended for university students whose parent or carer is "employed in an eligible profession, such as convenience retailer, supermarket store worker, or pharmacy technician". According to the charity's bursary scheme, successful applicants can receive up to £3,000, which can be put towards tuition fees, course materials, equipments, or even travel costs. "With the charity's core belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their academic potential", LTCT believes. The bursary scheme will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on students interested in pursuing higher education and their parents. In 2024, the total number of bursaries awarded since the scheme launched is expected to exceed 5,000, totalling £28million worth of financial aid.

Boots and the PDA Union negotiating teams have reached an agreement on this year's pay claim, following constructive negotiations between both parties. The new pay deal will come into effect from 1 November 2024. Under the agreement, all eligible pharmacists and pharmacist store managers within the bargaining unit will receive a 4 per cent pay award, recognising their unique role within the community pharmacy sector and the business. Pharmacists and pharmacist store managers will qualify for the negotiated rates if they are members of the bargaining unit, employed as of 1 November 2024, and not serving a notice period. However, the pay award will not apply to those who have joined or had a pay increase on or since 1 August 2024, were rated as not performing at EOY 2024, or are a trainee pharmacist. All qualified pharmacists in the bargaining unit with over 10 years of service at Boots will receive a minimum of £53,000 FTE per annum, while all substantively appointed and performing Boots Pharmacist Store Managers will be paid a minimum of £55,000 FTE per annum.

The Galien Foundation recently announced the winners of the 2024 Prix Galien UK Awards, with the University of Oxford receiving accolades for its groundbreaking contributions to public sector innovation through the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC Trials. These trials, spearheaded by Oxford's team of experts, have set a new standard for scientific innovation aimed at improving global health outcomes. Led by University of Oxford, the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC Trials epitomize a remarkable collaboration aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Ryan Donnelly, esteemed for his groundbreaking contributions to pharmaceutical science, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Harrison Memorial Medal for 2024. This distinguished accolade, presented in honour of the renowned pharmaceutical chemist Col EF Harrison, serves as a testament to Professor Donnelly's exceptional achievements. Currently holding the position of Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology at Queen's University Belfast's School of Pharmacy and Director of Research, Professor Donnelly has garnered acclaim for his pioneering work in developing advanced polymeric drug delivery systems. Specialising in transdermal and intradermal drug delivery methodologies, his research aims at optimising patient outcomes through innovative pharmaceutical technologies.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has awarded marketing authorisation to CStone Pharmaceuticals for sugemalimab (Eqjubi) as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the UK. NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for around 80 to 85 out of 100 cases. Sugemalimab is now approved as a first-line treatment, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, for adult patients with metastatic NSCLC who do not have EGFR-sensitive mutations or ALK, ROS1, or RET genomic alterations. This UK approval follows its recent authorisation by the European Commission, marking the second international approval for sugemalimab. CStone's CEO Dr. Jason Yang described the UK's approval as a significant milestone in their global expansion strategy. "Sugemalimab is the first domestic anti-PD-L1 antibody to receive approval outside of China and has already entered the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market, the EU. "Now, with the UK approval, sugemalimab continued to expand its presence in the European market. The long-term survival data, recently presented at this year's ESMO Congress, further confirmed sugemalimab's value in the frontline treatment landscape for metastatic NSCLC," he said.

Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS), along with 47 public and voluntary sector organisations, has endorsed a letter to UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, seeking funding support for employer national insurance contributions ahead of the planned increases from the 1st of April 2025. The letter, co-signed by first minister John Swinney and COSLA president Shona Morrison, raises concerns over the impact of the impending increase, which is estimated to cost public service providers in Scotland over £700 million. The Scottish Government calculated that the policy's cost for the directly employed public sector could be around £550 million, with councils accounting for about £265 million of that total. If contractors and commissioned services are included, the total costs could exceed £700 million. The letter also underscores the significant impact on charitable organisations, stating that "there is a real risk that these costs will see employers unable to award meaningful pay rises, retain staff or even continue to operate." The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has estimated that the Third Sector, comprising charities, social enterprises and grassroot community groups, will face additional costs of £75 million per year, plus wider inflation.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have received a grant of up to £600,000 from Cancer Research UK to develop the world's first vaccine to prevent ovarian cancer. Named OvarianVax, the innovative vaccine aims to train the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK, with approximately 7,500 new cases diagnosed annually-equating to about 21 cases each day. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, with around 4,100 deaths each year, accounting for five per cent of all cancer deaths in UK females. Projections suggest that by 2038-2040, there could be around 9,400 new cases of ovarian cancer annually in the UK. Several factors influence a person's risk of developing ovarian cancer, including age, genetics, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), smoking, asbestos exposure, medical conditions such as endometriosis or diabetes, and obesity. Faults in the inherited genes, particularly BRCA1 and BRCA2, are linked to a higher risk of ovarian cancer, contributing to 5-15 per cent of cases.

The topic of death is often a sensitive and somber one, but it is also a reality that we must face. When someone passes away, there are many legal considerations that come into play surrounding their assets, property, and final wishes. Before delving into the specifics, you must first understand that laws and regulations surrounding death and inheritance can vary greatly depending on location. Different countries, states, and even cities may have their own unique set of laws and procedures in place. involved. That's why you need a legal overview to guide you through the process of protecting your rights in the case of death. Wrongful Death Lawsuits and Compensation In the unfortunate event of a wrongful death, where a person dies due to the negligence or misconduct of another, the bereaved family may seek compensation through legal action. Hiring a lawyer for wrongful death is the best course of action to navigate the complex legal process and ensure that your rights are protected. Wrongful death lawsuits can cover a wide range of incidents, from car accidents to medical malpractice. The compensation awarded in these cases may include funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of companionship. Know that each case is unique and the amount of compensation awarded will depend on the deceased's income and potential earnings, their age, and the extent of their financial support to their dependents.

The King's New Year Honours List 2025 has been announced, recognising unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK. Over 1,200 individuals were honoured this year across various sectors, including healthcare, academia, sports, and voluntary service. Michelle Riddalls, CEO of PAGB - the Consumer Healthcare Association, has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her exceptional work in advocating for the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines sector. She played a vital role during Brexit negotiations, ensuring continued access to OTC medicines in Northern Ireland and supporting self-care initiatives across the UK. Riddalls has provided oral evidence numerous times to the House of Lords Select Committee on the NI Protocol Bill and actively engaged with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) during the rollout of the Windsor Framework.

Pharmacist Support has released its 2023 Impact Report, revealing significant growth in digital access and well-being initiatives. The report shows a 49 per cent increase in website visits and a corresponding 47 per cent rise in pages viewed compared to the previous year. These improvements reflect the charity's investment in digital infrastructure to enhance access to critical services for pharmacists nationwide. Additionally, calls to the peer support scheme, Listening Friends, increased by 74 per cent , aided by the introduction of an online referral form. The charity also reported a 23 per cent rise in financial grants awarded, amounting to £193,528, through a new online grants portal.