Chemist & Druggist articles from October 2006

Chemist & Druggist archives from October 2006

We'll boycott Pfizer brands, warn contractors.(rules for Drug wholesalers)
October 7, 2006... Industry Pharmacists angered by proposals for UniChem as sole distributor Max Gosney Pharmacists could boycott Pfizer products in protest at the drugs firm's plans to dictate orders via a single wholesaler. Contractors called for...

Trade slams `arrogant' move by Pfizer.(Pharmaceutical industry upset with Pfizer's drug deal)
October 7, 2006... Industry Fierce reactions from across the industry Max Gosney Pharmacy leaders have lambasted Pfizer's bid to supply drugs direct to pharmacies. Forcing supply via a single wholesaler demonstrated "corporate arrogance" and would...

Crisis summit for wholesalers.(British Association of Pharmaceutical )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Wholesaling Deal sparks emergency talks Tom Hawkins Wholesalers gathered at an emergency meeting this week to co-ordinate a united stance against the Pfizer/UniChem deal. The British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers...

Service `will not suffer'.
October 7, 2006... Industry Pfizer and UniChem outline plans Max Gosney Pharmacists will suffer no setback in service levels when UniChem becomes the sole distributor of Pfizer products, the companies behind the breakaway deal have claimed. ...

Minister ponders expert patient role for pharmacy.(interview with Andy Burnham)(Interview)
October 7, 2006... Exclusive Pharmacy to aid chronic disease sufferers Colin Brown Pharmacies are to be invited to take part in the expert patient programme in which patients are put on courses to allow them to look after their own long-term healthcare....

News in brief: Quit for a holiday.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Two PCTs in Kent are encouraging patients to kick the smoking habit by offering a free holiday. Medway and Swale PCTs offer a free trip worth #2,000 to the chosen lucky quitter. The PCTs insist the holiday only costs as much as a local...

News in brief: Conveen urine bag recall.(urine bag recall)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Coloplast is recalling the Conveen Standard 1,500ml, sterile and non- sterile urine bag, item number 050621 1006, lot numbers 546740, 568782 and 576109 because of a possible fault in the foil from which the bags are made. Copyright: CMP...

News in brief: ABPI suspends Merck.(Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... The UK branch of drugmaker Merck has been suspended from the ABPI following last week's revelations (C+D, September 30, p8 ), that they acted unethically when they took healthcare professionals to dinner. The ABPI said a three month suspension...

PDA slams FtP consultation.(Parenteral Drug Association)(fitness to practice)
October 7, 2006... PDA Response points out fundamental flaws The Pharmacists' Defence Association has made 13 recommendations in a hard-hitting response to the RPSGB's consultation on proposed new fitness to practice (FtP) rules. The PDA says the...

Oxygen service gasping for breath.(pharmacy based oxygen service)
October 7, 2006... Contract Contractors still adjusting schedules to supply pharmacies and meet patient demand Jennifer Rigby The new home oxygen scheme is not coping, a leading MP has claimed, just as the system was scheduled to completely replace the...

Oxygen headset payments.(notice for pharmacy contractors)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Pharmacy contractors who provided an oxygen cylinder service on or after September 30, 2005, can claim a one-off payment for withdrawal from service of authorised headsets. Payments for the continued use and maintenance of these headsets...

PSNI highlights nine areas for Foster debate.(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... PSNI Society says membership will `dictate our position' The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has highlighted nine areas from the Foster Report for members to consider prior to the debate at next week's AGM. The report, which...

Kerr resigns to take up registrar post.(Brendan Kerr resigned from Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... PSNI president Brendan Kerr has resigned to take up the post of PSNI registrar and head of professional services. Mr Kerr has been president since October 2005, and was also chairman of the PSNI council. PSNI vice-president Raymond Anderson...

RPSGB is supporting new era for PCTs.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(primary care trust)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... RPSGB Reduced PCT numbers will benefit patients and taxpayers The shake-up in the primary care trust system has been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The new PCT system, which came into effect on October 1, reduced the...

News in brief: Birdsgrove bids.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Birdsgrove House, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's former convalescent home, attracted a healthy number of offers before the closing date for bids last week. The grade II listed mansion was on the market through agent Knight Frank with a...

News in brief: MUR toolkit.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Kent LPC has produced a toolkit for contractors so they can form local groups of pharmacists to visit surgeries to explain to GPs what MURs are all about. The toolkit includes a template letter from the contractors and the LPC to set up...

News in brief: One in the eye.(research on Eye drops )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Eye drops could soon be superseded by a method of delivery that uses nanotechnology. Dr John Tsibouklis, reader in polymer science at Portsmouth University, said his research team had developed a way to administer drugs to the eye using...

News in brief: EPS safe.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... The departure of provider Accenture from contracts worth #2 billion in the NHS IT programme will have no impact on the EPS system. A spokesperson from Connecting for Health said there would be "minimal disruption". Copyright: CMP...

NPA sets out 11 steps to pharmacy heaven.(National Pharmaceutical Association)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... NPA Reaction to APPG inquiry highlights areas for action in pharmacy Ailsa Colquhoun Community pharmacy has great potential to increase its contribution to the NHS. However, there are barriers to overcome if the vision is to become a...

Pharmacy to lead first class healthcare.(usage of prescription drugs)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Pharmacy should play a leading role in the future of primary healthcare, a leading pharmaceuticals director has said. In a paper submitted to the APPG inquiry on the future of pharmacy in England, group managing director of AAH...

Pharmacy on the flu front line.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Medicines Jab delays force DH to look for alternatives Pharmacists will be on the front line in the battle against influenza as the government's seasonal campaign kicks off. Delays in the supply of the flu jab, possibly until December...

Right jab: how UK is gearing up to fight flu.(influenza vaccines usage)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Northern Ireland: "There is no problem regarding the supply of vaccine for the flu programme in Northern Ireland. All vaccine has now been delivered to the province." Chief medical officer for NI, Dr Michael McBride. Scotland: "Despite...

Your views: Pfizer: why we chose UniChem.
October 7, 2006... David Watson, head of trade at Pfizer, responds to critics of its latest initiative As I'm sure you are aware, Pfizer announced a major patient safety initiative last week (C+D, September 30, p6). One week on, we have had time to reflect...

Pfizer: there are still more questions than answers.
October 7, 2006... Comment from the editor The sector couldn't be any clearer about where it stands on this If the decision makers at Pfizer did not already know how pharmacists would react to their decision to switch to direct supply, using UniChem as...

Your views: UniChem will deliver on its promises.(distribution agreements)
October 7, 2006... UniChem managing director David Coles is confident of a successful distribution partnership with Pfizer I would like to offer you some clarity on the background to the recent announcement from Pfizer. Along with other national...

Northern Ireland Notebook: Patient registration.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Mrs Flynn asked to buy some quinine sulphate 200mg tablets. She recently started suffering with leg cramp at night so quinine was recommended by a kindly neighbour. I declined the sale but recommended she see her GP. It was Friday...

Xrayser: They're doing what?
October 7, 2006... The arrogance and short-sightedness of Pfizer in choosing to distribute its products through a single wholesaler (C+D, September 30, p6) simply beggars belief. This decision could single-handedly disrupt the basis on which the UK supply...

Xrayser: MUR rethink looks hopeless.
October 7, 2006... I agree with Andy Murdock that I need to think again about meeting MUR targets (C+D, September 30, p6). One day last week all six of my pre-booked MUR appointments failed to turn up, leaving me feeling extremely frustrated, not to mention...

Pharmacy Champions: Pharmacists leading the way.(interview with Cath Boury)(Interview)
October 7, 2006... Name: Cath Boury Pharmacy: Newland Community Pharmacy, Hull What has she done?: Achieved Investors in People status What have you set up? Last year, when the pharmacy was coming up to its 10th anniversary, we felt that we had...

Feature: Business indicators.
October 7, 2006... August was a slow month for chemists' sales volumes, says Peter Varley, not helped by the cooler weather The latest, robust figures on activity in the high street and in the housing market suggest that most consumers have absorbed the Bank...

Pharmacy update: Trouble afoot.(symptoms of foot diseases)
October 7, 2006... How to advise on common problems that affect an over-worked, often neglected and occasionally abused part of the body Alan Nathan Even without any strenuous activity the average person walks about four miles each day and subjects his...

Pharmacy update: Continuing professional development.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Reflect Can you list three main differences between hard and soft corns? Do you know the different modes of action of the ingredients in corn-removing plasters? Do you know how salicylic acid works in the treatment of verrucas? Plan...

Hope offered for opioid-induced constipation.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... The selective peripheral opioid-receptor antagonist, alvimopan, can relieve the symptoms of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients with non-cancer pain, according to phase III study data, presented at the Fifth Congress of the European...

In brief: Flaminal for wound therapy.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... An alginate gel for moist wound healing has been launched by Ark Therapeutics. Flaminal contains an antimicrobial enzyme system that can be used on a wide range of wounds with the potential for an acquired infection. The gel is applied...

In brief: OptiClik diabetes pen launches.(product introduction of OptiClik)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Sanofi-Aventis has launched OptiClik, a diabetes pen for use with Lantus (insulin glargine) and Apidra (insulin glulisine). OptiClik is a reusable cartridge device and can dial up to 80 units of insulin at a time in single unit increments...

TORCH fails primary endpoint but highlights unforeseen pneumonia risk.
October 7, 2006... Olwyn Glynn Owen reports from the European Respiratory Society meeting held in Munich last month Seretide (salmeterol/fluticasone) in COPD reduced relative risk of dying compared to placebo by 17.5 per cent and absolute risk by 2.6 per...

Products & Marketing: Hands up for First Defence.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Protective Hand Foam has been added to the Vicks First Defence offering from Procter & Gamble. It is said to inactivate 99 per cent of cold and other germs on the hands and provide ongoing protection for up to three hours. A hand, once...

Products & Marketing: Rolled out for aches and pains.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... PainEaze, described as a fast-acting 100 per cent natural pain reliever, is now available in a roll-on format. It contains the same formulation as the existing spray but allows for more direct and discreet application, says manufacturer PRD....

Products & Marketing: Fast thinking Zovirax promotion.(Zovirax cold sore cream )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Zovirax cold sore cream hits the television screens this week in a #1 million campaign that will run until January, coinciding with the key selling period for the product. The `Think fast think Zovirax' creative features a woman discussing...

Products & Marketing: E45 softens babies' bottoms.(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... The E45 dry skincare range has been extended to include a nappy cream. According to Reckitt Benckiser, its anti-enzyme formula is clinically proven to allow skin to breathe while protecting against nappy rash. The cream neutralises...

Products & Marketing: Omega-3: the next big thing.(Omega-3 fortefied supplements have a growing market demand)
October 7, 2006... Seven Seas' Tom Hardman spoke to C+D about making the most of the growing interest in omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 seems hard to avoid. New functional foods containing this apparent wonder ingredient are appearing on the supermarket shelves...

Products: Compeed's vanishing act.(Compeed )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Compeed is offering a new way to treat cold sores in the shape of the Compeed Cold Sore Patch. The product heals, conceals and reduces the risk of cold sore contamination, says the company. Each patch lasts at least eight hours and make-up...

Products in brief: Bigger, faster steriliser.(product information of baby feeding bottles )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... A new steam steriliser is now available from Avent. The Express II Microwave Steam Steriliser can hold six baby feeding bottles and offers a sterilisation cycle of two minutes, says the company. If the lid is left unopened, the contents remain...

Products: Calprofen correction.(Correction notice)
October 7, 2006... The correct prices for Calprofen ibuprofen suspension are, for the new 200ml P variant, #5.69, and for the GSL 100ml bottle, #3.49; and packs of eight and 16, #2.79 and #4.99 respectively, and not as published in the babycare supplement, (C+D,...

Feature: Fit for purpose.
October 7, 2006... With more emphasis on improving the customer experience, community pharmacies need to appeal aesthetically as well as functionally Sarah Thackray "If there is a single trend that sums up the direction of community pharmacy interior...

Teeside pharmacy looks to the future.
October 7, 2006... All set to provide the type of community pharmacy services expected to be required in 10 years time, Marton Pharmacy has been designed by Dollar Rae to provide enhanced tiers of service under the new pharmacy contract. Located on a new...

Key design elements.
October 7, 2006... * Well thought out design, optimising available or potential space. * Space zones to create defined services and product categories. * Efficient, productive dispensary. * Strong visual presence, internally and externally. *...

Shopfitting directory.
October 7, 2006... A 2006-07 edition of a shopfittings and display directory has been published by the Shop and Display Equipment Association (SDEA). The directory gives access to around 200 suppliers of retail display and thousands of diverse products and...

Room for improvement means service growth.(innovation of West Bromwich pharmacy )
October 7, 2006... Amarjit Sidhu identified an opportunity to take his West Bromwich pharmacy to `the next few levels' When the property next door to his West Bromwich pharmacy came up for sale, Amarjit Sidhu seized the opportunity to build on his range of...

Way forward for the multiples.(Lloydspharmacy investments)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... With a substantial development programme underway, Lloydspharmacy is investing in its pharmacies to ensure they are suitable for the challenges that a changing marketplace brings. The group started installing consultation areas within its...

Rowlands is going for consultation.(Rowlands installs new equipments)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... New consultation rooms fitted to a high specification and including clinical facilities are now being rolled out to every pharmacy in the Rowlands group as a result of the new pharmacy contract. The rooms have a PMR system linked to the main...

Full frontal.(Profit Pusher shelf management system)(RTC Europe intoduces American shelf management system)
October 7, 2006... An American shelf management system that automatically pushes products to the front of the shelf is currently on trial in several UK pharmacy chains. Profit Pusher spring loads oval, round, square and double-stacked products, providing...

Automated picking machine is sent from above.(Chambers Chemist installs Rowa automated picking machine)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Chambers Chemist is concentrating on OTC medicines Chambers Chemist has just relocated its Hartlepool pharmacy across the road to be next door to a health centre. "Because the new premises doesn't have room for storage space on the ground...

Appointment: AS Watson Group.(Euan Sutherland promoted at AS Watson Group )(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... AS Watson Group has promoted Euan Sutherland to the position of chief executive of AS Watson (Health & Beauty) UK. He will continue to manage Superdrug and will take on additional responsibility for the Savers local community health, household...

Appointment: Ascribe.(appointment of Chris Dickson as chief operating officer)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Ascribe, supplier of IT systems to the healthcare market, has appointed Chris Dickson as chief operating officer. Dr Dickson started his career as a GP before moving into the private sector. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Out of hours: Kids dig a greener future.(Lloydspharmacy donates `living classrooms' to Coventry kids)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... Lloydspharmacy donates `living classrooms' to Coventry kids Schoolchildren making a difference around Coventry Lloydspharmacy and the Woodland Trust are offering schools in Coventry free packs of trees to plant in their grounds. ...

Out of hours: Pharmacists and friends join Welsh run.(Kidney Wales Foundation charity )(Event overview)(Brief article)
October 7, 2006... More than 200 pharmacists, health professionals and their friends throughout Wales will put on their running shoes for the Kidney Wales Foundation charity on October 15. The 210 runners hope to raise #100,000 for the charity by taking part...

Coles quits as BAPW chief over Pfizer deal.(David Coles quits British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Wholesaling UniChem MD resigns from trade body over `conflict of interest' Tom Hawkins UniChem managing director David Coles has resigned as chairman of wholesalers' trade body, the BAPW, following the company's distribution tie-up...

Pressure piles on Pfizer.(Pfizer Inc.)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Wholesaling Call for open-table discussions Pressure is mounting on Pfizer to address industry concerns in the wake of the company's shock announcement that it is to distribute prescription medicines exclusively through UniChem. ...

Burnham backs pharmacy expansion in all-party review.(interview)(Interview)
October 14, 2006... Exclusive Minister keen for pharmacy to be part of integrated local health services Colin Brown and Tom Hawkins Pharmacy minister Andy Burnham has revealed he is willing to give evidence to the all-party group investigating pharmacy's...

GPs consider generic options.(general practitioners voice over distribution pact betweenn Pfizer Inc and Unichem)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Wholesaling Doctors voice concerns over plans Dispensing doctors have added their concerns to the mounting disquiet over Pfizer's exclusive distribution plans with UniChem. The Dispensing Doctors' Association said it had been inundated...

In brief: Contract survey.(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Researchers are urging community pharmacists to take part in the national survey into the new pharmacy contract led by Keele University. "It's in their [pharmacists] interests to help us," said Professor Alison Blenkinsopp. "What is 20...

In brief: AAH in Singapore.(AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... AAH Pharmaceuticals plans to offer pharmacists a glimpse of the future at its 2007 convention in Singapore next April. The event will be themed `Understanding Tomorrow Today' and will include tips on prospering under practice based...

In brief: Scorn in the USA.(Merck and Company Inc)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... British patients fighting a legal battle with drug manufacturer Merck over the withdrawn painkiller Vioxx have failed in their attempt to have their cases tried in the USA. A New Jersey court has judged that around 50 claims must be brought...

In brief: Change in chief.(Company Chemists' Association appoints Rob Darracott as chief executive )(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... The Company Chemists' Association has appointed Rob Darracott as its chief executive. Mr Darracott replaces Colin Baldwin who will retire early next year, confirmed the CCA. Mr Darracott is currently director of corporate and strategic...

In brief: Co-op buys.(mergers and acquisitions)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... The Co-op has boosted its pharmacy portfolio to 434 branches after buying two sites in Wales. The group purchased pharmacies at Port Tennant and Gorseinon near Swansea for an undisclosed fee. All 24 existing staff will retain their jobs,...

Put your thinking caps on.(use grey matter to control machines)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Brain caps that allow us to use grey matter to control machines have gone on display at the Science Museum in London. Visitors can play a game of mindball which challenges them to score goals by thought alone. The technique should come...

Contractors fume over doctors' independent prescribing doubts.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Medicines Pharmacists reject GP call for tighter control on prescribing Ailsa Colquhoun and Max Gosney Pharmacists have hit back at GPs over claims that the profession can't be trusted with independent prescribing powers. ...

Pharmacy must adapt to thrive.(pharmacists continually encounter the gap between medical and social care)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Policy IPF calls for changes to NHS structure Wide-ranging change inside and outside the profession is needed if pharmacists are to reach their full potential, the Independent Pharmacy Federation has said in its response to the All-Party...

Nucare unveils five-point APPG response.(develop enhanced services)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Policy Symbol group's plan to hit service targets Ailsa Colquhoun Nucare has outlined a five-point plan to develop enhanced services in its response to the APPG's inquiry into the future of pharmacy. According to Mahesh Shah, chief...

Show me the money.(funding pharmacy)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... The funding pharmacy needs to prosper, according to the IPF * Dedicated budgets at PCT level for pharmacy services. * Money released by reduced hospitalisations; better health outcomes; and more expert patients to be reallocated into...

Paracetamol report fires up law and ethics chiefs.(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... RPSGB Contractors to be reminded of legal position The RPSGB is to clarify the position on paracetamol sales, following a report that suggested pharmacies were selling excessive quantities of the drug. Contractors will be reminded of...

Advances in the training of pharmacists.(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Lewis Macdonald MSP was able to see the advances made in the training of pharmacists when he visited the school of pharmacy at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Scotland's deputy minister for health and community care was given a tour of...

In brief: Great consultations.(NPA has launched guidance)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... The NPA has launched guidance on how to get the best from consultation areas. The guides are available free to pharmacists in England, Wales and Scotland. NPA members can access the booklets by visiting www.npa.co.uk Copyright: CMP...

In brief: Dispensing streamlined.(computerised dispensing system)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Lloydspharmacy is to implement a new computerised dispensing system at all 1,540 branches. The complete medication and patient support system, which was developed for the chain by Capgemini, will be rolled out across the branches, by the end of...

In brief: About Medicines Week.(medicines reminder charts)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Posters, fold-out medicines reminder charts, lung and breast cancer leaflets and action packs are available for pharmacists wishing to support About Medicines Week, which runs from November 6-10. Details on how to download and order these...

In brief: NCSO details.(No Cheaper Stock Available)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... The DH and the National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for October 2006: * Diamorphine 5mg injection ampoules. * Diamorphine 100mg injection ampoules. * Diamorphine 500mg injection...

In brief: Octet for Day Lewis.(goal of owning 200 pharmacies by 2009)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Day Lewis has moved nearer to its goal of owning 200 pharmacies by 2009 with the purchase of eight pharmacies. The group has acquired four in Gloucestershire and four in South East England. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

In brief: B&O to make monitor.(produce a device that will record whether patients are taking the right medicine)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... TV and hi-fi specialist Bang & Olufsen is working with AstraZeneca to produce a device that will record whether patients are taking the right medicine. The device measures the patient's dose intake and compliance and with Bluetooth technology...

PSNC reveals allowances and fees structure.
October 14, 2006... Contract Details of #1.9 billion contract money distribution published Ailsa Colquhoun PSNC has unveiled details of the individual allowances and fees that underpin the #1,911 million 2006-07 pay deal. In its September newsletter,...

Numark pharmacy at Loughborough University.(pharmacy has opened on-campus at Loughborough University)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... A Numark pharmacy has opened on-campus at Loughborough University. The Medicine Box will be offering smoking cessation, pregnancy tests, cholesterol and lifestyle checks for students. Meena Bhandari, owner of the pharmacy, said: "With students...

Firms see red over price cuts.(prices of glucose strip)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... Industry Blood glucose strip price cuts slammed Manufacturers have slammed a move to cut pharmacists' purchase profits by 12 per cent on blood glucose test strips (C+D, September 16, p8). The British In Vitro Diagnostics Association,...

Pharmacy gets EHC boosts.(staff training for pharmacies)(Brief article)
October 14, 2006... PSNC Template service helps EHC development Pharmacy-led sexual health services have been boosted by the publication of a template service specification for emergency hormonal contraception services. The guides will assist primary care...

LPCs vie for top role in urgent care services.
October 14, 2006... Practice Contractors tell DH how pharmacy can help Ailsa Colquhoun South East Forum LPCs are working on a joint project to help inform the Department of Health's forthcoming strategy on urgent care. PSNC, alongside other pharmacy...