Chemist & Druggist articles from November 2008

Chemist & Druggist archives from November 2008

Comment from the Editor: 01.11.08.(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... As the country deals with the early winter chill this week, community pharmacy is bracing itself for its own personal storm. Currency fluctuations, manufacturer quotas and the impending reduction in prices of branded drugs are all conspiring to...

PPD introduces safety valve to catch prescription pricing errors.(Prescription Pricing Division)
November 1, 2008... Prescription Pricing Division admits "numerous errors" in one contractor's #1,500 underpayment Jennifer Richardson NHS paymasters are set to introduce a safety valve to identify contractor payments with high numbers of errors, before...

Anti-obesity drug switch is `significant opportunity'.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The anticipated switch of an anti-obesity drug to non-prescription status is a "very significant" business and professional opportunity, industry representatives have said. The European medicines regulator has recommended GSK's centrally-...

Silence over EPS emergency summit.(electronic prescription service)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Pharmacy representatives have closed ranks over the outcome of emergency talks with ministers in England on the future of the electronic prescription service (EPS). Industry figures refused to comment on whether the meeting had restored...

IN BRIEF: Price cut time lag.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Planned price cuts for branded medicines, due to come into effect in January, will not be reflected in pharmacy reimbursement until payment for February prescriptions, the DH has confirmed. The reassurance would allow contractors to maintain...

IN BRIEF: Call for PPRS full freeze.(Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... AAH chief Mark James has called for a three-month freeze on all parts of the PPRS. He said: "I can see no pressing need to rush ahead when so much remains unclear and so many concerns are unaddressed." The comments follow last week's decision...

IN BRIEF: Change to AAH orders.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... AAH customers will receive normal discount rates for qualifying ethical medicines ordered direct from manufacturers, the wholesaler announced as C+D went to press. From this week AAH will charge manufacturers instead of customers the cost of...

IN BRIEF: Thieves threaten service.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A London contractor has seen his round-the-clock community service jeopardised by thieves. Two raids have forced contractor Nazim Ali to reconsider his plan to make a health information point accessible to the local community 24 hours a day by...

IN BRIEF: Scots contract payments.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Scottish contractors will receive over #4 million to support data collection and electronic transfer of prescriptions, after arrangements for the first part of 2008-09 contract implementation funding were announced in a Scottish Government...

Professional body plans ready for final approval.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "We are not recommending RPSGB mark two," says committee chairman Jennifer Richardson A prospectus for the future professional body will go to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Council for approval next week. The blueprint for the...

Crystal meth seizure alert.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Pharmacists and pharmacy staff must remain alert to potential substance misuse linked to decongestant sales, the RPSGB has said. The reminder came as C+D learned that class A drug methylamphetamine (crystal meth) had been seized in...

Question Time-style debate.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... C+D is set to host a Question Time-style debate on the future professional body. RPSGB president Steve Churton and CEO Jeremy Holmes will be grilled on their plans for the profession by grassroots community pharmacists, and the resulting debate...

AAH cuts fuel levy charge.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... AAH has reduced its fuel surcharge from #14 to #10 per month from today (November 1). The NPA and PSNC both expected the move to put pressure on the other two wholesalers who operated a levy, to similarly reflect falling fuel prices. ...

IN BRIEF: GSK all set.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... GlaxoSmithKline has said it is all set for the start of a deal to supply prescription medicines exclusively via AAH and UniChem from November 1. A company spokeswoman said GSK was very happy with the preparation for the new arrangements. ...

IN BRIEF: Ask About Medicines.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Ask About Medicines Week kicks off on Monday, encouraging people with mental health problems to quiz health professionals about their medicines. www.askaboutmedicines.org Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Winning window display.
November 1, 2008... AAH has started a search for the most artistic pharmacy window display. Customers will be challenged to get creative with cough and cold point of sale material. The winner receives a coffee machine. For further information, call 02476 432346....

IN BRIEF: PR boost.(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... More than nine out of 10 patients rate advice from independent pharmacies as very good or excellent, according to Avicenna chief executive Salim Jetha. The results could help bring a feelgood factor to the sector following negative publicity...

IN BRIEF: Fighting lung cancer.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Pharmacists are being urged to raise public awareness about lung cancer. The profession could play a key part in early detection, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer foundation said, ahead of November's global lung cancer awareness month. ...

IN BRIEF: Access all areas.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Community pharmacists need access to medical care records, industry bodies - including the CCA, NPA and PSNC - have told a Conservative Party health IT policy review. www.chemistandddruggist.co.uk Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Foster on track with railside services plan.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Commuter pharmacies could spread to more Southeastern Railway stations James Clegg A Kent pharmacist plans to convert derelict space at a coastal train station into a convenience pharmacy for commuters. The out of hours...

Sigma tour.(appointments)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Sigma Pharmaceuticals has urged newly appointed pharmacy minister Phil Hope to review reimbursement of pharmacy services. With local Watford MP Claire Ward (Labour), pictured second right, the generic medicines company took more than 30...

Society president: give us a second chance.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... New organisation will champion profession, says RPSGB president Max Gosney The RPSGB president urged pharmacists to forgive the Society's past failings and unite behind a new professional body, at the UniChem convention in Oman. ...

DISPENSARY TALK: 01.11.08.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... What should wholesalers do with fuel levies? "I'm bound to say scrap them. They're not affecting me directly as we're part of a group and I don't really deal with that side of things. But I do think it's bad for the industry." David...

NPA chief delivers upbeat manifesto.(National Pharmacy Association)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... NPA chief executive John Turk laid out his manifesto to represent, support and protect all players in community pharmacy, at the UniChem convention. The NPA had to better reflect the diversity of its membership, Mr Turk stressed. National...

ANALYSIS: A perfect storm.
November 1, 2008... Forecasters predict severe shortages on branded drug stocks this winter. Max Gosney asks how the situation got so bad and what can be done to stop out of stocks striking again Batten down the hatches. A storm is brewing over the medicines...

The right formula?
November 1, 2008... The Department of Health is proposing a radical overhaul of control of entry. Legal expert David Reissner sifts through the plan to see if the new formula will be good for pharmacy The Department of Health's consultation on the future of...

XRAYSER: Carry on at the chemists.(Column)
November 1, 2008... Prone to blushing? Then steer clear of community pharmacies. One is more likely to feel that uncomfortable reddening of the cheeks and a desire to be swallowed up by the earth in a community pharmacy than any other public place. This holds...

IRISH EYE: Are you managing?(Column)
November 1, 2008... It is only once a year that I get the chance for a good public rant. When I was a member of Council I did this every month but now the PSNI AGM, a meeting with an average attendance of 20 or, put another way, about 1 per cent of pharmacists...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
November 1, 2008... How to distinguish depressive symptoms from normal winter blues, and what should you recommend? Key points Emma Wilkinson We have all felt depressed at some point in our lives, following the death of a loved one or through periods...

CLINICAL ALERTS: MHRA and NHS Alerts.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Acomplia (rimonabant) Marketing authorisation across the EU has been suspended following a review of benefits and risk of psychiatric reactions. Patients taking rimonabant have been told to consult their doctor or pharmacist at a convenient...

CLINICAL ALERTS: SPC Changes.
November 1, 2008... Arcoxia 30mg, 60mg, 90mg and 120mg film-coated tablets (etoricoxib) Updated safety advice for patients with hypertension, and a new indication for ankylosing spondylitis. Merck Sharp & Dohme, 01992 467272. Durogesic DTrans (fentanyl) New...

CLINICAL: European regulator calls a halt to rimonabant treatment.
November 1, 2008... Prescribers have been told not to issue any further prescriptions for rimonabant after an EMEA review of new evidence found that the weight- loss treatment's side effects outweighed its benefits. Warnings on the issue have been issued by...

CLINICAL: Committee backs POM to P orlistat switch.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A proposed POM to P switch for GSK weight loss treatment orlistat 60mg has been given the green light by the EMEA's advisory body, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. Final approval and marketing authorisation is likely to...

CLINICAL: MS drug shows promise - and problems.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Study results from 334 subjects have shown that treatment with the humanised monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab is more effective than interferon beta-1a in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. However the phase 2 results, published...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Drug doubles weight loss?(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Phase 2 trial results published by The Lancet suggest experimental drug tensofensine has the potential to produce twice the weight loss seen in currently approved drugs. http://tinyurl.com/59houo Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

CLINICAL BRIEFS: AD symptoms delayed.(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... High levels of education and a demanding job may equip individuals with a reserve of brain function that both delays and reduces the severity of Alzheimer's disease. The suggestion comes from a study of brain glucose metabolism. ...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: C diff infections fall.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Last quarter Clostridium difficile infection figures have fallen 18 per cent in the past six months - and are 38 per cent down from the January to March quarter of 2007, according to the HPA. http://tinyurl.com/5jozdu Copyright: CMP...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Gene determines benefit.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... A genetic study has revealed that colorectal cancer patients whose tumours had the non-mutated version of the K-ras gene showed benefit from treatment with cetuximab. However, those with mutated K-ras showed no improvement in survival. ...

IN BRIEF: H&S to hair's rescue.
November 1, 2008... Head & Shoulders has launched a Damage Rescue variant. Available in shampoo and conditioner formats, Damage Rescue is said to help guard against damage caused by, for example, straightening or colouring, and give highly effective dandruff...

PRODUCT NEWS: Power to the pores.
November 1, 2008... Neutrogena is hoping to make a splash in the skincare market with its latest launch, the Wave Power Cleanser. The hand-held, battery-powered device uses disposable pads activated by water and is said to provide deep cleansing and leave the...

PRODUCT NEWS: Bubble-laden sponges.
November 1, 2008... Spongelle bodywash-infused sponges are newly available from Relax UK. Said to provide a luxurious spa-at-home shower experience, the sponges can be used to exfoliate, purify, massage and hydrate the skin. When wet they lather up, releasing...

PRODUCT NEWS: Results on the spot.
November 1, 2008... Axis-Shield has brought its Afinion HbA1c testing device for detecting or monitoring diabetes to the pharmacy sector. The compact analyser gives results within five minutes of testing a single drop of either blood or urine. It can show how...

PRODUCT NEWS: Imodium back in an Instant.
November 1, 2008... The GSL format of Imodium Instants (loperamide 2mg) is back in stock, reports manufacturer McNeil Products. The SKU went out of stock in July after the brand's `Nothing works faster' campaign triggered `phenomenal growth' for the...

IN BRIEF: Declutter the dispensary.
November 1, 2008... Point of sale specialist ATL Associates is offering a range of pharmacy storage and dispensing solutions following a link up with Spanish firm Metal Apotheka. ATL Associates, tel: 01664 454511 www.atl-associates.com Copyright: CMP...

CLARIFICATION: Frontline Spot On.(Correction notice)
November 1, 2008... The numbers in the Frontline Spot On story (C+D, October 25, p26) were incorrectly supplied. The correct numbers are UniChem, tel: 01773 515498/01773 515499; Sigma, tel: 0800 597 4462. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

PRODUCT NEWS: Needles without pain.
November 1, 2008... LMX4 is a new topical anaesthetic cream available from Ferndale Pharmaceuticals. The lidocaine 4 per cent w/w cream can be used for surface anaesthesia prior to needle prick procedures in patients aged from one month. The cream should be...

PRODUCT NEWS: Glutafin mixes it up.
November 1, 2008... Gluten-free food specialist Glutafin has improved its multipurpose mixes, making them more versatile. The Select gluten-free multipurpose white mix is described as ideal for making sweet cakes, breads, biscuits and pastry, savoury breads...

PRODUCT NEWS: Bblonde's new look.
November 1, 2008... The Jerome Russell Bblonde hair dye brand has been given a new look. Packaging is designed to give a modern, premium and attractive feel, says Jerome Russell. Extra information has been added about ingredients and development times, along with...

GI CONDITIONS: Gut feelings.(Gastrointestinal )
November 1, 2008... Gastrointestinal conditions haven't been top of the list when it comes to setting up pharmacy services. Zoe Smeaton looks at new initiatives that could settle the problem As many as 40 per cent of your patients may suffer from it each...

GI CONDITIONS: GOING PRIVATE.(Gastrointestinal diseases)(Assura Pharmacy offers GastroView test)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Assura Pharmacy now offers patients a private GastroView test, billed as a three in one indigestion test. A blood sample is taken by pricking the patient's finger, and tested in a lab for the presence of H pylori and the levels of digestive...

PRODUCT NEWS: Fresh bread loaf is new gluten-free option for coeliacs.
November 1, 2008... The Juvela fresh bread range has been boosted by the addition of a gluten-free fresh fibre loaf. Juvela provides gluten-free products on prescription for coeliacs. The new bread is a fresh product that is baked and delivered in cases...

PRODUCT NEWS: Bowel health flip chart to aid dialogue.
November 1, 2008... Pharmacists can now use a consultation room flip chart to help them talk to patients about bowel health. The flip chart comes after a DulcoEase survey revealed that although most people in the UK have suffered from at least one common...

PRODUCT NEWS: Profession should manage IBS patients.(www.ibs-relief.co.uk.)(Irritable bowel syndrome)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... More than a third of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients would prefer pharmacies to lead the ongoing management of their condition, according to research from Buscopan IBS Relief. Nice guidelines say IBS patients should be given...

PRODUCT NEWS: Rennie ICE joins heartburn and indigestion range.
November 1, 2008... Rennie ICE, a new product to relieve the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, and the rest of the Rennie range are being supported by a #6 million advertising campaign. Rennie ICE contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, and...

LOCUMS: How to... Be the best locum.
November 1, 2008... A new wave of pharmacists has just been released into the locum pool, but whether you're new on the block or you've been round it a few times, do you know how to be the best and stand out from the rest? The LocumVoice pharmacists have put their...

POSTSCRIPT: It's official, you need your cuppa.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... You already knew you needed that daily coffee to turn yourself into a human being in the morning, but Yale researchers are now suggesting you may not even have to drink it to feel the magic - just holding the warm mug could make you a nicer...

POSTSCRIPT: Open Mike - Mike Hewitson.(Brief article)(Column)
November 1, 2008... The not-so-secret diary of a new pharmacy owner Mike Hewitson is a glutton for punishment. In the midst of economic downturn and with first-time fatherhood looming, Mike has bought his first pharmacy. Follow him from his current home in...

Comment from the Editor: 08.11.08.(Editorial)
November 8, 2008... `Huge turnout for poll that made history' was typical of the headlines we woke up to on Wednesday, as the feeling of change that has swept across the United States in recent weeks culminated in the election of the country's first black...

`Overwhelming majority' of switches correct, PSNC claims.
November 8, 2008... However, PPD taken to task over errors and poor quality customer service by industry leaders Jennifer Richardson An independent audit of prescription switching has confirmed that the "overwhelming majority" of switches are correct,...

Contractors cynical over pricing accuracy.(Survey)(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... Contractors still don't have faith in the Prescription Pricing Division's automated pricing system, and many said they have not been fairly compensated for errors. In a C+D survey of 57 contractors, not one said they were "completely...

Views from the dispensary.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... "We've had a number of forms that have been switched... and to be honest the way they were dealt with was unsatisfactory. I feel if a prescription is switched it should be returned to the pharmacist, as they used to be." Dave Roberts,...

IN BRIEF: Boots' cancer jabs.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... Boots pharmacists are set to vaccinate young women against cervical cancer, as the multiple launched a pilot of the service in 10 London branches this week. The jabs are aimed at women aged 18 to 26 who fall outside the national government...

IN BRIEF: Contraceptives supply.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... The government is assessing community pharmacy's ability to improve access to contraceptives, Lord Darzi has said. The Department of Health was working with PCTs to evaluate pilot access schemes over the next two years, the health minister said...

IN BRIEF: NPA repeats EPS concerns.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... The NPA board has reiterated the need for guarantees that EPS will be business functional and safe for patients before full rollout is contemplated. It follows an emergency meeting with the DH demanded by the leading pharmacy bodies to address...

IN BRIEF: Winter drug woes.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... Health minister Dawn Primarolo has been criticised for her response to a parliamentary question on medicines shortages by UniChem MD Jeremy Main. Ms Primarolo was asked what estimate the DH had made of winter drug shortages. Her answer was...

IN BRIEF: CPD in the spotlight.(continuing professional development )(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... The RPSGB is consulting on proposed professional standards and guidance for continuing professional development (CPD), as well as on a proposal to include failing to comply with CPD requirements as a category for non-referral to the...

Don't tinker, Society told.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... Council members warned not to change the blueprint for new professional body Max Gosney RPSGB Council members have been warned not to tinker with the blueprint for a new professional body when they meet to debate the plans. Any...

RPSGB chief fears sceptics.( Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... The Society faces an uphill battle to convince pharmacists the new professional body is not just a re-badged RPSGB, its chief executive said in papers due to be debated in Council this week. Jeremy Holmes issued the warning as the RPSGB...

Task force to oversee transition.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... A task force charged with ensuring a smooth transition of the RPSGB to a new professional body is due to be agreed by Council members this week. Society president Steve Churton is due to head the working group, and the RPSGB has pledged...

Day Lewis seeks organic growth.
November 8, 2008... Day Lewis chiefs are increasing investment in their staff training and business support in a bid to deliver organic growth. The "looming recession" coupled with last year's #400 million category M clawback had placed "enormous financial...

Fears grow over control of entry.
November 8, 2008... Granting PCTs greater say over contract bids could be "bad for pharmacy and bad for the NHS" Max Gosney Proposals to grant PCTs greater powers to decide on pharmacy contract applications have come under fire from industry...

It's Miller time.(Member of Parliament Andrew Miller; Elton Pharmacy)
November 8, 2008... Ellesmere Port & Neston MP Andrew Miller talks to Lisa Cordingley about the services provided at Elton Pharmacy, during a Building Bridges visit last week. These included a stop smoking clinic, minor ailment schemes and MURs. Ms Cordingley...

RP regs get through parliament.
November 8, 2008... Regulations governing the role of the responsible pharmacist (RP) were laid before parliament last week and will come into effect on October 1, 2009. The Department of Health and the RPSGB are both developing guidance on the regulations,...

Mystery shoppers to hit high street.(National Pharmacy Association)
November 8, 2008... A mystery shopping scheme launched by the NPA and RPSGB is welcome, but must have safeguards in place, industry insiders have said. Shoppers will test pharmacy staff in a range of scenarios, such as the supply of pseudoephedrine or...

Rescue package hands #6.5m back to Scots.
November 8, 2008... Scottish Government reduces generics clawback to neutralise category M cuts Jennifer Richardson Scottish contractors will get back around #6.5 million purchase profits over the final half of this financial year, as a result of a...

DISPENSARY TALK: 08.11.08.
November 8, 2008... Are stock shortages in 2008 better or worse than in previous years? "I don't know about statistics but my gut feeling is that things are getting worse. It does seem that more and more things seem to be going out of stock." Keith...

Be Ready for Winter.
November 8, 2008... Scots are being urged to ask their local community pharmacists for help in treating common winter ailments. Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon and TV presenter Sarah Heaney launched NHS Scotland's fourth annual Be Ready For Winter...

Script switching survey.
November 8, 2008... From time spent sorting prescriptions to the #7m compensation package, a C+D survey reveals how you feel about the PPD's automated prescription processing system The advent of automated prescription processing has not gone smoothly. C+D...

The Prescription Pricing Division responds.(Brief article)
November 8, 2008... Our new system is more effective at identifying forms submitted in the wrong group, which accounts for the increased switching experienced by contractors. The majority of switches we make are made correctly and are due to either an indication...

XRAYSER: Rumble in the pharmacy - Alli vs Clamelle.
November 8, 2008... The NPA is right to call the POM to P switch of azithromycin "an unparalleled opportunity" for the profession. I just don't think it's a great sales opportunity. The chance to get involved in a major public health issue, to support and...

Alarm bells in danger of drowning out jingle bells.
November 8, 2008... I've just been shopping. The shops are piled high with Christmas goods but customers haven't yet developed the glazed look of the desperate shopper on a mission. Christmas is almost always the busiest time of the year for pharmacy. Apart...

OPINION: It's time to wake up pharmacy - the clock is ticking.
November 8, 2008... Just a few days remain for you to feed back on government proposals that look set to fundamentally change pharmacy. However, it appears the pharmacy world is asleep. Proposals that could effectively dismantle control of entry have failed to...

LETTER - Pfizer: no supply issues.
November 8, 2008... Your article `Out-of-stock blackout' (C+D, October 11, p7) indicates that wholesalers are likely to destock medicines due to the revised PPRS discounts that will take effect on January 1, 2009. This raises questions of the potential risk of...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Managing pregnancy problems.
November 8, 2008... From abdominal pain to gestational diabetes, how would you treat the 20 conditions most often seen in pregnant women? Paul Rutter Mrs Wilkinson, aged 28, suspects she is pregnant. Her period is late and she has been experiencing nausea...