Chemist & Druggist articles from September 2006

Chemist & Druggist archives from September 2006

Independents fear grocers will kill community sector.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Retailing Independent pharmacy could collapse within 10 years, warns IPF Ailsa Colquhoun The independent community pharmacy sector could collapse within 10 years unless grocers are stopped from opening exempt pharmacies, the...

Chlamydia service goes national.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Practice Feedback shows demand for testing Boots will roll out a paid-for chlamydia testing service to 1,000 pharmacies in England and Wales this October. The national service, costing around #25, comes in response to high demand for...

Pay and working conditions are top concerns.
September 2, 2006... Practice Society's workforce census will inform future policy development Gary Paragpuri Salary levels, recognition for good work and physical working conditions are the biggest grumbles among pharmacists in Great Britain, according...

Learn with NPC Plus.(national prescribing centre)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Education Half-day seminars to bolster CPD C+D is joining forces with the National Prescribing Centre to help pharmacists with their CPD. See page 20 for details of half-day seminars on respiratory disease and cardiovascular risk being held...

Back to work on a blog.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Balancing the baby, the hubby at home and the challenges of working in a community pharmacy. Welcome to the world of Dee Spencer who has teamed up with C+D to share the ups and downs of returning to work as a pharmacist in an exclusive...

Wizard - tin man.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... A tin man will be bringing a smile to the faces of children of all ages arriving at Alder Hey Hospital. The life size, stainless steel structure was donated by ventilation ductwork manufacturer Senior Hargreaves. While locals debate his...

Pharmacists clash with security chiefs over airport safety.
September 2, 2006... Medicines Dispute rages over verifying medication in hand luggage Max Gosney A row has broken out between the UK's biggest airport pharmacy operator and security services over who is responsible for the safety of liquid medicines taken...

Pre-reg places under pressure in South East.(Education Pharmacy schools )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Education Pharmacy schools unsure if sufficient places available to meet demand Tom Hawkins A question mark is hanging over the number of pre-registration training places available to the growing number of pharmacy students in South...

The pharmacy show 2006: 15 & 16 October 2006 NEC Birmingham.(Pharmacy Shows)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Don't miss the Pharmacy Show of the year! Products new and old will be on display at the Pharmacy Show, where more than 150 suppliers will present their wares. Launches to look out for on the day include: * A gold medical ID tag...

RPSGB says let pharmacists help junior doctors prescribe.(National Health Service)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Practice NHS not utilising pharmacists' skills The NHS is failing to make the most of pharmacists' skills when it comes to prescribing despite being experts in medicines, according to a Royal Pharmaceutical Society director. The RPSGB...

MURs change behaviour.(cardiovascular agents user statistics)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Multiples Reviews prompt patient rethink Almost half of patients say they will change how they take medicines following a medicines use review, an audit by Lloydspharmacy has found. The research, which coincides with the company's...

IN BRIEF: Birdsgrove auction.
September 2, 2006... The historic contents of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's former convalescent home - Birdsgrove House - were sold off at auction on August 23 and 24. The proceeds from the sale, which was conducted by Bamfords Ltd, are yet to be released....

IN BRIEF: Minor ailments scheme.(treatment of backaches)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... A pilot minor ailments scheme trialled in three pharmacies in Haringey is to be available in all of the London PCT's 54 pharmacies. Under the scheme patients are referred to a pharmacy by their GP and are treated for problems such as...

IN BRIEF: Morrisons hits for six.(Morrisons aims to open six pharmacies )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Morrisons aims to open six pharmacies this autumn as it plans to double its portfolio by 2009. "We will acquire two further pharmacies in September and have four to open in the next few months," a spokesman told C+D. The firm has...

IN BRIEF: CPPE seeks your input.(Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education is seeking to appoint pharmacists and technicians to its stakeholder and user advisory board. The 12 board members will be expected to provide external expertise and professional opinion on...

Care home contracts go to `preferred providers'.(British United Provident Association)
September 2, 2006... Practice Home taken over by BUPA told it would lose contract Ailsa Colquhoun Pharmacists have called for compensation after being dumped overnight by their new care home operator. Forman's Chemist in Manchester serviced a 300-bed...

BUPA responds.(British United Provident Association)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... BUPA judges every case on its own merits, according to a spokesman. Alistair How, operations director for BUPA Care Homes, said: "We would typically maintain the relationship in the immediacy of acquiring a new care home, but review all...

Lloydspharmacy branded electric cars.
September 2, 2006... Lloydspharmacy branded electric cars will soon be seen around Coventry and Birmingham. The chain is trialling Daimler Chrysler's Smart ev cars, which will be used by all staff at head office for local journeys and to ferry the senior team to...

Scotland issues MAS advice.(minor ailments service)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Practice Difficulties with form highlighted Matters relating to the administration of the minor ailments service have prompted the Scottish Executive Health Department to issue advice to contractors. In a circular, Dr Jonathan Pryce,...

PharmBay offers stock auction site.(PharmBay the new intra-pharmacy online stock auction site)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... IT Pharmacists trade unwanted stock PharmBay, the new intra-pharmacy online stock auction site, has said it now has 60 pharmacies using the site. The site, which allows pharmacists to sell or swap unwanted stock, also allows users to...

Legislation changes lead to new Society CD advice.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
September 2, 2006... RPSGB Law and ethics bulletin offers guidance on new CD legislation Gary Paragpuri Guidance on legislation changes affecting controlled drugs has been issued by the RPSGB this week. Topics such as record keeping, gathering evidence...

Essex PCTs go ahead with new services.(primary care trusts)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Campaign New services on offer to pharmacists Tom Hawkins Training on dermatology and avian flu vaccination are among new services being offered to pharmacists in Essex. Uttlesworth PCT has arranged a training day prior to rolling...

NHS 24 broadens advice on offer.(National health service)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Scotland Callers can talk to pharmacists As part of ongoing improvements being made to NHS 24, Scotland's NHS helpline, the public will be given the option to speak to a pharmacist about any queries they might have about their prescription...

RPSGB adds voice to CD record-keeping proposals.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(controlled drugs)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... RPSGB Society responds to MHRA proposal Pharmacists should be able to submit original private prescriptions for schedule 1 to 3 controlled drugs, and should not have to retain copies, the RPSGB has said. Responding to the MHRA's...

IN BRIEF: Update MCQ.
September 2, 2006... This week's issue contains the questionnaire for the following Pharmacy Update modules carried in August: haemorrhoids (1377), Crohn's disease (1378) and low back pain (1379). Pharmacy Update is a distance learning programme accredited by...

Pharmacy Champions - Pharmacists leading the way.(interview with Anna Smith)(Interview)
September 2, 2006... What have you set up? I have established very strong relations with a team of local GPs through a series of training sessions. These started six years ago because two GPs were returning to work after maternity leave and were not feeling up...

Comment from the editor: Something more than platitudes, please.(British Pharmaceutical Conference)(Editorial)
September 2, 2006... Pharmacists seem to be happiest when they are working with fellow pharmacists and other healthcare colleagues. This was an unsurprising finding in the latest pharmacy workforce census from the RPSGB. However, as pharmacists tend not to work...

Your views: Damaging the health of the nation.(drugstores)
September 2, 2006... What supermarkets want is unfair and prejudicial to the public interest, says the IPF The following letter was sent by Noel Baumber on behalf of the Independent Pharmacy Federation to the Competition Commission in response to its...

Northern Ireland Notebook: Jolly good fellows.(Achievements and awards for Mrs Sheelagh Hillan and Dr Sean O'Hare )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Congratulations to Mrs Sheelagh Hillan and Dr Sean O'Hare on receiving their fellowships of the Society and to Professor James McElnay, already a fellow of PSNI, awarded a fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society - an unusual honour for...

Xrayser: A little passion goes a long way.(economic aspects)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... It is reassuring to know that our European colleagues are undergoing upheavals on the same scale as our own (C+D, August 26, p32). And some of them are having a more torrid time than us. Italian pharmacists, in stereotypical national style,...

Xrayser: I wish they all could be Californian.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... A story about talking medicines bottles (C+D, August 26, p12) reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. But as long as you make sure, like Alice, that the bottle pleading with you to `Drink Me' does not contain poison, nothing unexpected should...

Business statistics - Compiled by Peter Varley.(market research)
September 2, 2006... Retail sales Survey evidence suggests that retail sales continued to grow in the year to July, albeit less than in June. It also points to a sharp acceleration in chemists' sales. But estimates paint a different picture - of slightly lower...

Pharmacy update: Fungal feet.(antifungal agents)
September 2, 2006... C+D reviews the features and treatment of athlete's foot and other common fungal skin infections Alan Nathan Topical fungal infections are mostly caused by dermatophytes, organisms that invade and proliferate on the outermost, horny...

Pharmacy Update: Continuing professional development.(treatment of common dermatophyte infections)
September 2, 2006... Reflect Do you know which antifungals also have antibacterial properties and why the latter might be useful when treating athlete's foot? Can you remember how long treatment should continue with different athlete's foot preparations? Do...

Clinical news - Cough guidelines: OTC role is limited, says BTS.(over-the-counter)(British Thoracic Society)
September 2, 2006... There is little evidence that over the counter medicines have specific pharmacological effects in treating acute cough, says the British Thoracic Society. However, it acknowledges that many patients report a benefit from using various cough...

Clinical news - Herceptin for early breast cancer.(National Institute for Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Herceptin (trastuzumab) has been recommended for use in early breast cancer by the medicines watchdog Nice. The recommendation is for use in early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, except where there are concerns about the woman's cardiac...

Clinical news - Hepatitis C recommendation.(National Institute for Clinical Excellence )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Nice is recommending peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of mild chronic hepatitis C. It is also recommending peginterferon alfa on its own for people unable to tolerate ribivirn or for whom...

IN BRIEF: Larger Tubifast launched.(product information of bandages)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Tubifast is now available in a size suitable for fitting round large adult trunks. Tubifast Purple has a flat width of 25cm and a full stretch width of 105cm, and is suitable for people with a trunk circumference of between 70-140cm. The...

IN BRIEF: Ensure Plus Commence.
September 2, 2006... A starter variety pack of Ensure Plus nutritional drinks is available on prescription. Ensure Plus Commence has ACBS approval and is suitable for an initial five to 10 day prescription. It consists of 10 220ml tetrapacks allowing patients...

IN BRIEF: New vaginal dilator in DT.(Drug Tariff)(Product information of Femmax vaginal dilator kit )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... The Femmax vaginal dilator kit has been listed in the Drug Tariff Part IX from this month. The kit contains four dilators, graduated in size and length to allow a natural progression during treatment, says the manufacturer. The Femmax...

IN BRIEF: Taxotere SPC update.(Summary of Product Characteristics)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Taxotere (docetaxel) has had a new indication approved, for use in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. The combination can be used for the treatment of patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma, including adenocarcinoma of the...

IN BRIEF: Childhood immunisation.(conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal disease)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Wyeth has announced that its conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal disease, Prevenar, is to be included in the UK national childhood immunisation programme. All babies will be offered Prevenar at two, four and 13 months (two, four and 15...

IN BRIEF: Efexor additions.(marketing)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Wyeth has launched new pack sizes of its antidepressant Efexor and Efexor XL (containing venlafaxine hydrochloride). The new packs are: Efexor Tablets 37.5mg 28s; Efexor Tablets 75mg 28s; Efexor XL Capsules 75mg 14s; and Efexor XL capsules...

Products & Marketing: Nucare offers first aid.(marketing)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Branded first aid kit products are the latest additions to the own- label offering from Nucare. Packs are colour coded for easy identification with key messages included in an easy to understand format, says Nucare. The range includes blue...

Products & Marketing: Tixylix is active with Tumble Tots.(product information of cough medicine Tixylix )(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Children's cough medicine Tixylix has been redesigned ready for the winter season. Designed for increased shelf stand-out, the packs clearly identify the five different variants. The range has been restructured, says manufacturer Novartis....

Products in brief: Deep breath with Sudafed.(product information)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... The Sudafed brand has been expanded with the addition of two variants. Non-Drowsy Sudafed Inhalant Oil contains camphor, eucalyptus oil, levomenthol and peppermint oil for the relief of nasal congestion. Drops should be placed on a tissue or in...

Products & Marketing: Hotties soothe backs.(product information of cover and wrap around belt)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Hotties Back-Wrap is designed to sooth muscle strain and lower back pain. It has a quilted fabric cover and wrap around belt, making it easy to apply warmth to any area of the back. It can be worn under or over clothing. The back wrap is...

Products & Marketing: Campaign is GSK's acid test.(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... TV advertising for Sensodyne Pronamel, GSK's toothpaste said to help protect teeth from the effects of acid erosion, breaks this week. The 30-second creative, showing until mid-November, describes the problem of acid erosion and explains how...

Products & Marketing: Poligrip sticks to its gums.
September 2, 2006... Poligrip ComfiSeal Strips make their TV debut this month in a #1.4 million campaign running till mid-November. The 30-second ad features lifestyle shots of a confident denture- wearing career woman combined with a product demonstration to...

Products in brief: Gaviscon sees double.(product information of tablets)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Double Action Tablets and Liquid have been added to the Gaviscon range of indigestion products. Containing sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, the products are useful for the treatment of the symptoms of...

Feature: The scaly scalp.(Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis)
September 2, 2006... OTC treatments for a scaling scalp can go a long way to keeping the condition under control Adrienne de Mont About one in four people suffers from a scaling scalp at some time. Although not life-threatening, scalp conditions can be...

Managing hair loss in the pharmacy.
September 2, 2006... Hair loss is an issue that needs to be handled sensitively and pharmacists are well placed to offer practical advice while dispelling misconceptions Raj Rohilla Hair loss affects 7.9 million men in the UK. Nearly half of men under age...

Product news: Johnson & Johnson.(promotion of shampoo)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... Johnson & Johnson has recently mailed dermatologists and dermatology clinics throughout the UK with an update on the Neutrogena T/Gel range. A programme of promotion at medical conferences and exhibitions continues into 2007. Copyright:...

Product news: National Eczema Society.(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... A 12-month partnership between the National Eczema Society and Eucerin started in June. The NES website features an educational page outlining the benefits of urea-based emollients and offering product samples. There will also be increased...

Product news: Forest Laboratories.(exorex management system)(Brief article)
September 2, 2006... The Exorex Management System for scalp psoriasis is a three-step process: wash with Exorex hair and body shampoo, treat with the lotion and moisturise with the scalp moisturiser. Leaflets on how to do this effectively are available from Forest...

Keep your hair on at Boots.
September 2, 2006... Three Boots pharmacies in Manchester are running a trial male hair loss service. The Boots Pharmacy + Hair Retention Programme enables pharmacists to prescribe Propecia under a private patient group direction. Usually the drug is...

Out of hours: Inhaler innovation breath of fresh air.
September 2, 2006... 3M is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the pMDI, an innovation that has improved asthma sufferers' quality of life Jane Ellis Before the launch of the first pMDI (pressurised metered dose inhaler) in 1956, the most common apparatus...

PhwSIs go into the frame.(pharmacists with special interests)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Practice Special interests framework launched Patrick Grice A national framework for pharmacists with special interests (PhwSIs) has been launched. It brings nearer the time when patients with long-term conditions could have their...

How to become a pharmacist with special interest.
September 9, 2006... Adrienne de Mont The first step to becoming a pharmacist with a special interest is to find out from local commissioners whether they intend to commission specific services in this way. Pharmacists will need to complete the locally...

Don't leave us out of commissioning plans.(Hermant Patel on pharmacy services)
September 9, 2006... RPSGB Call for more involvement in consultation processes Charles Gladwin Hemant Patel has called on the government to do more to ensure pharmacy is not overlooked in the commissioning of local health services. The Royal...

S60 Order: RPSGB regulatory and leadership split ahead?(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
September 9, 2006... Politics Minister hinted S60 will split RPSGB's role Patrick Grice Health minister Andy Burnham has hinted that the government intends to split the regulatory and leadership roles of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Section...

IN BRIEF: Plea to keep joint roles.(professional standards and leadership)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Mr Patel used his address to reinforce the Society's standing as a professional representative body and a regulator. The Society is uniquely equipped to succeed in developing the profession's potential, he said. "We regulate for public...

IN BRIEF: Control of entry fears.(primary care trust enhanced services)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... While welcoming recent research about PCTs planning to commission enhanced services, Mr Patel pointed out that there are fears about the exemptions to the control of entry regulations, particularly with regards to the 100-hour pharmacies and...

Boots joins the NPA.(National Pharmacy Association)
September 9, 2006... Multiples NPA `delighted' with affiliate membership announcement Charles Gladwin Boots The Chemists is joining the National Pharmacy Association. The NPA was "delighted" to make the announcement, saying: "It has been the NPA's...

Minister calls for enhanced services.(Andy Burnham)(primary care trusts)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Politics Andy Burnham wants to `deliver the vision' The health minister wants to see more commissioning of enhanced services. Addressing the British Pharmaceutical Conference on Monday, Andy Burnham commented: "Some may say the Department...

New contract costs hit PSNC.(electronic prescription service)(pharmaceutical services negotiating committee)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... PSNC EPS preparation takes toll on operating surplus Almost half of last year's operating surplus has been spent on implementing the new contract and preparing for the electronic prescription service, PSNC's annual report for 2005-06...

Top up payments.(primary care trusts)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... In response to queries, PSNC points out that an establishment payment top up is only likely to be required where monthly dispensing volumes fluctuate between the payment bands and where contractors have dispensed fewer than 2,500 prescription...

C+D presents Practice Award.(awards for Rob Horne )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... People Award recognises research into healthcare Professor Rob Horne has been presented with this year's BPC Practice Award medal, sponsored by Chemist + Druggist. The award recognises his research on making healthcare more efficient...

LPC produces medicines use review resource pack.(analysis of medicines)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Practice Resource pack has all information accredited contractors need Ailsa Colquhoun Hampshire & Isle of Wight Pharmaceutical Committee has produced a new medicines use review resource pack and GP briefing document, as part of its...

LPC unveils its ideal MUR form.(Medicines Use Review )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Hampshire & IOW LPC has proposed and sent to the Department of Health its vision of how an MUR form should look. Its form, a simplified version of the existing MUR form, comprises two sides of A4. The first side clearly details the action...

Minor ailments service opens to homeless.(homeless population while cutting down on unnecessary visits to General practitioners )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Practice North West pilots scheme to cut homeless visits to GPs and A&Es Homeless people are being given free access to a minor ailment service in a pilot scheme being rolled out in the North West. The Pharmacy First project, devised...

Pharmacists launch birth control pilot scheme.(Free pregnancy tests and condoms are being handed out by pharmacists )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Practice Six month project targeted at women aged 25 and under Tom Hawkins Free pregnancy tests and condoms are being handed out by pharmacists as part of a pilot scheme to reduce unwanted pregnancies. Five pharmacies within the...

Citronella insect repellents banned.(rules for citronella or eucalyptus oil)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Legislation Claims can no longer be made Insect repellents containing citronella or eucalyptus oil as an active ingredient are being withdrawn following changes to EU regulations. The Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC came into force in...

Pharmacists can improve prescribing, say experts.(training medical students on prescribing)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Education Teaching methods can be honed Britain's leading pharmacology experts have given their support to calls for pharmacists to be more involved in training medical students on prescribing. The British Pharmacological Society's...

Guide offers FP34 advice.(usage of instructional materials)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Contract Common queries are explained Pharmacy funding specialist Pharmacy Partners has compiled a free guide to FP34 statements and payments for contractors. The advisory document explains the various terms on the statement and...

Health centre pharmacy opens.(Rowlands Pharmacy marked the recent launch of its Stockton-on-Tees health centre pharmacy )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Multiples Fun day opened by local mayoress Rowlands Pharmacy marked the recent launch of its Stockton-on-Tees health centre pharmacy with a fun day for customers and children. The local mayoress, who handed out the day's prizes, also heard...

Connecting report `diluted'.(information technology trainers)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... IT Board game will address lack of IT trainers Tom Hawkins A report containing criticism of the government's project to overhaul the NHS IT system was edited before being published. An early draft of the document, produced by the...

Supermarket pharmacies gain ground on OTCs.(sales and earnings of OTC medicine )(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Retailing Supermarkets made 38.3 per cent of all OTC medicine sales in 2005 Ailsa Colquhoun Supermarket pharmacies are gaining share in the OTC market, according to new figures from PAGB. In 2005, supermarket pharmacies reported...

Congress covers global impact of pharmacy.(66th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Overseas Pharmacists from 89 countries give international presence to Congress The 66th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Salvador, Brazil, last week focused on the growing impact that pharmacists are making on...

FDA blames online pharmacy for fakes.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Online US FDA points finger at Canadian online pharmacies selling counterfeit drugs Ailsa Colquhoun US drug officials have accused 10 Canadian online pharmacies of selling counterfeit versions of drugs including Lipitor, Crestor,...

Direct supply may be entry point for fakes.(supply pharmacies create new grey market opportunities)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... The European wholesalers' trade body has warned that manufacturers who directly supply pharmacies create new grey market opportunities, and could increase the chances of fake medicines entering the market. In a letter to Jeffrey Kindler,...

NHS to curb ineffective treatments.(National Institute for Clinical Excellence)(National Health Service)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Policy Calls on Nice to help identify failing treatments Ineffective treatments are to be targeted in a programme to help contain NHS costs. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will help identify treatments that do not...

IN BRIEF: AAH online.
September 9, 2006... AAH Pharmaceuticals has posted proceedings and pictures from its annual convention, which was held in Athens in June (C+D, June 10, June 17), on its website. Go to www.aah.com/ convention/aah_convention_main.asp Copyright: CMP Information...

Merck reprieved in Vioxx battle.(withdrawn painkiller Vioxx)(Brief article)
September 9, 2006... Medicines `Excessive' compensation claim against Merck overturned by US judge Tom Hawkins Merck has been given a financial reprieve in the legal battle raging over withdrawn painkiller Vioxx after a judge overturned a #27 million...