Chemist & Druggist articles from January 2007

Chemist & Druggist archives from January 2007

New year brings in new rules on controlled drugs.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Legislation Law will ensure tighter monitoring and auditing of CDs Ailsa Colquhoun Regulations to strengthen the management of controlled drugs in England are now in force. Effective in England from January 1, the new arrangements...

Society replies to substance misuse draft.(Royal Pharmaceutical Socaiety of Great Britain)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... RPSGB Needle exchange has place in guidelines The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has called for initiatives such as needle exchange schemes to be included in guidance on cutting substance misuse among young people. In its response to...

RPSGB guidance on CD destruction.(Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001)(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... New RPSGB guidance on the safe destruction of controlled drugs aims to help pharmacists comply with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and maintain good practice. The guidance, which is available online at www.rpsgb.org, applies to...

MUR hopes and fears for the new year.(medicines use reviews)
January 6, 2007... Survey Support for expanding pharmacists' roles topped the New Year wishlists of pharmacy figures Community pharmacists and pharmacy organisations are worried it won't be a happy new year for pharmacy, unless they get the support they need...

In brief: Script review results.(prescription charge system )(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Health minister Andy Burnham has promised that the results of the review of the prescription charge system will be published before the summer recess. However, the government will not be abolishing charges, he has stated in response to a...

In brief: Take a break - RPSGB.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Code of Ethics)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Making a pharmacist work for extended periods without appropriate rest breaks could breach the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Code of Ethics. Working for long periods without a rest could also seriously affect a pharmacist's ability to...

In brief: Medal nominations.
January 6, 2007... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is seeking nominations for the 2007 British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) Practice Research Medal, which is sponsored by C+D. The award recognises individuals with the potential to become a leader in...

In brief: NI health spending plans.(Northern Ireland, Department of Health)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... The Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has published spending plans amounting to #2.3 billion of the department's #3.5bn income for 2006-07. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Hooked: Hard-hitting campaign.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Shock adverts showing smokers being violently seized by a fish hook will run throughout January. The Department of Health chose the new year to launch the hard-hitting campaign showing the controlling nature of nicotine addiction. ...

Fraud allegations turn spotlight on pharmacy smoking services.
January 6, 2007... Practice NHS fraud squad investigates claims that quitter numbers were inflated Tom Hawkins Pharmacists providing smoking cessation services could face closer scrutiny after the NHS revealed it is investigating claims of possible...

Boots wants one million people to kick the habit.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Retailing `Battle bus' of experts to offer stop-smoking advice around UK Tom Hawkins Boots has made a new year resolution to support one million people in quitting cigarettes ahead of the ban on smoking in public places from July. ...

Boots Preregistration Trainee of the Year Award.(Julie Carson wins the award)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Julie Carson has won the Boots Preregistration Trainee of the Year Award after 16 finalists gave presentations to a panel of judges last Monday. Each group winner gave a 10-minute presentation on the impact of local commissioning of pharmacy...

In brief: Lord Fraser charged.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Tayside police have charged Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, chairman of the RPSGB Statutory Committee, in relation to an alleged incident on a plane that landed in Dundee before Christmas. A report has been submitted to the procurator-fiscal's office...

In brief: RPSGB reveals to APPG.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain )(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... The RPSGB has laid out its concerns about pharmacists' workloads, practice-based commissioning and NHS overspend in its response to the APPG Future of Pharmacy consultation. In its response the RPSGB said it welcomed the vote of confidence...

In brief: Asthma resource pack.(Asthma UK )(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Asthma UK is issuing a resource pack to community pharmacists to support those undertaking MURs for people with asthma. The pack will also be used to help asthma patients better understand their medicines. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Helping out?(pharmacy help to National Health Service)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Practice Pharmacy could assist NHS Direct Pharmacy could help ease the out-of-hours burden on NHS Direct, which received nearly a quarter of a million phone calls and 340,000 hits on its website during the 10-day Christmas period. The...

Link pharmacist registration to RPSGB membership, DH told.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... RPSGB More than 50 per cent of respondents in favour of keeping registration/membership link Respondents to a government consultation on pharmacy regulation have voted narrowly to keep the link between registration as a pharmacist and...

Opinion: Your letters - Society's role is not to represent technicians.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Brian Curwain, in adding to statements he made at the RPSGB Council about the future of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (C+D, December 16, p12), states that it is the view of many Council members that "pharmacists and technicians would want to...

Your letters - Discount arrangement is slippery slope for contractors.
January 6, 2007... It may not be bleak mid-winter but things are looking bleak for 2007 already. The announcement last month that dispensing doctors are getting a discount rate of 10.5 per cent from Pfizer whereas pharmacy contractors are getting 8.5 per...

Features: Pharmacy Champions - Pharmacists leading the way.(Charles Michie, Charles Michie Pharmacy)(Interview)
January 6, 2007... Name: Charles Michie Pharmacy: Charles Michie Pharmacy, Aberdeen What has he done?: Set up a pilot travel vaccination clinic What have you set up? With the support of NHS Grampian, I am involved in a pilot to provide a travel...

Comment from the editor - 2007 - an eventful year for pharmacy?(Editorial)
January 6, 2007... As community pharmacies return to some degree of normality after the usual manic Christmas `how will we ever cope over the Bank Holiday' prescription rush, it's probably as apt a time as any to look and see what's in store for 2007. And as...

Your views: Back to work on a blog.(community pharmacy)
January 6, 2007... Dee Spencer's weblog chronicles this working mum's journey back into community pharmacy You can keep up with Dee's blog on www.dotpharmacy.com. There are frequent new entries and you can add your own thoughts by clicking on the `Comments'...

Opinion: Northern Ireland Notebook - Let's get real.(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)
January 6, 2007... There appears to be a consensus that PSNI stands firm and fights some of the Foster recommendations, especially that we merge with the RPSGB. Saccharine nostalgia for a golden age that never really existed seems the only logical reason for this...

Xrayser: Resolutions for 2007.
January 6, 2007... The Ghost of Christmas Future visited me after a few too many sherries one night over the festive period. I wish he'd kept his gloomy predictions to himself but his visit jolted me into some significant efforts to make myself a better person....

Xrayser: getting ready for the summer of smoking cessation.
January 6, 2007... Last week's Pharmacy Update article on smoking cessation (C+D, December 23/30, p19) is one that will be filed very near the top of my in-tray. My staff and I are prepared for the annual new year rush to quit but next summer's smoking ban should...

Features: Back to the floor.(Numark employees at GH Rock (Chemists))
January 6, 2007... Numark's top brass ditch the desk job for a day's work in the dispensary of a busy Barnsley pharmacy Max Gosney An hour into his shift on the pharmacy floor and Simon Colebeck is in need of a break. "Shall I make the tea?" the Numark...

Features: Health calendar 2007.(No Smoking Day)(National Cystic Fibrosis Week)(Prostate Cancer Awareness Week)(Calendar)
January 6, 2007... Food Allergy and Intolerance Week January 23-27, tel: 01322 619898 Bug Busting Days January 31, June 15, October 31, tel: 020 7686 4321 www.nits.net/bugbusting Raynaud's & Scleroderma Awareness Month February, tel: 01270 872776...

Pharmacy update: Two no longer better than one.(use of fixed-dose combination tablets)
January 6, 2007... A GP puts the case for using fixed-dose combination tablets when trying to meet targets for hypertension, lipids and diabetes Mike Mead Fixed-dose combination tablets are used widely throughout the world and are an increasing part of a...

Pharmacy update: Continuing Professional Development.(fixed-dose combination drugs)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Reflect When carrying out medicines use reviews for patients with hypertension or diabetes, do you consider whether the optimum dose is best achieved with separate tablets or one tablet with a fixed combination of ingredients? How often do...

Clinical news: MHRA guidance advises continued use of LABAs.(Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)(long-acting beta2 agonists )
January 6, 2007... In June 2006, results from a meta-analysis added to growing concerns over the safety of long-acting beta2 agonists (LABAs) in patients with asthma. The MHRA responded with a pledge to conduct a full review of the evidence. A few...

Clinical news: Five years on bisphosphonates enough.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Most women taking bisphosphonates may not need to take the treatment for more than five years, suggests a new follow-up study published in JAMA. The follow-up study of 1,099 patients involved in the treatment arm of the FIT (Fracture...

Clinical news: PPI over one year may risk fractures.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors may be associated with an increased risk of hip fractures, warn the authors of a large epidemiological study published in JAMA. The case-control study matched 13,556 patients with hip fracture, with...

In brief: A Nice appraisal.(adalimumab and etanercept to be used to treat active ankylosing spondylitis )(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... A Nice appraisal consultation document has recommended adalimumab and etanercept should only be used in treating severe active ankylosing spondylitis if the patient meets a range of stringent criteria. www.nice.org.uk Copyright: CMP...

In brief: An editorial.(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )(Editorial)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... An editorial in the latest British Journal of Psychiatry strongly suggests that adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder should be diagnosed and given appropriate stimulant treatment. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

In brief: New malaria guidelines.(Health Protection Agency)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... New malaria guidelines have been issued by the Health Protection Agency. The new guidelines update and replace the existing guidelines for malaria prevention in travellers from the UK for 2003, and malaria prophylaxis for long-term travellers....

Clinical news: Paracetamol dose safety questioned.(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... A Lancet comment article has questioned the safety of the standard paracetamol dose. The hepatologist authors noted an earlier study showing raised serum alanine aminotransferase levels in patients taking the standard dose of 4gm/day, and...

Features: Are pharmacists being squeezed out?(practice-based commissioning )
January 6, 2007... PCT mergers mean fewer primary care pharmacists. Will PBC mean the same for community pharmacists? By a PCT pharmacist The headlines are full of stories about nurses dropping out of the NHS due to Agenda for Change and PCT mergers. But...

Products & Marketing: Public face of Sensodyne.
January 6, 2007... A promotional campaign for sensitive teeth toothpaste Sensodyne is running until October. The initial ads feature Gill and Henrietta explaining how using the toothpaste has made a difference to their lives. Further members of the public will be...

Products & Marketing: Supplements guard travellers.
January 6, 2007... A new range of supplements designed for use when travelling is available. Based on natural ingredients, the range comprises three variants. TravelGuard delivers plant oil extracts and probiotics, said to support the health of the stomach...

Products & Marketing: Highlighting acid erosion.(GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... TV advertising for Sensodyne Pronamel runs from January 2 until October. The 30-second creative features a GSK expert discussing the problem of acid erosion. Advertising in the press continues with one-page ads in titles such as...

Products & Marketing: Windows of opportunity.(Seven Seas Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Seven Seas has launched window display kits for its cod liver oil range. The kits reinforce the message of TV ads featuring the King Cod character, which return to screens this week. Together they position CLO as the `big fish in omega-3', says...

Products & Marketing: A small screen message.(Ceuta Healthcare Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Canesten Duo begins a television advertising run this week. The campaign, valued at #1.5 million, will continue until early March. The ad aims to explain the benefits of the product, which provides a capsule to treat the internal problem...

Products & Marketing: Heat therapy takes the pain of IBS away.
January 6, 2007... The Cura-Heat range has been extended with the launch of two products. Cura-Heat IBS offers heat treatment for up to 12 hours for the symptoms of IBS, including abdominal spasms, cramps, aches and pains. The product is longer-lasting...

Products & Marketing: Pocket guide to quitting.(Pfizer Inc.)(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... An iKyp (information to keep in your pocket) has been developed for the Nicorette ActiveStop interactive support programme for quitters. It is being distributed to pharmacy outlets to boost awareness and understanding of the programme and the...

In brief: Herbal skincare.(Ryor )(Brief article)
January 6, 2007... Ryor is a range of cosmetics new to pharmacy based on herbal extracts, plant proteins and active substances derived from plankton, algae, seaweed and fruit. Developed in the Czech Republic, Ryor offers ranges for different skincare needs and...

In brief: In black and white.
January 6, 2007... Direct2Dealer is a new catalogue-based service from Ilford Photo. Featuring more than 380 products, orders of more than #45 qualify for free delivery. Ilford Photo Tel: 0800 234 6484 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Lacklustre commissioning leaves pharmacy potential unrealised.(Industry overview)
January 13, 2007... Policy Pharmacy's role in improving patient health is being restricted by PCTs, claims the Health Policy Forum Ailsa Colquhoun Pharmacy's considerable potential to improve health outcomes is not being realised because of ineffective...

Burnham bows out as pharmacy chief.(Andy Burnham)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... People Lord Hunt appointed minister in charge of pharmacy policy Andy Burnham has been replaced as minister in charge of pharmacy policy by Lord Hunt of King's Heath, a former health minister, in a reshuffle by Patricia Hewitt, the health...

Pfizer hits back at deal's critics.(Pfizer Inc.)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Industry Pfizer refutes parallel import accusations Pfizer has denied claims by PSNC that changes to its distribution model have been instigated to curb parallel imports to the USA. Writing in PSNC's magazine, Community Pharmacy News,...

Lord Hunt - a CV.(curriculum vitae)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Educated at Oxford, Lord Hunt of King's Heath began his career in the NHS in 1972 when he joined Oxford Regional Hospital Board as a works study officer. He was educated at the City of Oxford High School and Leeds University where he gained a...

In brief: DH report due.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The Department of Health is set to report on how changes to control of entry regulations have impacted on pharmacy, C+D has learned. The DH response to an industry-wide consultation, which closed last September should be published shortly,...

In brief: MSD back in ABPI.(Merck Sharp and Dohme)(Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Merck Sharp & Dohme has been reinstated as a member of the ABPI after a three-month suspension for a code of practice breach. Its return is subject to an audit of procedures by the ABPI to ensure MSD complies with guidelines. ...

In brief: Rx Systems go-ahead.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Rx Systems' ProScript dispensary management system has gained full rollout authority for the EPS phase one after on-site tests. The software supplier will be providing a `one stop' system with connection to the N3 infrastructure. ...

In brief: NCSO update.(No Cheaper Stock Available)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for January prescriptions: moxonidine 400microgram tablets; ketoprofen 100mg capsules; oxybutynin 5mg tablets;...

England must mirror Scottish contract to fulfil urgent care role.(pharmacists management)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Policy National minor ailments scheme should be set up, claim stakeholders Jennifer Rigby England's community pharmacists can take their lead in providing urgent care from the schemes already in place in Scotland, leading pharmacy...

Pay doctors to steer pharmacy to success, urges CCA.
January 13, 2007... Politics GP incentives and PCT rethink essential for profession to meet potential Ailsa Colquhoun GPs need to be incentivised to work with community pharmacists, and PCTs need to adopt a more standardised approach to their...

Watchdog on oxygen delivery.(national pharmacy association)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... NPA John D'Arcy gives pharmacy view of service NPA chief John D'Arcy has appeared on the BBC's Watchdog programme as part of a report on the problematic privatisation of the home oxygen delivery service. Mr D'Arcy expressed dismay at...

Knockout crown for Isle of Man.(awards of Fiona Marshall )(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Education Fiona Marshall wins Update prize The winner of the Update Knockout 2006 comes from Ramsey on the Isle of Man. After maintaining a 100 per cent record on all Update modules published in C+D in 2006 and topping the end of year...

NPA warning on waste laws.(National Pharmacy Association)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... NPA Anomalies could jeopardise pharmacy services The National Pharmacy Association has issued a warning to European regulators that public health could be at risk if waste laws are not overhauled. The NPA said anomalies in existing...

In brief: Herbal review invite.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is inviting comment from pharmacists and healthcare professionals on its informal discussion papers on proposals for reforming unlicensed herbal remedies. The MHRA has been considering...

In brief: Switch support.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has backed the reclassification of chloramphenicol eye ointment 1% from a Prescription Only Medicine to a Pharmacy medicine. The RPSGB called for an accompanying patient information leaflet advising when to...

In brief: Scotland offers training.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Pharmacy support staff training will be available from NHS Education for Scotland, following the expected development of an SEHD educational framework for pharmacy support staff during the year. The training will initially target pharmacy...

In brief: EPS suppliers merge.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Pharmacy software supplier Systems Solutions has taken a majority stake in Irish IT firm Medicom. Both companies will operate from System Solutions' current offices in Dublin under a new name and logo, which will be announced later this month....

In brief: NPA offers MUR CD-Rom.(National Pharmaceutical Association)(Compact Disc Read Only Memory)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The NPA has developed a CD-Rom that aims to encourage pharmacists to carry out MURs. Research conducted among NPA members across Wales revealed that the barriers to carrying out MURs were lack of time, low confidence and fears of too much...

Obesity service pilot eyes heavyweight support.(Industry overview)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Practice Scheme to show MPs how pharmacy can boost public health Jennifer Rigby Pharmacists in Coventry have launched a weight loss service as part of plans to persuade MPs that the profession can do more to protect public health. ...

Independents dispense the fewest brands, says report.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Medicines Generic prescribing also on the increase Independent pharmacies dispense the fewest number of branded medicines, a report has revealed. The research, which took a `snapshot' comparison of dispensing trends in independent,...

Red tape fuels members fee rise at PSNI.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Northern Ireland Increases to cover regulatory costs PSNI is set to increase membership fees by up to #24 a year until 2012 to counter rising regulatory costs, the organisation has said. A full retention fee will rise from #295 to #319...

Opinion: Your views - Pfizer comes to defence of discounts.(Pfizer Inc.)
January 13, 2007... We are writing in response to the letter from George Romanes (C+D, January 6, p8). We have developed a community pharmacy discount scheme which we believe is fair and transparent. Dispensing doctors are subject to a different clawback...

Opinion: Your views - The next big step in clinical governance?
January 13, 2007... With the increasing emphasis on error detection, near miss reporting and formalised dispensing procedures, the elimination of the most common and potentially dangerous dispensing error - dispensing label mismatching - remains a high priority....

Opinion: Your views - An untenable situation.
January 13, 2007... I am no longer a MRPharmS and have joined the ranks of those who, irrespective of any lack of knowledge or training, are free to give advice on medicines. Despite a degree in pharmacy, I'm on a par with the girl behind the counter at a...

Features: Pharmacy Champions - Pharmacists leading the way.
January 13, 2007... Name: Brian Deal Pharmacy: Ashwell Pharmacy, Hertfordshire What has he done? Offers MURs and a smoking cessation clinic in a new consultation area What have you set up? I run a small village pharmacy where normally you...

Comment from the editor - Primary care goalposts are on the move again.
January 13, 2007... What is it with health ministers at Richmond House? Barely a fortnight into the new year and we've already lost the latest incumbent charged with looking after pharmacy services. But far from moving to an easier position, Andy Burnham has...

Opinion: Your views - Are you a willing provider of primary care?(Industry overview)
January 13, 2007... What are the implications for community pharmacy of new guidance on practice-based commissioning? New guidance on practice-based commissioning signals changes that will subtly redress the balance of power between primary care commissioners...

Opinion: Hospital Report - Evaluating the evaluators on the Agenda.(Industry overview)(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... The trickle of Scottish Agenda for Change pharmacy job evaluation results, which began in September, became a steady flow by the end of the year and already there are repercussions. Most health boards that have issued pharmacist results...

Opinion: Xrayser - Polypills for a variety of ills.
January 13, 2007... Dr Mike Mead's arguments for fixed-dose combination tablets (C+D, January 6, p17) make good sense to me, clinically if not financially. It seems obvious that combination preparations of, say, aspirin, atenolol and bendroflumethiazide,...

Opinion: Xrayser - Dream team goes back to the floor.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... `Back to the floor' exercises are increasingly common among progressive companies and are a genuinely useful learning exercise. The Numark team members seem to have acquitted themselves well and learnt a thing or two during their day in a...

Pharmacy update - Multiple sclerosis: part one.(Disease/Disorder overview)
January 13, 2007... The first of two articles looks at causes, symptoms and diagnosis Nicola O'Connell Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease affecting young adults. The disease, which affects the central nervous system...

Clinical news: Shopkeepers fined for selling unlicensed steroids.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Two shopkeepers have been sentenced for illegally selling unlicensed steroid creams as skin-lightening products following a prosecution by the MHRA and Southwark Trading Standards. Michael and Yinka Oluyemi, who are married and live in...

Nice goes to court over Alzheimer's treatment recommendation.
January 13, 2007... Eisai has taken a further step toward taking Nice to court over its decision not to recommend anti-dementia treatments for patients with newly diagnosed mild Alzheimer's disease. The company and its partner Pfizer have confirmed that Eisai...

In brief: New products.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... A trial of trastuzumab therapy in HER2+ breast cancer has shown modest improvements in survival, according to a report in The Lancet. However, treatment is associated with significant cardiac toxicity. Lancet 2007; 369:29-36 Slocinx XL, a...

Clinical news: Folic acid may slow hearing loss.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Daily oral folic acid supplementation may slow age-related hearing loss, a Dutch study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests. The authors observed that folic acid fortification of food was prohibited in The Netherlands...

Clinical news: Anti-obesity drug trials aretoo limited, review finds.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... A major review in The Lancet has called for future anti-obesity drug trials to include both clinical outcomes, such as obesity-related morbidity and mortality, as well as surrogate endpoints such as weight loss. The authors concluded that...

In brief: Janssen-Cilag.(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... Janssen-Cilag has launched 3mg and 4mg doses of Risperdal Quicklet orodispersible tablet for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania that can be taken without water. The new doses mean that large numbers of patients will be able to...

In brief: Buying medicines online.(warning for buying medicines online )(Brief article)
January 13, 2007... An article published by the BMJ argues that patients should be warned against buying medicines online from unknown suppliers. The author, GP Graham Easton, reported that half of all medicines bought from websites that do not provide a physical...