Chemist & Druggist articles from January 2008

Chemist & Druggist archives from January 2008

Industry disputes DH claims.(investigation of United Kingdom. National Audit Office about prescriptions)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Online reaction calls for purchase profits to increase in line with prescription volume Jennifer Richardson Pharmacists have rejected Department of Health claims that they are making excessive profits on generic medicines. Failure...

Money matters top industry concerns for 2008.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Contractors and industry leaders identified financial difficulties as one of the biggest issues facing pharmacy in 2008. Concerns were fuelled by the changes to category M and a perceived lack of government investment in the profession. ...

RPSGB eyes up Scot techs.(laws of Department of Health about Scottish technicians )(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... The Department of Health has published proposals to bring the regulation of Scottish technicians in line with the rest of the UK. The DH consultation proposes to amend the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007 so the Royal...

Community pharmacist awarded an MBE.(Barry Shooter receives an award)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Community pharmacist Barry Shooter has been awarded an MBE in the new year's honours list. Mr Shooter, who runs a pharmacy in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and also teaches at the University of London School of Pharmacy, will receive the award for...

IN BRIEF: D'Arcy joins Numark.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... John D'Arcy, Rowlands commercial director, has been appointed as interim managing director of Numark. He takes up the post following the death of Simon Colebeck. The news follows the takeover of Nucare by Numark owner Phoenix in November, and...

IN BRIEF: What the public think.(University of Huddersfield)(Pharmacy Practice Research Trust)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... A new research project will assess how the general public view local pharmacies and pharmacists. The project, led by Andy Adams of the University of Huddersfield, will be funded by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Adverse drug reactions.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Concerns have been raised after public health minister Dawn Primarolo revealed that nearly 3,000 patients may have died in the past three years after adverse reactions to medicines. The NPA said patients must realise the importance of...

IN BRIEF: EPS under scrutiny.(National Health Service)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... A project to assess how the electronic prescription service is impacting on pharmacy, patients and the NHS is being launched this month. Lead researcher Professor Nick Barber said the early stages would involve gathering and passing on feedback...

IN BRIEF: Financial improvement.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Health boards in Scotland are managing their finances more efficiently, resulting in an overall NHS underspend of #98 million in 2006-07, a report by Audit Scotland has concluded. But the public spending watchdog said better performance...

IN BRIEF: Smoking services cash.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... The Scottish Government has dedicated #11 million to smoking cessation support for 2008-09. Community Pharmacy Scotland spokesperson Alex MacKinnon said: "If pharmacists in the [local health] board work well with their director of pharmacy,...

Smartcard users urged to check expiry date.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Pharmacists warned that the smartcard has to be renewed after two years Zoe Smeaton Some pharmacists are unaware that smartcards giving them access to the electronic prescription service expire after two years and must be renewed, C+D...

EPS deadline `should be set'.(electronic prescription service )(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... A deadline by which pharmacists must deploy release one of the electronic prescription service should be set without delay, system suppliers have said. PSNC said earlier last year that the deadline was likely to be set by the end of the...

AZ president defends deal.(AstraZeneca UK Ltd)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... AstraZeneca's UK president has defended the manufacturer against contract negotiators' criticisms of its drugs supply deal. PSNC and Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) said AZ's four-tier discount structure would increase the number of...

Cleared of manslaughter.(cases of manslaughter against Phillip Dean )(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... A pharmacist accused of dispensing a lethal dose of morphine to a terminally ill cancer patient has been cleared of manslaughter. Phillip Dean was charged with failing to read a doctor's instructions carefully and handing over 100mg of...

Locum pay negotiated individually, says Lloyds.(Lloydspharmacy)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Multiple retracts flat rate proposal after email `sent in error' Jennifer Richardson Lloydspharmacy has backtracked over a statement that it was looking to pay locums in Surrey a flat rate of #18 an hour, including travel and...

Complaints process examined.(laws of Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain against medical errors)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Measures proposed by the RPSGB to make disciplinary actions fairer and more proportionate do not go far enough and will not encourage error reporting, industry leaders have warned. The Society is to consult with pharmacists this year to try...

Analysis: The faceless profession?
January 5, 2008... Star health adviser or glorified shopkeeper? To the great British public, the pharmacist is still something of an enigma. C+D asks why the profession has such a public image problem Two years on from the introduction of the new contract in...

Clinical Alerts: SPC changes.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Levitra tablets (vardenafil) Transient global amnesia and seizures added to undesirable effects section. Xyrem 500mg/ml oral solution (sodium oxybate) Weight decrease, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, suicide attempts and ideation added to...

Clinical Alerts: Supply issues.(Pharmaceuticals, Marlborough)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Amoxil 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml syrup 100ml (amoxicillin) Discontinued by GSK due to low demand. Kenalog triamcinolone acetonide 1ml syringes and packs of 5 x 1ml vials Out of stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb has estimated the syringe and vial...

Clinical News: Cough treatments for children raise concerns.
January 5, 2008... Review highlights volume of calls to US poisons centres since 2000 Gavin Atkin Paediatric cough medicines cause significant harm and have little or no benefit, a New England Journal of Medicine review has concluded. The NEJM...

Clinical News: Timely offer.(Parkinson's Disease Society)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Free washbags to help patients take their medication on time are available from the Parkinson's Disease Society. Each washbag contains an advice guide, a list of local contacts and a medication record among other materials to help patients stay...

Clinical News: Diclofenac switch OK.(http://tinyurl.com/2pb5mk)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Alternative NSAIDs such as ibuprofen 1200mg/day or naproxen 1000mg/day should be considered for patients receiving diclofenac 150mg/day, the National Prescribing Centre has said. Advice published in MeReCExtra issue 30 suggests the switch...

Clinical News: Pfizer extends Exubera.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Patients who have not yet switched from Exubera have been given a reprieve by maker Pfizer. Although the company originally said that the inhaled insulin product would be phased out by January 16, it recently announced plans to extend the...

Clinical News: Nice to impact on community pharmacy.(http://tinyurl.com/2q5eug)(National Institute for Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Smoking cessation, type 2 diabetes and medicines concordance are among the topics Nice will be looking at this year. The organisation always has a packed schedule, and 2008 seems to be no exception. Of particular relevance to community...

Xrayser: Pharmacy's dream team for 2008.
January 5, 2008... Fantasy football provides a refuge for men who are disappointed with their real team's current performance but who should have better things to do. As I fall into both categories, I've come up with my pharmacy `dream team' for 2008. These are...

Northern Ireland Notebook: Is the writing on the wall for PSNI?(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)
January 5, 2008... In late November, answering a question on the future regulation of pharmacists in Northern Ireland at the Assembly's health committee, health minister Michael McGimpsey's response, as is now common in Northern Ireland, was prefixed by the...

Pharmacy Update: Seronegative spondarthritides.
January 5, 2008... The drug treatment of some less common arthritic diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis Key points * Seronegative spondarthritides are characterised by a lack of rheumatoid factor in the serum. * Ankylosing spondylitis is the...

The loneliness of the long distance RPSGB member.(personal opinions of John Henderson about society fees)(Viewpoint essay)
January 5, 2008... County Durham pharmacist John Henderson takes a personal look at Society fees, life, neighbours and taking the dog to the pub... A couple of weeks ago I was not going to register for 2008. By the time I got the fee notification letter (with...

Product News: Do mind the gaps.(product introduction of Periproducts Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Oralcare specialist Periproducts has launched a range of interdental brushes. Denti-Brush Interproximal Brushes each have a flexible tip designed to minimise breakage, the manufacturer says, and a protective hygiene cap. The six-packs...

Product News: Here's your flexible friend.(advertising of Seven Seas Health Care Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Seven Seas is donning its dancing shoes for a TV campaign running until April. The `Do the Seven Seas twist' advertising uses the voice of actress Caroline Quentin to tell consumers the benefits of the Joint Health brands Cod Liver Oil and...

Product News: Brush up on GUMs.(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... The GUM range of oral healthcare products has been extended with the launch of Trav-ler interdental brushes. Sizes range from 0.8 to 2mm and the brushes come in tapered and cylindrical designs, the tapered being most appropriate for...

Product News: No more night stress.(Nelson's Drug Store Inc.)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... The Bach Rescue Remedy range has been extended to include a product to treat sleeplessness caused by stress. Rescue Night contains the original Rescue Remedy combined with Bach Original Flower Remedy White Chestnut. Nelsons says the...

Product News: T-Zone goes online.(television advertising of skincare products)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... TV and online advertising for medicated skincare brand T-Zone has just begun. The television campaign is scheduled to run on GMTV until mid-February, targeting teens and their parents. It's a repeat airing of the `Taxi' creative last seen...

Product News: Rash move by Bepanthen.(television advertising of Ceuta Healthcare Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 5, 2008... Nappy rash ointment Bepanthen begins a national television advertising campaign this week. It forms part of a #1.5 million support package with further advertising in the parenting press and online sampling activity planned. Running...

Category M Barometer.(laws and rules of United Kingdom. Department of Health about drug prices)
January 5, 2008... After the storm whipped up by the last quarter's radical tariff, the Department of Health has introduced some welcome stability by making only minor tweaks to the tariff for the first three months of 2008. With no radical changes over Q4...

Pharmacy Champion: Winning formula.(Raj Patel wins the UniChem PLC pharmacy award )(Viewpoint essay)
January 5, 2008... Raj Patel, of Mount Elgon Pharmacy in Wimbledon, was Overall Winner at the UniChem Pharmacy Awards 2007, after building up a successful business in just two years I was told that no one wins the UniChem award in the first 10 years of...

Comment from the Editor.(Editorial)
January 12, 2008... I'm not sure what your New Year's wish was but I bet it didn't involve Jeremy Paxman, a couple of heavyweight political figures, and the Prime Minister's healthcare vision. Surreal as it may sound, it's just what we got as Labour health...

National screening role revealed.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Profession's place in Gordon Brown's blueprint sparks Newsnight debate Jennifer Richardson Pharmacists look set to offer screening for diseases such as heart disease and diabetes under a national programme outlined by the Prime...

The Newsnight debate.(Discussion)
January 12, 2008... Health minister Ben Bradshaw squares up to Andrew Lansley, shadow secretary of state for health, over pharmacy's part in the screening programme. BB: "[The national screening services] won't all be delivered by GPs. Pharmacists have an...

AAH appoints `interim' head.(Mark James appointed as interim director of AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Mark James has assumed the management of AAH Pharmaceuticals from managing director Steve Dunn on an interim basis, the company has confirmed. "The day-to-day management has passed to [commercial director] Mark James on an interim basis,"...

Pseudoephedrine law change.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Fears POM switch on larger packs will lead to blanket reclassification Zoe Smeaton Tighter controls restricting the sale of drugs containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine will become law from April 1, the MHRA has said. Packs...

IN BRIEF: Cut use of antibiotics.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The health secretary has called for a cut in the amount of antibiotics prescribed for minor ailments. Alan Johnson said widespread use was leading to the rise of superbugs such as MRSA. The government will hire hospital pharmacists to regulate...

IN BRIEF: Local healthcare bill.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on a proposed local healthcare bill, intended to increase public involvement in the design of local health services. www.scotland.gov.uk/publications Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Contractors lend a hand.(pharmacists open up an emergency mobile pharmacy )(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Pharmacists have told how they set up an emergency mobile pharmacy on the altar steps of a local church, to ensure evacuated patients from the Royal Marsden Hospital received medications. This followed a fire at the cancer hospital in west...

NPA tight-lipped over chief executive.(National Pharmacy Association)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The NPA has refused to confirm the long-term future of its chief executive. Sources close to the organisation have indicated to C+D that discussions have taken place between Alison White and the NPA over her role. NPA chairman Dilip...

Internet logo launched.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched a logo to help the public identify bona fide internet pharmacies. The logo, a voluntary scheme, features the pharmacy's RPSGB membership number, and it will link through to the RPSGB...

Watchdog backtracks.(investigations of National Audit Office)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The government watchdog scrutinising purchase profits has sought to play down its investigations. The National Audit Office had been asked by the Department of Health to consider if further savings could be made on pharmacy reimbursement,...

Profit squeeze warning.(economic aspects of pharmacy)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Contractors must be alert to effect of category M, warns NPA Jennifer Richardson Contractors face a difficult financial start to 2008, pharmacy business experts have warned. The fallout from October's #400 million category M...

Dispensary talk.
January 12, 2008... Do you think 2008 will be a good year for pharmacy? "Hopefully it will. Public perception over here is starting to improve and people are seeing us more as healthcare professionals. And other healthcare providers have a growing awareness of...

Fees `inadequate'.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Pharmacy bodies have hit out at proposed fees for supplying stoma and incontinence appliances. The NPA and PSNC have both slammed fee proposals in their responses to the Department of Health's consultation paper. Raj Nutan, head of...

Records access under fire.(opinions of Department of Health about usage of medical records)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Health professionals are set to have their say on what patient information should be made available to pharmacists through the NHS Care Record. The Department of Health said it was looking to issue a consultation when healthcare...

IN BRIEF: Prescribing support.(surveys of pharmacists)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Over two-thirds of people in the UK think pharmacists should be able to write prescriptions, according to a University of London School of Pharmacy report. The survey also showed that 64 per cent of people across Europe think pharmacies should...

IN BRIEF: Getting to know PBC.(services of Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... PSNC has published a resource to help contractors understand and engage with practice-based commissioning. Practice-Based Commissioning - a practical guide for community pharmacy contractors - is aligned to PBC guidance already published by...

IN BRIEF: ABPI denies price cut.(reports of Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and Department of Health)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and Department of Health have denied a Financial Times report that the NHS will pay 10 per cent less for prescription medicines by the end of the year. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Facilities guide published.(services of National Pharmacy Association)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The NPA has produced a guide to completing the Scottish Government's premises assessment. The analysis of a pharmacy's facilities and their suitability for delivering contract services must be completed by March 31 if contractors are to qualify...

IN BRIEF: Patient ETP leaflets.
January 12, 2008... Community pharmacies in Scotland will receive patient information leaflets on the electronic transfer of prescriptions from this month. Further supplies will be available from Banner Business Supplies (eleanor.russell@bbslimited.co.uk) in...

IN BRIEF: CDs stolen.(medicines stoles from Lloydspharmacy)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Several controlled drugs were stolen from a Lloydspharmacy in Oldham while the branch was closed on New Year's day. Police said the medicines, including morphine and temazepam, appeared to have been selected at random. Copyright: CMP...

Barber in close shave over chemist sign.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Antique sign breaches Medicines Act, RPSGB warns Jennifer Richardson A barber's shop has been caught in a standoff between its local council and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society over an antique sign that describes it as a "dispensing...

Norovirus has mixed impact.(impact on pharmacists)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The norovirus outbreak reportedly sweeping across the UK has had a mixed impact on pharmacists contacted by C+D. In Birmingham, Glen Blackwood of Buckingham Chemists said he had not seen any patients with symptoms recently. But Noordin...

Fake doctor was a `determined fraudster'.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... A pharmacist who was in charge at a Paddington clinic that employed a doctor who used a false identity has been reprimanded. Khalid Haq-Ali, of Acton, failed to adequately check out the "doctor's" identity and his GMC registration, the...

The responsible pharmacist - how will it affect you?(new consultation for pharmacists in pharmacies)
January 12, 2008... A large government document holds the potential for major changes to your working life. In the first of two features, Adrian Price demystifies the responsible pharmacist consultation The Department of Health has published potentially one of...

Xrayser: Proud to be boring.(management of pharmacy)
January 12, 2008... The great and the good agree that pharmacy could do more to promote itself (C+D, January 5, p8). That's a start, but where do we go from there? Bill Scott provided some of the most incisive comments, as the only contributor who won't have...

Waiting for the new contract `chickens' to come home to roost.(new law of health care industry)(Viewpoint essay)
January 12, 2008... Not long after I was first elected as a councillor, one of the more cynical, long-standing councillors commented that "you can please none of the b*****s any of the time!". He was a curmudgeonly old soul but I rapidly learnt that there is no...

Letter: Why must I pay more for an essential industry standard?(Letter to the editor)
January 12, 2008... I write with reference to your article on subscription changes to C+D (December 8, p18). As the article quite rightly points out, C+D recognises that no business welcomes a price increase. That is especially so when the fragility of...

Pharmacy Update: A source of irritation.(care and treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome)
January 12, 2008... The signs, symptoms and non-prescription treatment of irritable bowel syndrome Key points * The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown; theories include abnormal gut sensitivity, a malfunction in serotonin signalling, infection...

Clinical Brief: Tibolone effective as HRT.(care and treatment of menopause)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Tibolone is as effective as low-dose continuous combined HRT in reducing menopause symptoms, but causes significantly less bleeding in the first three months, researchers have reported. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2007; 114: 1522-9. ...

Clinical Brief: Herbal meds regulation help.
January 12, 2008... Online guidance for retailers selling products covered by the Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration scheme is now available from the MHRA. http://tinyurl.com/bwlj6 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Clinical Alerts: New Products.
January 12, 2008... Asacol MR 800mg tablets 180s (mesalazine) Licensed for treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) and maintenance of remission of UC and Crohn's ileocolitis. Procter & Gamble, tel: 01784 474900. Ambirix pre-filled syringe...

Clinical Alerts: SPC Changes.
January 12, 2008... Kwells and Kwells Kids tablets (hyoscine hydrobromide) Contraindications, warnings, interactions and undesirable effects sections updated. Tenif capsules (atenolol plus nifedipine), Tenormin range (atenolol) Change to warning on concurrent...

Clinical Alerts: MHRA Alert.
January 12, 2008... Desmomelt tablets (desmopressin) Healthcare professionals have been reminded to report all suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme. www.mhra.gov.uk/mhra/drugsafetyupdate Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Clinical News: Numbers soar for winter vomiting infection.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Halfway through the winter season, the Health Protection Agency has reported a large increase in norovirus infections. Laboratory test figures represent only a small fraction of total norovirus (winter vomiting virus) cases, but this year's...

Clinical News: PPIs costing NHS #100m too much each year?(National Pharmacy Association)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... The NHS is spending around #100 million each year on unnecessary proton pump inhibitors, the BMJ has claimed. Two gastroenterologists based at London's King's College Hospital say that PPIs are "clearly being overused", highlighting the...

Product News: Liquid relief for colds and flu.(Orbis Consumer Products Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Orbifen is a new liquid medicine for the treatment of cold and flu symptoms. The P line contains 100mg ibuprofen and 15mg pseudoephedrine per 5ml. A dose of 10 to 20ml can be taken every four to six hours by adults and children over 12...

Product News: Just for Men pursues TV fame.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Hair colorant Just For Men is currently on television, part of a #4 million campaign this year. The five minute, shampoo-in hair colour has been updated with an easy to open applicator, reconfigured bottles for a better grip and improved...

Product News: Cotton on fast.(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Australian fempro brand Cottons has been launched in the UK. The range spans pads with wings in a variety of absorbencies from regular through to overnight, micro and ultra thin liners and tampons in two absorbencies. All are said to be...

Product News: Rowse targets coughs and sneezes.(Rowse Honey Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2008... Honey specialist Rowse has launched a sachet format enhanced with lemon juice, echinachea, zinc and vitamin C. The honey can be taken straight from the sachet or made into a drink by mixing with hot water. No more than four sachets should...

2008 Predictions: Likely drug launches.
January 12, 2008... Pharmaceutical forecasting is an imprecise science. But, undeterred, Asha Fowells gazes into her crystal ball and predicts the likely drug launches for 2008 Some things in life are dead certs. So we already know that in 2008 the iPhone...

Comment from the Editor.(Editorial)
January 19, 2008... I once worked in a pharmacy that dispensed 800 items every day, which was both exhausting and extremely satisfying. The dispensary team consisted of one full-time pharmacist, one part- time (morning-only), one pre-reg and two dispensers....

NHS climate `stifling potential'.(innovations of pharmacists)(Brief article)
January 19, 2008... Pharmacists operating with hands tied behind their backs, says industry joint response to DH call for ideas Jennifer Richardson The current commissioning climate in the NHS is stifling pharmacists' potential for innovative service...

Put medicine prices on packets.(Brief article)
January 19, 2008... The NHS should put price tags on prescription medicines to help cut the #100 million it wastes every year on unused drugs, MPs have said. The Committee of Public Accounts said patients should be made more aware of the costs of their drugs,...

White leaves NPA role.(Alison White resigns from National Pharmacy Association )(Brief article)
January 19, 2008... Alison White has left her role as National Pharmacy Association chief executive after just six months. The NPA issued a statement earlier this week saying that Ms White had "stepped down as CEO of the Association". NPA chairman Dilip Joshi...

Boots profits buck retail sales trend.(Boots Company PLC)(Financial report)
January 19, 2008... Boots has bucked the current retail gloom with like-for-like third quarter sales up 6.9 per cent, C+D understands. Retail healthcare, cosmetics and fragrances are said to have done particularly well, including notable growth of the No.7...

No morale dip from KKR deal, says Boots.(opinions of Boots Company PLC)(Brief article)
January 19, 2008... Boots did not experience an anticipated drop in employee satisfaction during the company's privatisation this summer, director of organisation development Stuart Branch said. Mr Branch believed a bi-annual company survey showed no...

Responsible pharmacist under fire from industry.(Brief article)
January 19, 2008... `Unworkable' proposals could devalue and de-skill the profession Zoe Smeaton The responsible pharmacist consultation could mark the beginning of the end for the pharmacy profession if some of the proposals are carried through,...