Chemist & Druggist articles from April 2008

Chemist & Druggist archives from April 2008

Comment from the Editor.(Editorial)
April 5, 2008... Over 100 pages long and with more than 60 recommendations as to what a future professional body for pharmacy should look like, the Clarke inquiry report was released this week (p6). Much of the content is eminently sensible: that the future...

Blueprint for healthy living.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... More out-of-hours care and longer opening hours are part of the `healthy living centres' idea for pharmacy Colin Brown Ministers predicted that pharmacists would be "very happy" with the pharmacy white paper, which was due to be...

Pay details remain a mystery.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... The pharmacy white paper is light on details about how much more the profession will be paid for extra health duties. The white paper promised to reward those pharmacies which invested more in developing their services. However, it did not...

No mystery shops to test law change, says RPSGB.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... As updated laws concerning the sale of nasal decongestants came into force this week, the Society reassured members that they would not send mystery shoppers to check up on pharmacies. David Pruce, RPSGB director of practice and quality...

IN BRIEF: Naproxen switched.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Naproxen 250mg tablets have been switched from prescription-only (POM) to pharmacy (P) status, the MHRA has announced. The tablets will be available under the brand name Feminax Ultra to treat period pain in women aged between 15 and 50 years....

IN BRIEF: Staged payments closer.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Pharmacists have come a step closer to being able to settle their retention fees in quarterly payments. The RPSGB Council has agreed draft legislative amendments to enable the staged payments, which would also apply to pharmacy technicians once...

IN BRIEF: Election places.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Eight candidates will fight it out for four spaces on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Council in elections to be held next month. A full list of candidates for Council and RPSGB national boards in England, Scotland and Wales is available at...

Prescription charges.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Scotland has reduced prescription charges. Health and wellbeing secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced the drop in fee from #6.85 to #5 at Craigton Pharmacy on April 1, the day England's charge rose to #7.10. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Crucial role for pharmacists in government health checks plan.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... #250 million screening programme will rely heavily on pharmacy access Max Gosney Pharmacists are set for a starring role in a #250 million programme to screen all over 40s for vascular diseases, the health secretary has revealed. ...

Lobbying power wins through.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Industry bodies claimed a victory for lobbying power after the government promised a key role for pharmacies in delivering health checks. Westminster had bowed to pressure from industry bodies to include pharmacy in vascular risk...

Supplier talks continue with Alliance Boots.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Alliance Boots (AB) is locked in negotiations with some OTC suppliers over revised payment terms, which it was looking to impose from April 1. The stand-off follows the company's announcement that from April 1 it would pay suppliers 75...

Inquiry gives leadership baton to the Society.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... RPGSB `must not' develop professional body without help Zoe Smeaton The RPSGB should play a major role in the formation of a new pharmacy professional body, but must not do the job on its own. This is the conclusion of the Clarke...

DISPENSARY TALK: 05.04.08.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Will you be voting at the next RPSGB Council elections? "Probably not. There's a blurring about what's happening at the moment with the Society. And I don't know any of the candidates. The Society seems like a London thing to me." ...

The Clarke inquiry on.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... RPSGB offices: "There is nothing sacred about the location in Lambeth and we recommend an appropriate emphasis on Scotland and Wales and the English regions." Fees: "It is not for us to make recommendations about what the fee levels should...

Enough to give you a headache.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Heathrow's Terminal 5 manager has praised its Boots pharmacy team for coping with an influx of patients over its chaotic first weekend. The branch was called upon for emergency supplies after a baggage handling system failure and dozens of...

IN BRIEF: MUR support scheme.(medicines use review)(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... An MUR support and evaluation programme has been launched by the Primary Care Pharmacists Association and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Backed by Pfizer, the programme will create examples of good practice and provide evidence of the...

IN BRIEF: Nurofen Plus warning.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Simon Nelson, coroner of the North Manchester area, has told the inaugural meeting of the East Lancashire RPSGB local branch about lessons to be learned from the "Death by Nurofen Plus" case, over which he presided. Mr Nelson said similar...

IN BRIEF: Emergency registration.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Only the very recently retired and some pre-registration trainees or non-practising pharmacists should be automatically transferred to the practising register in the event of a national emergency, the NPA has warned. The NPA said that allowing...

IN BRIEF: Patient support survey.(Survey)(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Pharmacists in Wales, where annual patient satisfaction surveys are compulsory, have been offered help by the NPA. The association offers guidance notes including practical tips to help contractors comply with the obligation. Contact NPA member...

Pharmacists `in dark' over change to drugs guidance.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... MHRA regrets timing of news release on childrens cough and cold remedies Zoe Smeaton Pharmacists were left in the dark last week when MHRA guidance was reported in national newspapers before the profession had been informed. The...

100-hour data.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Ministers have revealed that the number of 100-hour pharmacy applications granted rose by more than two-thirds between 2005-06 and 2006-07. In response to questioning by Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness Mark Simmonds, the Department...

Core role in reducing inequalities.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Avicenna chief executive and other conference speakers encouraged members to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat Pharmacy is "central" to reducing health inequalities in England, the country's deputy chief medical officer...

Use marketing techniques to improve public health.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Pharmacy should use marketing techniques to "sell" behaviour to improve public health, independent contractors have been told. Social marketing expert Professor Jeff French said the term meant "using marketing for the benefit of people...

Innovate to accumulate.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Independent pharmacists must look forward and innovate in order to survive and thrive in changing circumstances, Avicenna conference speakers said. Chief executive Salim Jetha said: "The world is rapidly changing and we have to look not...

Independents can learn from the multiples.(Survey)(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Independent pharmacy should learn some lessons from the multiple model and outlook, contractors have been told. A recent survey of Avicenna members found 85 per cent were pessimistic about the future of independent pharmacy. But the buying...

Third sector key partner.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Pharmacists should develop links with local voluntary organisations to respond to their communities' health needs, RPSGB president Hemant Patel said. Just two conference delegates knew what patient groups existed in their areas. Mr Patel...

Buying group aims for 1,000-strong membership.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Avicenna aims to increase its membership from 700 to 1,000, newly- appointed chairman David Gration said. The buying group's strategy was to grow the business "both organically and through mergers and acquisitions", he said, although it...

Xrayser: The Tao of Pooh.
April 5, 2008... Is this the beginning of the end for cough medicines? We know that some are not as effective as others, and last week's advice from the MHRA about their use in children (C+D, March 29, p7) highlights the potential harm. If we stopped...

Irish eye: Mother's ruin.
April 5, 2008... The third Sunday of Lent is that day set aside in the Christian calendar to honour the Mother. The blessings and gifts she brings to our lives is celebrated in myriad ways as we applaud this selfless wonder of nature. So traditionally on this...

Pharmacy Update: Incontinence.
April 5, 2008... The incidence and types of urinary incontinence, and management of the condition Key points * Around six million people in the UK are thought to suffer from incontinence. * There are several types of urinary incontinence,...

Clinical: MUR tips - urinary incontinence.
April 5, 2008... Drug treatments for urinary incontinence depend on the type of incontinence the individual suffers from. Duloxetine is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor licensed for moderate to severe stress incontinence in women, whereas...

Clinical Alerts: SPC Changes.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Depixol range (flupentixol) Warning on increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide in patients on flupenthixol, and shortly after treatment is discontinued. Cialis tablets (tadalafil) Undesirable effects section rewritten....

Clinical Alerts: New Products.
April 5, 2008... Oftaquix eyedrops 30x1ml (levofloxacin 5mg/ml) Now available as single dose units. Kestrel Ophthalmics, tel: 01202 658444. Leukomed T New range of adhesive, vapour-permeable, film dressings, available in six sizes. BSN Medical, tel: 01482...

Clinical News: Schizophrenia may have multiple genetic causes.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... A variety of individually rare genetic copy-number variants and deletions may be an important cause of schizophrenia, researchers have reported in the journal ScienceNow. The researchers found the duplications and deletions in 15 per cent...

Clinical News: Antipsychotics equally good.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Atypical antipsychotics appear to have no benefit over haloperidol for first episode schizophrenia. In a study published by The Lancet, nearly 500 patients between 18 and 40 years were randomly assigned to one of four atypical second generation...

Clinical News: Lungs `target organ' for diabetic injury.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... People with diabetes may lose lung capacity more quickly than those who do not have the condition, according to a paper published in the April issue of Diabetes Care. The study, which was part of a larger study of atherosclerosis in the...

Clinical News: Once-daily insulin glargine as good as lispro.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... A single daily injection of insulin glargine is as effective as three injections of insulin lispro and is well accepted by patients, the authors of a Lancet study have reported. www.lancet.com Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Clinical News: Pioglitazone may halt atheroma build-up.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Pioglitazone may be more effective than glimepiride in controlling the rate at which arterial plaque builds up in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, a study published by JAMA has shown. http://jama.ama-assn.org ...

Clinical News: Glucosamine evidence inconclusive.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Glucosamine should not be prescribed because the evidence is inconsistent and not convincing despite a large number of trials, according to a review by the Midlands therapeutics Review and Advisory Committee. http://tinyurl.com/3yqv8q ...

Clinical News: Aliskiren post-launch review.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... A post-launch review has concluded there is no evidence to support the use of aliskiren in hypertension ahead of more established therapies. However, the Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre has concluded it may have a role as add-on therapy...

Clinical News: Combination inhalers OK.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Combination inhalers may be used for adults and children aged 12 years and older with chronic asthma, Nice has decreed. In a final guidance document, the organisation states this applies where inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting...

Salary Survey round table: The way forward.(Survey)
April 5, 2008... After C+D's Salary Survey revealed a state of general unhappiness both with rates of pay and the increasingly stressful nature of the job, C+D invited four experts to discuss the findings and, vitally, where we can go from here Joining...

Generics: Weathering the storM.
April 5, 2008... Huge cuts in category M prices have left contractors reeling. Steve Bremer asks how you can stay profitable Last October's cuts in category M prices could not have come at a worse time for many contractors. The scale of the clawback and the...

Product News: First aid stick for bumps and bruises.
April 5, 2008... The Arnicare Arnica Kids Stick has been launched by Nelsons. Intended for treating bumps and bruises, the pocket-sized product has a green colour, designed to bring a smile to children's faces. The product contains Arnica Montana, which has...

Product News: Lasting relief from period pain.
April 5, 2008... Feminax Ultra has been launched by Bayer Healthcare following the POM to P switch of naproxen. Indicated for long lasting relief from period pain, each gastro-resistant tablet contains 250mg naproxen and remains active for eight to 12 hours....

Product News: Amundsen is going for pole position.
April 5, 2008... Amundsen Omega3 AS is coming to the UK VMS market following a distribution deal with Blue Ocean. The Norwegian range claims to be purified to a standard that is 10 times better than EU regulations. There are four variants - Natural EPA/DHA,...

Product News: Make space for Piriton's big launch.
April 5, 2008... Piriton Allergy tablets are newly available in a 60-tablet pharmacy- only pack, offering improved value and convenience. It joins the existing 30-tablet pack. According to a report from Allergy UK, allergic rhinitis continues to rise....

IN BRIEF: Lynx has fun on TV.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... Men's deodorant Lynx 3 is on TV in a #6 million campaign. Based on the `it's good to mix things up' concept, the advertising takes a humorous slant and shows how two cans used together produce a third scent. PR, online and media partnerships...

IN BRIEF: Pampers' softer touch.
April 5, 2008... Babycare brand Pampers has updated its sensitive wipes, claiming they are now as mild as cotton wool and water. Glycerine has been added for improved moisturisation while softness has been improved. Procter & Gamble; tel: 0191 297 5000. ...

IN BRIEF: Upgrade for Kandoo.(Brief article)
April 5, 2008... The Kandoo range of children's toiletries now boasts upgraded toilet wipes and coloured soap. The textured wipes are said to offer a `better experience' than toilet paper while the coloured soap is said to be brighter and more appealing to...

Product News: Shower power.
April 5, 2008... Veet In Shower Cream features a new, easier to use design and is newly available in a 300ml pack size. There are two variants: moisturising shea butter and lily for dry skin and lotus milk and jasmine for normal skin. The product should be...

Product News: Merial's gesture of love on TV.
April 5, 2008... Television advertising for animal health brand Frontline Spot On restarts this month in a campaign running until October. Taking the same `gestures of love' theme as last year's successful campaign, says manufacturer Merial, the TV ads will be...

Product News: Brighter nails with Scholl.
April 5, 2008... Scholl's new `three in one' Nail Brightening System is said to reduce yellowing and discolouration, give a healthy look to nails and improve their condition. Step one is a file to remove excess keratin. A sponge applicator is then used to...

Product News: Dendron gives ulcers the cold shoulder.
April 5, 2008... Iglu gel is a new mouth ulcer treatment from Dendron. Containing local anaesthetic lidocaine and antiseptic aminoacridine, the product is said to relieve pain and speed up the healing process. It forms a protective coating at the site of...

Comment from the Editor: 12.04.08.(Editorial)
April 12, 2008... A month ago I questioned whether the pharmacy white paper would deliver a vision that matched the industry's expectations. We now have our answer and, if a secure and sustained financial commitment is provided to turn the latest blueprint...

White paper hands over `landmark' opportunity.(Report)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Proposals will complete transformation of profession, says England's chief pharmacist Jennifer Richardson The long-awaited pharmacy white paper will build on the profession's current strengths and cement its clinical role, the...

Few clues over payment.(United Kingdom. Department of Health)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The white paper offers few clues as to how pharmacists will be remunerated for the new and expanded roles it offers the profession. Department of Health representatives said such detail was a matter for further discussion. The document...

Government to revamp MURs.(medicines use reviews)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The government wants to overhaul medicines use reviews (MURs) because there is little evidence of their effectiveness, and quality has been lost in the rush to undertake them in large volumes. The white paper sets out a plan to get NHS...

100-hour changes `do not go far enough'.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Industry voices frustration as global sum takes the strain Zoe Smeaton Proposals to tighten up the 100-hour pharmacy control of entry exemption do not go far enough, industry insiders have warned. The white paper outlined plans to...

White Paper Comment.(Brief article)(Column)
April 12, 2008... Mahesh Shah chief executive, Nucare I'm pleased that the white paper acknowledges significant drawbacks with the 100-hour exemption rule. However, I do not agree that there is no overall adverse impact on the network. There is a finite...

Galbraith review finally arrives.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Anne Galbraith's review of NHS pharmaceutical contractual arrangements was published alongside the white paper. The report followed consultation with a range of stakeholders, and the findings were intended to inform a formal consultation on...

IN BRIEF: Cut Carbon Challenge 08.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... C+D is again running its Cut Carbon Challenge month, starting in May. But we need your help to find out how green pharmacy is. Play your part and complete our online survey at www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

CORRECTION: Sandersons.(Correction notice)
April 12, 2008... C+D Data apologises for inadvertently showing the three products under the Sandersons brand as deleted. These products have not been withdrawn from the market and have been reinstated in the C+D database. We apologise for any inconvenience...

IN BRIEF: Assura to hit 40.(The Assura Group)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The Assura Group has outlined plans to boost its pharmacy portfolio to 40 sites by March 2009. The investment firm, which currently runs 28 pharmacies from all-in-one healthcare centres, made the announcement as part of its pre-closing trading...

IN BRIEF: UniChem branches out.(UniChem PLC)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... UniChem has bought Central Homecare, which provides home healthcare services for patients managing complex drug therapies. UniChem MD Terry Scicluna said its involvement in the sector could help ensure pharmacy remains at the forefront of...

IN BRIEF: AlbaPharm evolving.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... AlbaPharm is looking to evolve from being a buying group into a support group for contractors, helping members deliver services and run their businesses. Chief executive David Currie said training initiatives and a new website were being...

Jury is still out on Clarke Inquiry verdict.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Local pharmacists key to future success of pharmacy professional body Zoe Smeaton The RPSGB needs to boost its appeal with grassroots pharmacists if it is to survive in the future as a pharmacy professional body, contractors have...

Rising frustration at IT delays.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Pharmacists are keen to engage with IT developments, but are frustrated by the slow progress of major projects, UniChem has found. The group's latest round of customer forums focused on IT issues, such as the electronic prescription service...

Category M remains top concern.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Category M is still causing problems for pharmacists, according to a UniChem event where members and industry leaders talked about the challenges facing pharmacists today. UniChem's Chris Martin, chairman of the customer forums, told C+D...

IN BRIEF: Clinical skills training.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Pharmacist prescribers in Scotland are set to benefit from clinical skills training. NHS Education for Scotland hasappointed pharmacist Fiona Stewart on a six-month secondment to develop a course, for which 50 places will be funded this spring....

IN BRIEF: eAMS resource released.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)(electronic acute medication service)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The resource pack for Scotland's electronic acute medication service (eAMS) is available on the NHS Education for Scotland website. Hard copies will be posted to pharmacies next month and should be completed by June 30 to qualify for the...

IN BRIEF: UniChem student scheme.(BJ Unichem Chemical Services)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... UniChem's customer forums have joined forces with the British Pharmaceutical Students Association to launch a scheme to facilitate summer placements in independent pharmacies. Interested independent UniChem customers should call 0208 974 4045...

IN BRIEF: PSNI script charge call.(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has welcomed the freezing of prescription charges in the country, but called on health minister Michael McGimpsey to end the fees completely. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

NHS overhaul in Wales to aid commissioning.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Proposed reduction in local health boards should simplify commissioning Zoe Smeaton Pharmacists in Wales could find lobbying easier and see more services commissioned nationally if proposals from the Welsh Assembly Government go...

Pharmacist struck off for theft of diazepam.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... A former York pharmacist has been struck off by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society following a conviction for stealing 168 diazepam tablets. Carl Dyson, now of Balham, London, told the disciplinary committee he had voluntarily stopped...

IN BRIEF: Methotrexate SOP.(standard operating procedure)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... A template standard operating procedure (SOP) for the supply of oral methotrexate has been produced by the National Pharmacy Association. The model SOP incorporates the National Patient Safety Agency guidance relating to community pharmacy. ...

IN BRIEF: GP Care acquisition.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Assura Pharmacy's initiative with a GP consortium in the West Country, GP Care Pharmacy, has acquired five-strong Somerset chain Skeeles for an undisclosed sum. The joint venture, which has raised prescription directing concerns, now has five...

Munro buyout triggers wholesale worries.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Phoenix picks up mainline wholesale arm from the Munro Group Jennifer Richardson Concern for the UK wholesale market has been expressed after the Munro Group sold its mainline wholesale arm to Phoenix. Changes to the supply chain...

Super services to solve commissioning crisis.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Directed enhanced services will offer guarantees but maintain local flexibility Max Gosney The government is to launch a beefed up version of enhanced services to force lacklustre PCTs to commission more clinical care from pharmacies....

WHITE PAPER: E-access on cards.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The government has pledged to investigate pharmacy access to electronic patient records. The white paper said ministers would work with an early adopter PCT to consider the benefits, governance and practical arrangements of access to...

WHITE PAPER: White paper goes green.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Pharmacists are to become part of the fight against climate change as part of the NHS carbon reduction strategy announced in the white paper. The draft strategy provides guidance on reducing pharmacies' carbon footprint and promoting...

WHITE PAPER: Dispensing doctors' fury.(Report)(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Dispensing doctors have attacked the pharmacy white paper for sounding the death-knell for dispensing GPs by creating competition rather than co-operation between the professions. The white paper proposes to consult on the tightening up the...

Plans to win over PCTs.(Primary Care Trusts )(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... The commissioning of services from PCTs should start to swing more in pharmacy's favour, if promises made in the white paper are kept. But the moves are long overdue, and pharmacists as well as PCTs must shoulder some of the work, experts have...

White Paper Comment.(Brief article)
April 12, 2008... Mark Collins Pharmacist, Barkerhouse Pharmacy, Nelson My pharmacy is well placed in the heart of my community, and my aim is to become the first port of call for all healthcare advice. Looking at the vision set out in the white...