Chemist & Druggist articles from November 2006

Chemist & Druggist archives from November 2006

GP praise tarnished by concerns over enhanced pharmacy role.(general practitioners)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Politics Services such as MURs are increasing GP workloads without extra remuneration Jennifer Rigby Doctors approve of pharmacists' enhanced role in principle, but have reservations about it in practice - particularly when it...

All-Party Pharmacy Group review: the doctors' response.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... * 24 hour surgeries do not need pharmacists to be there 24 hours to dispense emergency medicines - the pharmacist could sign the drugs off and the doctor can dispense in out-of-hours emergencies. * The BMA suggested that 100-hour pharmacies...

No guarantee for pharmacy under PBC plans.(practice-based commissioning)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
November 4, 2006... PSNC conference Improved commissioning will be achieved `through dialogue not through a top-down directive' Ailsa Colquhoun Minister for pharmacy Andy Burnham has ruled out any chance of directing practice based commissioners to...

In brief: E-pharmacy logo.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The RPSGB is recruiting online pharmacies to pilot a logo scheme showing that the site they are using is a registered pharmacy. Clicking on the logo transfers customers to information about the pharmacy and the pharmacists involved. "We...

In brief: Counterfeit condoms.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has seized 17 packets of counterfeit condoms from a newsagent in Hounslow, London. The Durex Extra Safe condoms were found not to contain the rubber accelerator normally used by...

In brief: ETP coverage continues.(pharmacies in England use Positive Solution's Analyst system electronic prescription service)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Connecting for Health has accredited Positive Solution's Analyst system for the electronic prescription service. Positive Solutions' commercial manager, Martin Jones, estimates nearly 85 per cent of pharmacies in England will now have...

In brief: Urine bag recall.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Coloplast is recalling the Conveen urine bag 1,500ml, 90cm tube, non- sterile, with a product code of 5062 and lot numbers 546740, 568782 and 576109, due to a blocked valve. More details at www.mhra.gov.uk Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

RPSGB issues warning after violent attack by barred pharmacist.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
November 4, 2006... RPSGB Employers asked to alert Society to `unfit' pharmacists Tom Hawkins Pharmacy owners have been warned about the conduct of an Australian pharmacist who sparked chaotic scenes when he attacked an RPSGB official with an iron bar at...

Derbyshire self-care pilot hailed as huge success.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Practice Pharmacists brief patients on heart disease, asthma and minor ailments Jennifer Rigby A major self-care programme involving Derbyshire contractors is the first successful step towards a new model of the NHS. Speaking at...

Short lifespan for 100-hour pharmacy.(C&A Pharmacy Ltd has closed)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Contract Closure request put in after two months A 100-hour pharmacy that became the fourth dispensary to open in a small Yorkshire town has closed after just eight months. C&A Pharmacy Ltd was granted a contract via the control of...

Pharmacy aids fire-hit homeless.(Wicker Pharmacy extends hours)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Practice Staff lead emergency response A Yorkshire pharmacy stepped up to provide emergency medical supplies to people evacuated from their homes this week when an arson attack triggered explosion fears. Staff from Wicker Pharmacy kept...

Pharmacy remains unsure over rights to e-records.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... IT Project update prompts access concerns Pharmacy figures have voiced concern over access to electronic patient records as Lord Warner revealed fresh details on how the service will work this week. The health minister said NHS staff...

Exemption review confirmed.(prescription charge exemptions)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Medicines Pharmacy minister repeats pledge Pharmacy minister Andy Burnham has reiterated his pledge to review the list of prescription charge exemptions. Responding to a question in the House of Commons, Mr Burnham admitted it was...

In brief: Phone a pharmacist.(NHS Direct promotes pharmacist-led medicine enquiry service)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Health information provider NHS Direct is promoting its pharmacist-led medicine enquiry service in support of Ask About Medicines week, from November 6 to 10. NHS Direct will encourage visitors to follow up online medicine enquiries by...

In brief: Price forecasting model.(Wavedata launches a price forecasting model)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Wavedata has launched a price forecasting model to help drugs manufacturers price products appropriately. Profesy bases calculations on market value, reimbursement price and number of manufacturers. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

In brief: Superdrug in hot water.(legal case)(Superdrug Stores PLC)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has upheld two complaints by Boots against Superdrug for breaching the Medicines Advertising Regulations. Superdrug apologised and instituted additional checks for advertising...

In brief: Ceuta training certified.(Ceuta Healthcare Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Ceuta Healthcare's training courses on selling skills, customer service processes, management development, account management, presentation skills and coaching have been accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management. Other new courses...

In brief: OTC guide.(Mawdsleys launches over the counter guide)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Mawdsleys has launched a monthly guide to OTC products for independent contractors. The P&P brochure features price details on over 500 products and a range of promotional offers. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

In brief: GSK website.(GlaxoSmithKline launches a website)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... GlaxoSmithKline has launched a website that it says will provide pharmacists and pharmacy assistants with the necessary tools to stay ahead in pharmacy. The site, www.MyPharmAssist.co.uk, is part of the company's `Ask your pharmacist first'...

Action on fraud.(National Health Service Counter Fraud Service)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Legal Civil and disciplinary actions planned Emma Wilkinson Fraudsters are to be hit with the full weight of the law under tough new measures designed to counter fraud in the NHS. On top of criminal prosecution, those committing...

Bio-terrorism and bird flu under review.(public health policy)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Scotland Policy launched Scottish pharmacists have been urged to consider a role in responding to bio-terrorism and bird flu in a consultation on public health policy published this week. The review aims to establish a blueprint for...

Scottish repeat script success.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Scotland Contractors secure repeat prescribing powers until 2008 Scottish pharmacists will be able to write and supply repeat prescriptions for the next two years, including appliances and dressings, following a recent extension of the...

Changing rooms at Lambeth.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The RPSGB has unveiled its refurbished assembly hall after an 11-month overhaul. The updated suite features a glass roof, video conferencing facilities and facilities for those with hearing difficulties Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Pharmacists to aid antibiotics campaign.(public awareness campaign)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Practice Leaflets highlight correct drug usage Pharmacists are being invited to take part in a public awareness campaign aimed at improving understanding of antibiotics. `Ask about antibiotics', organised by the RPSGB and the...

Your views: In defence of post-merger negotiations with suppliers.
November 4, 2006... I would like to respond to issues raised in the feature regarding Alliance Boots' post-merger negotiations with suppliers (C+D, October 28, p38). Firstly, I would like to express my concern that C+D elected to publish a feature which centres...

Your views: Feeling down in the mouth.(Letter to the editor)
November 4, 2006... I am writing to state my concerns regarding the article about mouth ulcers and oral health (C+D, October 21, p23). The pharmacy is frequently the first port of call for someone seeking assistance with a painful mouth ulcer and it is...

Your views: Support for UniChem service.(Letter to the editor)
November 4, 2006... I would like to respond to some comments made by Steve Dunn of AAH regarding UniChem's service (C+D, October 14, p16). I have been an independent customer of UniChem for many years and prior to this I worked for Alliance Pharmacy and,...

Comment from the editor: GPs must accept healthcare is a team effort.(general practitioners)(Editorial)
November 4, 2006... Competition and choice, buzzwords of the New Labour Government, promised a revolution across public services. NHS patients could look forward to being king as services were reformed to deliver services when and where they wanted them. There...

Your views: Free us from pre-registration limits.
November 4, 2006... Jen De Val explains why the BPSA is all for choice in placements and is backing the tutors Pre-registration training and, ultimately, registering as a pharmacist, is usually the main aim for pharmacy students in the UK. As such, pre-...

Northern Ireland Notebook.(Raymond Blaney)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... University Street hosted the 81st AGM on October 12. PSNI AGMs are seldom exciting yet this year there was hope that perhaps loyalty and some poignancy, rather than the usual ennui, would prevail and bring out the crowds. In the end there was a...

Xrayser: Time for a rethink?(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Gather together two or more pharmacists over a pint of beer and it is a fair bet that within a few moments the vexed subject of MURs will arise. Reading that the average number of MURs carried out is only 15 per pharmacy, one wonders what...

Xrayser: What a pain.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Fitness gurus might advocate a `no pain, no gain' approach to life, but modern medicine is making pain relief increasingly difficult to come by. A letter from the Commission on Human Medicines last week informed healthcare professionals of...

Shadow minister calls for closer pharmacy link to GP contract.(Sandra Gidley)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... PSNC conference Pharmacists need to network with NHS stakeholders, delegates told Ailsa Colquhoun "The Department of Health has missed a trick in not joining up the GMS and the pharmacy contracts. Relationships and networks are vital...

Join forces to move profession forward.(Michael Holden)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Making a success of practice based commissioning may mean leaving the lead with GPs. That's why collaborative working is so important, Michael Holden, chief executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight LPC said. If LPCs are to change the face of...

Speaker briefing.(Dawn Solomon on anticoagulant monitoring services)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The speaker: Dawn Solomon, pharmacist at John Low Ltd, County Durham. The topic: Providing anticoagulant monitoring services in community pharmacy. * Increased early discharge for patients with deep vein thrombosis, increased use of...

Outgoing chairman issues challenge to department.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Outgoing PSNC chairman Barry Andrews used this week's PSNC conference to challenge the Department of Health to act on practice-based commissioning. He told minister for pharmacy Andy Burnham: "Pharmacists can make a substantial and...

Prescribing most significant move `since 1947'.(Sunderland University to offer independent prescribing courses)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Sunderland University is to offer independent prescribing courses from December and Tony Schofield, who is planning to take the course, feels it will require pharmacists to develop diagnostic skills and to do diagnostic tests. "They will also...

Speaker briefing.(Joel Hirst of Bristol PCT)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The speaker: Joel Hirst, quality improvement facilitator, Bristol PCT The topic: Health inequalities: can community pharmacy play its part? Key points: * Pharmacists can make a difference in areas such as cutting CHD death,...

Features: Pharmacy Champions - Pharmacists leading the way.(Sunil Bajaria of Worthcare Pharmacy)(Interview)
November 4, 2006... Name: Sunil Bajaria Pharmacy: Worthcare Pharmacy, Gallions Reach Health Centre, Thamesmead What has he done? Set up a prescribing support service What have you set up? We see a significant proportion of the prescriptions...

Features: The #12 billion board game.(Table-Top Challenge)(Product/service evaluation)
November 4, 2006... A game based on NHS IT is being billed as a training aid. C+D asks top pharmacy IT firms to put it to the test Max Gosney Move over Monopoly and put Snakes & Ladders back on the shelf, a new board game based on the government's #12...

Pharmacy update: Preventing CV disease.(cardiovascular disease)
November 4, 2006... C+D looks at the medicines available without prescription Alan Nathan Nearly all OTC medicines are for the treatment of minor ailments. There are, though, two medicines available without prescription for the prevention of...

Pharmacy update: Continuing professional development.
November 4, 2006... Reflect Can you list all the indications and contraindications for the OTC sale of simvastatin 10mg? Would you recognise the early warning signs of a heart attack and know what to do about them? Plan If you read this article...

Clinical news: Nice guidance on urinary incontinence in women.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Nice has recommended immediate release non-proprietary oxybutynin as first line drug treatment in women with overactive bladder or mixed urinary incontinence but only after a minimum of six weeks bladder training. New recommendations on...

Clinical news: Rimonabant also improves glucose.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Weight loss drug rimonabant helps improve blood glucose control and cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes, a study in the Lancet concludes. A randomised trial of 5mg or 20mg of the drug in 1,047 obese or overweight...

Clinical news: Statins cut deaths in over-70s.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Over-70-year-olds taking statins may live an average of two more years than their contemporaries, even adjusting for all other variables. This is the conclusion of a study of 1.5 million US veterans, published in the American Journal of...

Products & Marketing: Dtecta probiotics range targets particular needs.
November 4, 2006... The Dtecta range of probiotics was introduced to pharmacy at the Pharmacy Show. The shelf-stable products contain friendly bacteria with each of the six formulations tailored to a particular need. DiarSafe provides Saccharomyces boulardii...

Products & Marketing: SBC has gels to sell.(Simply Beautiful Cosmetics )(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... SBC, a cosmetics brand familiar to viewers of the QVC shopping channel and salon users, is looking for retailers to sell its products to the public. Introducing itself at the Pharmacy Show, the company has put together a shelf display unit...

Products & Marketing: Gen up on cold sores.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Pharmacy assistants can learn more about cold sores through a new training programme from GlaxoSmithKline. Sponsored by the Zovirax cold sore brand, `Word of mouth' covers the causes, management and treatment of the condition. Following...

Products & Marketing: Sail icon to boost sales image.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... NRT brand Nicorette is preparing for the peak quitting season with redesigned packaging, a licence change and a new advertising campaign. The new look packs are said to be inspired by a yacht's sail and convey freedom, optimism and...

Products & Marketing: Launch spot on for Superdrug.
November 4, 2006... The Oxy skincare range has been extended with the launch of the Emergency Zit Blitzer. The anti-spot gel is supplied in a pocket sized tube. It includes three antibacterial agents and a moisturiser. The Zit Blitzer is currently exclusive to...

Products & Marketing: Screen test.
November 4, 2006... The Novogen Menopause Test is to benefit from TV and press advertising this autumn. Ads will be seen on GMTV around Lorraine Kelly's LK Today programme. Of its five million viewers, nearly a quarter are believed to be women of menopausal age....

In brief: Vichy targets over 50s.(product information of Vichy Laboratories)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... NeOvadiol day and night creams have been launched by Vichy Laboratories. Designed for women over the age of 50 experiencing hormonal changes, NeOvadiol increases skin density and reinforces underlying skin structure, thereby improving the...

In brief: Easing congestion.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Vicks Sinex has launched a capsule variant for sufferers of sinus congestion. Each capsule delivers 500mg paracetamol and 12.18mg phenylephrine HCl. One should be taken every four hours up to a maximum of four in 24 hours. The GSL product...

Features: Xmas excess or GI blues?(glycemic index)
November 4, 2006... With Christmas and all its overindulgence not far away, we take a look at the difference between straightforward indigestion and more serious GI conditions Steve Bremer Some people never learn: two-thirds of British people confess to...

Features: Crohn's disease.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the gut wall along any part of its length. The disease flares up occasionally and symptoms vary depending on which part of the gut is affected. The main symptoms are: * pain * urgent diarrhoea,...

Features: An enhanced gluten-free service.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Pharmacists in mid-Sussex are supplying gluten-free foods directly to patients as part of an enhanced service. Following an initial consultation with the pharmacist, patients with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis can place monthly...

Features: Counter dehydration with Dioralyte.(side effect of stomach upsets)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Headaches, constipation, weakness, tiredness and irritability are all signs of dehydration, a common side effect of stomach upsets. While drinking plenty of water will help, rehydration can be boosted by using Dioralyte, says Sanofi Aventis....

Features: Move it with Movicol.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Movicol (and Movicol Paediatric Plain for children) is the only oral treatment licensed for faecal impaction in children, adults, adolescents and the elderly. Its formulation is designed to minimise electrolyte disturbance. The combination of...

Features: Zantac blue man back for Christmas.(marketing of Zantac 75)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare continues its focus on Zantac 75 with its `blue man' commercial returning to television screens over Christmas. The campaign targets women aged 45+, with emphasis on the product's `up to 12-hour relief'...

Features: Let DulcoEase take the strain.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Boehringer Ingelheim Consumer Healthcare launched DulcoEase in July, the first stool softener for self-medication. The launch is supported with a #2.5 million marketing campaign. Anna Maxwell, OTC marketing director at Boehringer, says:...

Boehringer Ingelheim Consumer Healthcare: Experts in Bowel Health.
November 4, 2006... Bowel conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life. They can be painful, uncomfortable, disruptive and unpredictable and not only have a physical effect, but also a huge emotional impact. Many people who suffer with bowel...

Freshly baked from Juvela.
November 4, 2006... Patients can now get freshly baked gluten-free bread from their pharmacy. Juvela's new gluten-free fresh bread is baked and delivered twice a week direct to the pharmacy. Patients can choose between a Wednesday or Friday delivery. ...

Double action Gaviscon.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Reckitt Benckiser's #3.2 million advertising campaign for its new Gaviscon Double Action range runs until December. Gaviscon Double Action contains sodium alginate, calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate to soothe the burning pain and...

Rennie advertises for Christmas.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Bayer Consumer Care has launched an advertising campaign for Rennie, in preparation for the Christmas season when the brand experiences a 30 per cent uplift in sales. Bayer has invested #6 million in relaunching the brand with new...

Dulcolax repackaged.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Boehringer Ingelheim consumer Healthcare has repackaged its Dulcolax tablets and perles using a wave design that is also used for its new DulcoEase product. The new packs also highlight that Duclolax offers "predictable and gentle relief...

Out of hours: Appointment - Co-operative Group.(Co-operative Group Pharmacy has appointed Gordon Farquhar)(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Co-operative Group Pharmacy has appointed Gordon Farquhar, right, as its new head of commercial. A pharmacist, Mr Farquhar joins the group from Halfords, where he was operations general manager. He will lead the marketing, buying and store...

Out of hours: Australia fuels student's passion for pharmacy.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Kent student takes part in congress to discuss teaching and practice A pharmacy student who won the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association student of the year competition represented the UK at an international event held in Cairns,...

Out of hours: Anne wins Paris break next spring.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... A pharmacy assistant from Barnsley has won a Eurostar trip to Paris in C+D's August Pharmacy Travel competition. Anne Bennett, who has worked at Tripharm Lo's Pharmacy for the past 18 months, said she is looking forward to going to Paris in...

Out of hours: Nucare members show off golf skills.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... The final of Nucare's annual golf tournament took place at the Menzies Welcombe Golf Course in Stratford-upon-Avon. Supported by Teva and Actavis, the competition started in May with Nucare members competing in regional events across the...

Kidney Wales running team.(Brief article)
November 4, 2006... Pharmacists throughout Wales, with their English colleagues, joined forces to make a 216-strong team running for Kidney Wales at this year's Cardiff Marathon & Half Marathon. No other team has managed such a feat since the first event in 2002....

Surprise control of entry change.
November 11, 2006... Legal DH `sneaked in' alteration, says expert Control of entry rules have been subject to surprise change in legislation expected to come into force later this year. Those applying for a pharmacy contract will now face a "necessary or...

Pharmacists shortchanged by methadone guidance.(methadone prescribing policy)
November 11, 2006... Medicine Stopping dose payments risks lives and earnings, warns PSNC Tom Hawkins PSNC has called for changes to methadone prescribing policy after the introduction of guidelines that have left contractors out of pocket and triggered...

CHRE calls for RPSGB functions to split.(Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence)(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
November 11, 2006... Society Regulatory functions `should focus on patient safety' Ailsa Colquhoun The professional regulatory functions of bodies such as the RPSGB should be split, a government watchdog has said. In its response to the Foster review...

PSNC: Hand over routine inspections to PCTs.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(primary care trusts)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... PSNC is calling for the RPSGB's inspectorate to hand over to PCTs the responsibility for routine monitoring of pharmacy contractors. In its response to the Foster report, PSNC says that the RPSGB inspectorate is better used carrying out...

Blow fish.(weathercaster Michael Fish)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... There's a cold snap round the corner and apparently a veritable hurricane of media attention on its way for the DH campaign Keep Warm Keep Well, fronted by veteran forecaster Michael Fish. The campaign gives advice for the elderly, disabled and...

In brief: AAH goes to OFT.(Distribution agreements)(Office of Fair Trading)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... AAH has lodged a formal complaint with the Office of Fair Trading over Pfizer's distribution deal with UniChem. AAH believes the logistic services agreement between Pfizer and UniChem restricts competition contrary to the Competition Act 1998...

In brief: Consulting on ethics code.(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is seeking the views of pharmacists and technicians on the content and wording of the revised code of ethics in a consultation that runs until January 2007. The new code is based on seven principles that...

In brief: Lifescan issues alert.(Lifescan UK)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Lifescan UK is alerting pharmacists to the discovery of counterfeit OneTouch Ultra and OneTouch (Basic/Profile) test strips in the USA, India, Dubai and Greece. There have been no reported cases of counterfeit OneTouch Test Strips entering...

In brief: Avicenna conference.(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Avicenna's overseas conference will take place in Marrakech from April 6-10, 2007. The venue will be the five-star Palmeraie Golf Palace Hotel and Resort in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and has an 18-hole golf course. The conference...

In brief: NCSO update.(National Assembly for Wales )(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... The DH and the National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for November prescriptions: moxonidine 200microgram tablets and diamorphine injection ampoules 100mg, 500mg and 5mg. Copyright: CMP...

Burnham admits transition failings.(Andy Burnham )(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Practice Moving oxygen service from pharmacy let down patients, says MP Tom Hawkins Pharmacy minister Andy Burnham has admitted that patients have been let down by the transfer of home oxygen supply away from community pharmacy. ...

Wales agrees funding for all enhanced services.(Community Pharmacy Wales)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Practice Indicative rates comfirmed for final two services Community Pharmacy Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government have agreed the indicative rates for 2006-07 for two enhanced services: supervised administration of medicines and syringe...

Independents and multiples meet at APPG.(All-Party Parliamentary Group)(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Industry Senior figures offer views to inquiry Pharmacy must grab new opportunities with both hands, representatives from the pharmacy industry have urged. Senior industry figures from multiple and independent pharmacies gave their...

Contractors keen on chlamydia tests with Boots.(Brief article)
November 11, 2006... Exclusive UniChem forums identify testing as key post-merger opportunity Max Gosney UniChem customers have quizzed Boots on the possibility of teaming up to offer chlamydia testing at a local level. The retailer discussed...