Chemist & Druggist articles from March 2009

Chemist & Druggist archives from March 2009

Comment from the Editor: 07.03.09.(standard operating procedures)(Editorial)
March 7, 2009... Pharmacists will quite rightly be fuming over the way the news about changes to children's cough and cold remedies was made public last weekend (p4). Dealing with worried and anxious patients can be a difficult process at the best of...

`No evidence' child cough & cold medicines work, says MHRA.
March 7, 2009... Up to 35 products to be relabelled as suitable only for children over six and switched from GSL to P Emma Wilkinson A host of OTC cough and cold medicines for children should not be used in those under the age of six because there is...

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS AFFECTED.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... The cough and cold medicines which are no longer recommended for children under six contain the ingredients below: * antihistamines - brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine and triprolidine; *...

MHRA under fire.(Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Pharmacists have criticised the MHRA after the sector was left in the dark about changes to cough and cold medicines guidance. Pharmacists told C+D they heard about the changes in the newspapers, after they were revealed by the Daily...

RPSGB and PDA overcome differences to tackle stress.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Pharmacists' Defence Association)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... The RPSGB and the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) have agreed to collaborate on the Society's Workplace Pressure campaign to tackle stress in pharmacy. The PDA has criticised the Society in the past, with Mark Koziol, PDA chairman,...

IN BRIEF: Numark boosts services.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Numark is set to launch two toolkits for members that will help them provide services to care homes and also to screen patients for diabetes and provide additional support after diagnosis. www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk. Copyright: UBM...

IN BRIEF: PBC vision unveiled.(practice- based commissioning )(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... The Department of Health has published a renewed vision for practice- based commissioning (PBC) to make the process more rigorous. Health minister Lord Darzi said PBC would be characterised by clinicians, including pharmacists, engaging in...

IN BRIEF: Consultation closing.
March 7, 2009... The consultation on the draft Pharmacy Order closes on March 9. Pharmacists who want to have their say on the new regulatory body should email pharmprofreg-response@ dh.gsi.gov.uk Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Keep pharmacy title.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Non-practising pharmacists must be allowed to retain the `pharmacist' title, a group has told the RPSGB Council. John Rees and others are concerned by proposals that would make it a criminal offence for non- practising but qualified pharmacists...

Internal spending bill at the RPSGB made public.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Society chief justifies financial cost to "maintain motivation and esprit de corps" Max Gosney The Royal Pharmaceutical Society spent nearly #100,000 entertaining and recognising its staff between 2006 and 2008, C+D can exclusively...

`We must have value for money'.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... "Any organisation which values the skills and dedication of its people has a responsibility to develop and motivate them, in the interests of both personal growth and organisational delivery. I understand that members will want to satisfy...

Sector calls for national SOPs.(Standard Operating Procedures)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Community pharmacy should work to nationally agreed SOPs to ensure pharmacists can comply with the responsible pharmacist regulations, independents, locums and pharmacy bodies have warned. At its annual conference the Pharmacists' Defence...

IN BRIEF: Vidaza for blood cancers.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Vidaza has been licensed to treat adults with rare blood cancers. Vidaza, which contains azacitidine, is the first drug to be approved for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation. ...

IN BRIEF: CPPE Community Club.(Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... A learning communities initiative has been launched by the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education. Pharmacists and technicians are eligible to found or join a community, which gathers to study CPPE programmes. www.cppe.ac.uk ...

IN BRIEF: Meningitis vaccine safe.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... There is no evidence of risk to UK children from the meningitis vaccine, the MHRA has stated. Fears were raised after the regulatory body issued an alert for two batches of Menjugate Kit, manufactured by Novartis. Copyright: UBM...

IN BRIEF: TV linked to asthma.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Children aged three and a half years or younger who spend more time watching TV are at increased risk of developing asthma. The study, in Thorax, found watching TV for more than two hours a day doubles the risk of asthma by age seven and a...

IN BRIEF: MHRA eyes risperidone.(United Kingdom. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... All risperidone formulations are now included in the MHRA black triangle scheme, a watchlist for risks and benefits. Janssen-Cilag, manufacturer of the antipsychotic, has stated the change results from the harmonisation of summaries of product...

IN BRIEF: Pfizer in generics deal.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Pfizer has agreed a commercial deal with Aurobindo Pharma to expand its European generics portfolio. The deal covers the rights to 20 generic oral products and 12 injections, including antibiotics and drugs for cardiovascular disease. ...

Clamp down on student intake, says NHS advisor.(National Health Service)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Control over numbers needed to aid workforce planning, says education chief Chris Chapman Tighter controls on pharmacy student numbers are needed if educational funding for the sector is to increase, a key government advisor has...

Consultation fatigue setting in.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... It is "unrealistic" to expect pharmacists to be able to respond fully to the large number of consultations put out to the profession, contractors have warned. Pharmacists on the Numark Scottish Advisory Board said it was difficult to find...

Union looks to block remote supervision.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... The Pharmacists' Defence Association is preparing to launch a campaign to halt government plans to allow pharmacies to be remotely supervised. The Department of Health has proposed that responsible pharmacists be allowed to supervise their...

Staff bravery foils armed raider.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Defiant pharmacy teams held at gunpoint refuse to hand over controlled drugs in Northern Ireland crime spree Chris Chapman Pharmacists in Northern Ireland remain defiant after a robber disguised as a police officer held up two...

Pharmacy `soft target' claim.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Pharmacy is a "soft target" for criminals in the current economic climate, the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF) has warned. Speaking to C+D, IPF chair Fin McCaul called for increased vigilance after the two robberies in Northern...

DISPENSARY TALK: Should pharmacists wear a uniform?(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... "No. Doctors don't wear white coats anymore, and as far as I'm concerned pharmacists have no need for white coats either. I wear a name badge, and the badge clearly identifies what people's roles are." Linda Bracewell, Baxenden Pharmacy,...

Pharmacist had chaotic cluttered premises.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... RPSGB imposes conditions on Bristol pharmacist for three years A pharmacist whose premises were kept in an "unprofessional and unsafe state" has been banned by the RPSGB from owning his own pharmacy or working as a superintendent for three...

Generics chief urges savings.(British Generic Manufacturers Association )(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... The medicines regulator must be made "more efficient and consistent" to ensure savings for the NHS are maximised, the chair of the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has warned. Speaking at a BGMA parliamentary reception, Kim...

C+D BUILDING BRIDGES CAMPAIGN: At the double.(Medicines Use Review)(Chemist & Druggist)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Two more MPs have visited their local pharmacies as part of C+D's Building Bridges campaign to showcase the profession to Westminster. Howard Stoate Labour MP, visited Hodgson Pharmacy in Dartford where he praised staff for providing an...

ANALYSIS: The fall of parallel imports.
March 7, 2009... Parallel imports are down almost 50 per cent as the pound plummets against the euro. Industry chief Richard Freudenberg tells Jennifer Richardson how the sector will respond A devastating effect. Suffering. Severely diminished. These may...

CLINICAL: Nicely does it.(United Kingdom. National Institute for Clinical Excellence)
March 7, 2009... Gavin Atkin explores the latest wranglings about Nice guidance and considers what impact this could have on future appraisals Every now and again, both sides in a battle claim victory - and that's how it was at the end of the latest round...

XRAYSER: Seventy six steps to becoming a pharmacist.
March 7, 2009... Ask 100 pharmacists to explain their role and, many hours later, you would get 100 quite different answers. But now, for the first time, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has produced the definitive summary of what we should be doing during...

IRISH EYE: Get off the sidelines and play an active part in PCE.(Pharmaceutical Clinical Effectiveness)
March 7, 2009... We have an atypical political culture in Northern Ireland. One political party currently in power continues to turn victimhood into an art form while another, also in power, has ministers who think homosexuality is a psychiatric condition...

C+D AWARDS: She's a star.
March 7, 2009... Nichola James's mantlepiece must be groaning under the weight of all her awards. Fiona Salvage met the woman with winning ways Nichola James is a multi-award winning manager. Hot on the heels of her success as the C+D Pharmacy Manager of...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Reducing the risk of falls.
March 7, 2009... Which drugs are most likely to cause problems and what can pharmacists do? 60-second summary If an elderly person keeps falling, how can you tell if medication is to blame? You need detective powers to find out. One step is to...

PRODUCT NEWS: Out on licence.
March 7, 2009... A licensed form of Benerva (thiamine HCl) has been launched by Bayer. The move means the brand can be used to fill prescriptions for the treatment of thiamine deficiency. As a licensed product, it will have preference over non-licensed food...

PRODUCT NEWS: More daily defences.
March 7, 2009... Two products have been added to GSK's Corsodyl oralcare brand - a paste and an interdental brush. Corsodyl Daily gum and tooth paste is formulated to keep gums healthy and, with regular use, to kill bacteria associated with gum disease. It...

SMOKING CESSATION: One last cigarette.
March 7, 2009... The NHS is spending more than ever on stop smoking services, but with quit rates falling and the economy in recession, how can pharmacy ensure it keeps attracting potential quitters through its doors? Charles Gladwin finds out Stop smoking...

SMOKING CESSATION: Tips from the top.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Shaheen Bhatia of P+S Chemists in Ilford, Essex, has had the best quit success rates in Redbridge PCT for five years running. She was winner of the UniChem Community Healthcare Partnership Award last year. Here, Ms Bhatia, pictured below...

PRODUCT NEWS: NicoBloc survey reveals true strain of giving up.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Smokers trying to quit are more likely to become embroiled in arguments with their partner and family, research from NicoBloc has revealed. The study of 353 smokers found that 42 per cent of those giving up argued because of smoking. ...

PRODUCT NEWS: Eucryl helps quitters start afresh.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Stain-removing brand Eucryl has backed pharmacy as the ideal place to help ex-smokers leaved the distinguishing marks of their old habit behind. Eucryl claims its toothpowder and pastes are specially formulated to remove tobacco...

PRODUCT NEWS: Nicotinell rewards patients for going smoke free.(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... NRT brand Nicotinell is looking to lure pharmacy patients into quitting smoking by offering a series of rewards. Under the Quit & Collect scheme, customers collect stamps from participating pharmacies and redeem them once they have...

CAREERS: Be a PEC pharmacist.(professional executive committee)
March 7, 2009... Looking for a new job? Got a staff problem? C+D's new weekly careers section is your one-stop guide to making the right decisions A role that can bolster your CV, boost pharmacy's fortunes and improve patient care... Jennifer Richardson...

CAREERS: What's it like to be a PEC pharmacist?(professional executive committee)(Brief article)
March 7, 2009... Ash Soni, PEC pharmacist for Lambeth PCT and Kurt Ramsden, PEC pharmacist at Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland PCT, answer your questions. Q How much time does the role take up? A This will vary from PCT to PCT, and according to the...

POSTSCRIPT: Sigma Conference 2009.
March 7, 2009... Bradford tops league table Jennifer Richardson reveals what went on beyond the business sessions at the Sigma Conference in Mombasa, Kenya Twenty-plus generics manufacturers lined up to sponsor the event, and were enthusiastically...

Comment from the Editor: 14.03.09.(Editorial)(Survey)
March 14, 2009... Bonuses, pay rises and near six-figure salaries, yet not a banker in sight. At first glance this week's Salary Survey paints a rosy picture for employed pharmacists. Average salaries went up 4 per cent to a healthy #38,402, with many picking up...

Earnings up despite recession.(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... But rises were modest in the last 12 months, with bonuses cut and dissatisfaction growing Zoe Smeaton Most employed pharmacists have enjoyed pay rises in the last 12 months despite the bleak economic climate, the C+D and PDA Union...

Contractors hurting but up pay.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Contractors bore the brunt of adverse financial impacts on independent pharmacies last year but many gave staff pay rises despite falling profits. Sixty per cent saw income decrease in 2008, the C+D and PDA Union Salary Survey found. ...

Salary bites.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... What credit crunch? Job cuts, pay freezes, - there's no escaping the credit crunch, unless you work as an employed pharmacist. Almost seven out of 10 bagged a pay rise in the past year with four out of 10 also picking up a bonus. ...

EARNINGS: SALARY TALK.(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... "I'm quite happy. I'm as secure as anyone can be in their job at the moment." Mani Butt, employee, Prestwich Pharmacy, Manchester "We have seen a decrease of about 6 per cent in gross profit, which is a severe drop because it's...

Locum pay down #1.7k.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Hourly rates have dropped across the country, except for those in the north east Chris Chapman Annual locum earnings have plummeted an average #1,700 over the past year, the C+D and PDA Union Salary Survey has revealed. Hourly...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Vaccine still effective.(Report)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Women previously exposed to HPV can still benefit from vaccination, a study has found. Women aged 16 to 26 showed reduced rates of precancerous cervical lesions after vaccination with Gardasil, regardless of prior exposure to HPV. ...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: GPs fail with eczema.(general practitioners)(Survey)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Almost nine out of 10 GPs are too busy to advise patients on how to treat eczema, a survey has shown. The poll of 200 GPs, by the manufacturer of Oilatum, found parents often do not receive written information or demonstrations of how to apply...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: NCSO update.(no cheaper stock obtainable)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... The Department of Health and National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for March prescriptions: cimetidine 200mg tablets, cimetidine 400mg tablets and hydroxyzine 25mg tablets. ...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Technician regulation.(pharmacy technicians)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... The compulsory regulation of all UK pharmacy technicians came a step closer this week, as draft legislation was laid before the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments. The RPSGB backed the proposals in the Healthcare and Associated Professions...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Scottish CPP.(contract preparation payments)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Scottish contractors must complete an audit of interventions made in dispensing NHS prescriptions next week (March 16 to 22), in order to qualify for contract preparation payments of #900. Guidance is available at www.community...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Bowel cancer campaign.(Bowel Cancer UK )(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Pharmacists will be asked to raise awareness of bowel cancer next month. Bowel Cancer UK plans a Check It initiative in April to help catch early cases of the disease. The move coincides with national bowel cancer awareness month. ...

Exporters are sullying sector, warns PSNC.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Medicines supply in for `turbulent year' as strong euro tempts contractors to export Chris Chapman Contractors who parallel export medicines are ruining the reputation of the profession, PSNC's chief executive warned the LPC...

Thousands of scripts go missing in transit.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Report)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... PSNC has defended the sector as government figures revealed tens of thousands of prescriptions went missing in transit from community pharmacies in England to NHS paymasters last year. Almost 46,000 prescriptions went missing en route to...

Fresh calls to abolish Rx charge.(prescription charges )(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Community pharmacy hasissued fresh calls for the abolition of prescription charges in England, after the government announced a fee increase of 10p per item. From April 1, the prescription charge in England will be raised from #7.10 to...

Restrict `pharmacist' title, RPSGB suggests.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Society urges GPhC to keep both practising and non-practising registers Chris Chapman Members of the profession must be on the GPhC's registers to use the title `pharmacist', the RPSGB has recommended in its response to the Section 60...

DISPENSARY TALK: How do you feel about the RPSGB spend on staff events?(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... "With the current credit crunch it's essential that all public bodies are transparent in everything they do. And if they can justify the money spent that's fine. But it has to be justifiable... and I have a gut feeling that they may have...

What's in a name?(General Pharmaceutical Council )(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... What you would be called if the Society's proposals are adopted: On the GPhC practising register: pharmacist On the GPhC non-practising register: non-practising pharmacist, making it clear you are non-practising Not on the GPhC...

Candidates announced.(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... The immediate past president of the RPSGB, Hemant Patel, pictured, is seeking election to the English Pharmacy Board (EPB) in the Society's 2009 elections. Candidates standing for Council and the Scottish and Welsh Pharmacy Boards have also...

ANALYSIS: Breaking point?(Report)
March 14, 2009... Is lunch for wimps or an essential time to recharge the batteries? According to the latest research from the PDA, regular breaks are falling by the wayside. Zoe Smeaton investigates Grabbing a sandwich in the dispensary, retreating to the...

ANALYSIS: Pharmacy leaders on breaks.(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... John Evans, superintendent pharmacist at Asda, says he always takes breaks from work. The first is for breakfast at 7.30am, where "the big discussion is always the consistency of the porridge". And at lunchtime Mr Evans always goes for a...

XRAYSER: A pharmacist by any other name.(General Pharmaceutical Council )
March 14, 2009... When is a pharmacist not a pharmacist? When he is not registered with the GPhC, of course. For those pharmacists experiencing "consultation fatigue" (C+D, March 7, p6), the RPSGB's Council has recommended that only those registered with...

PHARMACIST IN THE HOUSE: Sorry shouldn't be the hardest word.(Column)
March 14, 2009... I have often said that my workload would be halved if people, especially those in authority, were more prepared to say `sorry'. It appears that the chief medical officer feels the same way. In his recent Scrubbing Up column he espoused the view...

LETTER: Testing comes under scrutiny.(Letter to the editor)
March 14, 2009... I refer to your recent article `TV show under fire for intolerance tests advice' (C+D, February 21, p8). I am writing on behalf of Phadia, which manufactures and produces a point of care allergy test, ImmunoCAP Rapid. This is based on...

LETTER: Where does pharmacy's future lie?(Letter to the editor)
March 14, 2009... I think we're in so much of a hurry to lose our `pill counter' image that we are rushing too fast down the clinical route, thinking that it will lead to more kudos and respect. In my opinion I can see far more benefit in a national medicines...

LETTERS IN BRIEF: `World class commissioning'.
March 14, 2009... What a pompous title. Since no other country in the world has adopted the NHS model of healthcare, there is unlikely to be any competition for the title. Maybe it should be called `Galactic Class', or even more ambitious `Universal Class', or...

LETTER: Get real and come up with a new pharmacy funding model.(Letter to the editor)
March 14, 2009... The problems regarding category M pricing for generics rumbles on, and will continue to do so, until somebody puts some reality into the way pharmacists are reimbursed for generics. I was a proprietor community pharmacist until a few years...

PHARMACY UPDATE - Cancer treatment: the theory.
March 14, 2009... This article describes how cancer cells are produced and how they are targeted by treatments 60-second summary How does drug treatment exploit the differences between cancer cells and normal cells? Cancer cells are more sensitive...

Your guide to... Vascular screening.(vascular risk assessment programme )
March 14, 2009... Next month the national vascular risk assessment programme officially begins. But what does that actually mean for pharmacy? Zoe Smeaton finds out what you need to know Vascular risk assessments can't be ignored. If you're planning to push...

C+D AWARDS: Teaming with talent.(Prestwich Pharmacy)
March 14, 2009... Fin McCaul tells Chris Chapman how it feels to lead the C+D Pharmacy Team of the Year 2008 Casting his mind back to the black and gold trophy he held in June last year, Fin McCaul has no doubt how he feels. "It was the best award we could...

IN BRIEF: Deficiency addressed.
March 14, 2009... An effervescent supplement to prevent and treat calcium and vitamin D deficiency will be launched by Novartis Consumer Health in April. Sandocal+D 600 Effervescent tablets contain 1,358mg calcium lactate gluconate, 1,050mg calcium carbonate and...

IN BRIEF: Kalms' 84-size pack.
March 14, 2009... An 84-tablet blister pack of Kalms Sleep has been launched by LanesHealth, joining the existing 50-tablet bottle. A trade campaign will support the launch. Price: #4.69; Pip code: 341-6567 LanesHealth; tel: 01452 507458 Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Wrinkle buster.
March 14, 2009... Stimulskin Plus Divine from Darphin is a new anti-ageing lifting skin cream with botanical extracts that claims to improve firmness, elasticity and appearance. Price: #117.45/50ml Darphin; tel: 0870 034 2318 Copyright: UBM...

PRODUCT NEWS: Testing is on the move.
March 14, 2009... Omron is introducing two digital automatic blood pressure monitors suitable for use out of the home. The MIT Elite and MIT Elite Plus are upper arm blood pressure monitors with a large LCD display and slim design. Features include easy...

PRODUCT NEWS: Sensodyne Pronamel whitens up.
March 14, 2009... A new whitening toothpaste for people with sensitive teeth has been introduced under the Sensodyne Pronamel brand. Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening is designed to help protect against acid erosion while also gently restoring the teeth's...

PRODUCT NEWS: Dad can look his best.(Combe International Ltd. )(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Just for Men will be supported by a #1 million national TV campaign on air until the beginning of April. The commercial features a greying father and his two daughters who encourage him to use Just for Men to help him look his best before...

PRODUCT NEWS: Romance gets into the air with Impulse.
March 14, 2009... Unilever UK hopes to re-invigorate the female body spray market with the launch of a new Impulse fragrance and redesigned packaging across the entire Impulse range. Newest addition to the fragrance range is Impulse Romantic Spark, which is...

CREDIT CRUNCH: Should I sell up?
March 14, 2009... Anne Hutchings looks at whether a recession is a good time to sell your pharmacy I speak to hundreds of potential pharmacy sellers and what comes across over and over again is that choosing when to sell is a very difficult personal...

CAREERS: What should I do about late staff arrivals?(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... Q One of my support staff has started turning up late for work and seems distracted, though she's always been reliable in the past. How should I approach her about the downturn in her performance? Rowlands Pharmacy human resources manager...

CAREERS: The medicines man.
March 14, 2009... Looking for a new job? Got a staff problem? C+D's new weekly careers section is your one-stop guide to making the right decisions The MHRA might not seem an obvious option for a career, but it's home to one of the UK's most influential...

POSTSCRIPT: Pharmacy's poster boy.(Rob Davies hung up banners celebrating Wales's matches in rugby union tournament)(Brief article)
March 14, 2009... The Six Nations Championship is always guaranteed to excite good- natured national passion, but one pharmacist has taken the fun to the streets. Rob Davies has hung up banners in front of his pharmacy near Maesteg in South Wales to celebrate...