Chemist & Druggist articles from September 2007

Chemist & Druggist archives from September 2007

Industry lauds Stop the Switch campaign.(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... C+D's Stop the Switch campaign played a key part in persuading the MHRA to keep pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products on sale in pharmacies, industry leaders have said. The campaign highlighted how the profession could work together to...

Pseudoephedrine stays P but with restrictions on OTC sales.
September 1, 2007... Customers restricted to one pack per sale, which must be carried out by pharmacist Max Gosney Pharmacy has won its campaign to carry on selling pseudoephedrine and ephedrine-based medicines after a policy climbdown by the UK drugs...

IN BRIEF: Lumaricoxib warning.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The MHRA has written to health professionals warning of interim restrictions and measures relating to prescribing of lumaricoxib (Prexige) following reports of serious liver reactions. The temporary measures include regular liver monitoring for...

IN BRIEF: New optometrist powers.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Optometrists are to get independent prescribing powers, health minister Dawn Primarolo has announced. Optometrists will have to be trained and registered to prescribe, but the new powers will prevent patients with treatable problems having to...

IN BRIEF: Questionnaire help.(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... AAH Pharmaceuticals and Patient Dynamics are offering pharmacists practical help in completing the mandatory annual community pharmacy patient questionnaires. Pharmacists who sign up will get a step-by-step guide to carrying out the...

IN BRIEF: A Champion service.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A C+D Pharmacy Champion (C+D, March 17, 2007) has won an ABPI Award. Linda Ferguson of Manor Pharmacy in Derbyshire was commended for supplying aseptic syringes for palliative care, impressing the judges by moving care closer to the patient....

IN BRIEF: BCPP funds available.(Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership in Northern Ireland has opened a new round of funding, now available in three levels. The BCPP will host its annual conference on September 28. Funding applications are available at...

IN BRIEF: Check your details.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Pharmacists are being urged to check the information about their pharmacies on the NHS Choices website. PSNC said it was particularly important to ensure that the pharmacy's current trading name was correct. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd....

PBC template launched for sexual health service.(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... Max Gosney C+D and the NPA have teamed up to bring you the inside track on pitching for sexual health services. A business plan template to help secure funding for EHC and chlamydia testing will be available at www.dotpharmacy.com/PBC...

Funds available for Scottish opportunity.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A programme of enhanced services for primary and community care in Scotland provides an exciting business opportunity, professional representatives have said. The Scottish Executive has allocated #19.5 million in funding over 18 months for...

IT group tackles e-issues.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... New Pan Pharmacy Group will push industry cause on EPS and patient records Jennifer Richardson An industry lobby group has been launched to ensure pharmacy is more closely involved in NHS IT programmes. Pharmacy bodies already...

Lloyds passes OFT test.(Lloydspharmacy )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Office of Fair Trading will not refer Lloydspharmacy to the Competition Commission following its acquisition of 34 sites from the Independent Pharmacy Care Centres (IPCC). Lloyds received OFT approval on the deal after agreeing to...

Web tool is a success.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A web tool designed to help local authorities improve life expectancy in disadvantaged areas could provide pharmacists with evidence to support service proposals, the NPA has said. The Health Inequalities Intervention Tool was developed by...

Summit special.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Nucare CEO Mahesh Shah trekked up Mount Kilimanjaro, the world's highest free-standing mountain at 5,895 metres, to raise money for WaterAid. The charity provides access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to people in developing...

IN BRIEF: Blood pressure action.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Numark has released a resource pack to encourage its members to take part in blood pressure awareness week. The pack costs #25 and includes posters to promote blood pressure screening services. They are also discounting testing equipment for...

IN BRIEF: Opthalmics makeover.(Moorfields Pharmaceuticals )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Moorfields Pharmaceuticals has launched a new colour coded packaging system for its ophthalmic specials range. Colours indicate the different medicine types to make it easier for patients to follow their treatments successfully and enhance...

IN BRIEF: Growth hormone booklet.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A booklet for young adults with growth hormone deficiency has been produced, sponsored by Ipsen. The booklet aims to help young people decide whether to continue their growth hormone treatments and make the switch from paediatric to adult care....

IN BRIEF: New president for IPM.(Institute of Pharmacy Management appointed Nicholas L Wood )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Institute of Pharmacy Management has appointed Nicholas L Wood as its new president. Mr Wood, a past RPSGB president, is the first community pharmacist to hold the position; he succeeds professor Jim Smith. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: Pharmacy celebrity.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Local pharmacy supervisor Dennis Jarvis has been honoured by the Rowlands pharmacy group with a certificate and bottle of brandy to mark his 40th year at its North Road branch. The recently named Community Champion said he was feeling "quite a...

IN BRIEF: Remote monitoring boom.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Homecare telehealth, or remote patient monitoring, is expected to grow despite current barriers to its adoption. Market analyst Datamonitor expects the overall global telehealth market to exceed $8 billion by 2012, and its growth rate to exceed...

Heroin addict struck off for drug abuse at work.(pharmacist Mark Garry Browne )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Pharmacist stole patient-returned drugs and injected in staff toilet A drug addict pharmacist who injected heroin in his work toilets has been struck off the RPSGB register. Mark Garry Browne of Longford in Ireland "crushed and...

Brothers await verdict of RPSGB.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(pharmacists Sunil Khanna, Anil Khanna)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Two brothers who ran four pharmacies in Newcastle upon Tyne must wait to hear the outcome of disciplinary proceedings. A Royal Pharmaceutical Society hearing focusing on errors said to have been made by pharmacists Sunil and Anil Khanna, of...

Co-operative Pharmacy undergoes a refit.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Co-operative Pharmacy enlisted the help of a Roman centurion as it unveiled the 100th branch to undergo a refit to its new brand. The centurion joined staff at the branch on the high street of Caerleon in South Wales. The pharmacy now has a...

NHS releases updated contract framework.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The NHS has updated the toolkit used as a standards' benchmark in the delivery of the community pharmacy contract in England and Wales. The revised Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) has been published by NHS Primary Care...

Ignore PBC at your peril.(Practice-based commissioning )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Since April 2005, GP practices in England have been able to hold and manage a delegated `indicative' budget for healthcare, thereby taking on a role as service commissioners. Practice-based commissioning (PBC) is emerging variably and, in...

What is PBC?(practice-based commissioning)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Under practice-based commissioning, PCTs delegate an `indicative budget' to GP practices, generally covering prescribing, acute care, community care and emergency care. Many practices have chosen to pool their PBC budgets to operate as...

Pharmacy PBC Week: what it is and your part in it.
September 1, 2007... Pharmacy PBC Week (September 24 to 28) is essentially an awareness raising initiative, to help overcome the widespread lack of pharmacy engagement in PBC, despite Department of Health guidance (PBC: Practical Implementation, November 06) that...

Heading for the Promised Land?
September 1, 2007... Steve Dunn implores the Department of Health to embrace and enshrine the APPG recommendations for the future of pharmacy As an ideal to be achieved, the recent all-party pharmacy group (APPG) report on the future of pharmacy for England has...

Comment from the editor.(Editorial)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The MHRA's decision to conditionally retain Pharmacy status for pseudoephedrine and ephedrine-containing medicines is terrific news for pharmacy and consumers. That such products will continue to be available to millions of consumers -...

Your views: We all need good advice.(Column)
September 1, 2007... Pharmacy staff must get up to speed to meet the requirements of the new contract, says Miriam Armstrong The recent all-party pharmacy group report on the future of community pharmacy was absolutely right to focus on health outcomes as the...

Northern Ireland Notebook: Taking the register.(Brief article)(Column)
September 1, 2007... In advance of a rumoured January 2008 deadline I took advantage of the quieter summer weeks to transfer controlled drug registers. I bought a new NPA CD register last year to meet a proposed July 2007 deadline but I relaxed when DHSSPS failed...

Xrayser: Mange tout, senor, mange tout.
September 1, 2007... Why is the MHRA so concerned about encouraging foreign tourists to the country (C+D, August 25, p9)? There must be plenty going on in the world of medicines to keep it occupied, without having to interfere in the work of the Department for...

Xrayser: Gunfight at the e-OK Corral.(Brief article)(Column)
September 1, 2007... If only four out of 3,160 e-pharmacies are currently displaying an official licence (C+D, August 25, p12) the RPSGB has an uphill struggle to register the other 3,156. If, as Charlie Abrahams suggests, the internet really is the Wild West,...

Pharmacy Update - The menopause: ask the experts.(Discussion)
September 1, 2007... The Menopause Exchange expert panel discusses five case studies on the menopause Key points * HRT can contribute to feelings of lethargy by lowering active testosterone levels. Women who have had their ovaries removed during...

Clinical News: Over 50s should take calcium, says study.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... There is good evidence to support patients over 50 years taking calcium supplements, a large meta-analysis published in The Lancet has concluded. Previous studies have been inconclusive, but the authors of the new study showed that...

Clinical News: Bevacizumab licensed for lung cancer.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The licence for bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche) has been extended to include the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in combination with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan. The new indication does not include predominantly...

IN BRIEF: UKCPA events.
September 1, 2007... UK Clinical Pharmacy Association events for September include study days on Psychotropic Medication in the Elderly (Birmingham, September 19) and Updates in Cardiology (London, September 28). Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Other countries do best at stroke care.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Stroke care in the UK is the worst in Europe and needs to adopt examples of effective practice from other countries, according to a BMJ opinion article by Professor Hugh Markus, professor of neurology at the St George's University of London....

IN BRIEF: New sunscreen regulations.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The FDA is proposing new sunscreen regulations that would use up to four stars to define the UVA protection they offer. Sunscreens that do not meet the minimum one-star standard would be required to bear the words `no UVA protection' on the...

IN BRIEF: Extra omega-3 for pregnancy.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... An EC expert committee has announced recommendations that women should have an intake of at least 200mg of docosahexaenoic acid per day during pregnancy and lactation. The Perinatal Lipid Intake Working Group presented its conclusions to the...

IN BRIEF: Bodyclock DNA also controls BP.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Wellcome Trust scientists say they have discovered that an area of DNA responsible for the body's circadian rhythm also regulates blood pressure. The discovery could lead to changes in how cardiovascular diseases are managed, as the body's...

IN BRIEF: No special reporting for cinacalcet.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The special reporting directive is no longer required for cinacalcet (Mimpara, Amgen). The treatment is used in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis, and for reducing hypercalcaemia in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. ...

IN BRIEF: Smoking relapse investigation.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A project to research the effectiveness of smoking relapse prevention strategies has been commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research. The project is to be led by researchers at the University of Nottingham. Some 85 per cent of...

IN BRIEF: Venlafaxine effective in maintenance.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Venlafaxine is effective in preventing relapse in patients with unipolar depression who have shown response to the treatment, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has reported. J Clin Psychiatry 2007; 68(7): 1014-23 ...

IN BRIEF: DMARD adding as good as switching.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Combining conventional DMARDs when patients fail on single DMARD therapy is no better than switching to a different DMARD monotherapy, a study of 1,214 patients has suggested. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2007; 66: 1059-65 Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Methadone-syncope link suggested.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Danish researchers believe they have found evidence of an increased incidence of prolonged QT interval and torsade des pointes in methadone users. They have suggested that doctors may underestimate the incidence of syncope in drug users,...

Clinical News: Nice `too generous', argue economists.(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Calculations by a King's fund economist and two City University health economists have argued that Nice's decisions appear to be based on a cost of #45,000 per quality adjusted life year. The organisation is supposed to work to a threshold...

Leading epidemiologist attacks `flawed' pharma-sponsored cancer report.(professor Michael Coleman )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... An epidemiologist has attacked a widely publicised report that linked varying national cancer survival rates across Europe to the availability of the cancer drugs in each country. In an Annals of Oncology critique entitled "Not credible: a...

Clinical News: Aliskiren achieves European approval.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Rasilez, Novartis) has received European approval for use as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments. By inhibiting renin, the treatment prevents processes that would otherwise increase...

Everyday gum care from Corsodyl.(Corsodyl Daily Defence )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Corsodyl Daily Defence is a new addition to the oralcare category from GSK. Containing fluoride to protect against cavities and chlorhexidine digluconate to inhibit regrowth of plaque, the product is set to drive growth in medicated...

Calpol gets down to specifics.(Pfizer Consumer Healthcare)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Calpol has extended its offering with new products for coughs and colds. The symptom-specific lines will grow the children's medicines market by 4.5 per cent or #6.5 million in 2008, predicts manufacturer Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. ...

Snap up a good deal.
September 1, 2007... Photographic wholesaler www.photomart.co.uk has introduced a low price guarantee for pharmacies. Described as `exclusive', the guarantee assures pharmacists of the lowest prices for selected products. For more info: Tel: 0870 011 5761...

Bassett's adds a little extra for students.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Omega-3 Extra is the latest addition to the Bassett's Soft & Chewy vitamins range. Each sugar-free, citrus flavoured, one a day pastille provides 100mg omega-3 DHA together with 100 per cent of the RDA of vitamins A, C, D and E. B vitamins are...

Lanacane offers chafe refuge.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Skincare brand Lanacane is launching an antichafing gel. The product works by creating a breathable moisture control barrier, protecting the skin and preventing friction, says manufacturer Combe International. A survey of 1,000 adults in...

IN BRIEF: Forceval's back.(Alliance Pharmaceuticals)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Supplies of Forceval and Forceval Junior multivitamin and mineral supplements are back to normal, reports Alliance Pharmaceuticals. The company wishes to apologise for the recent difficulties in maintaining supplies of the products. ...

IN BRIEF: Faster nails.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A range of `beauty enhancing' nail enamels has been launched by Bourjois. The four shades of beige feature the company's En toute affinite quick drying formula that is touch dry in 50 seconds. Price: #5.50 Bourjois Tel: 020 7462 4906...

Brush up on your technique with Oral-B SmartGuide.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Oral-B is aiming to improve consumers' brushing techniques with its latest launch, the Triumph SmartGuide. The rechargeable toothbrush comes complete with a wireless display unit that gives `while you brush' feedback on brushing. It tracks...

Zantac's blue man takes centre stage.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Television advertising for GSK's Zantac 75 indigestion treatment breaks this week. Running into October, the campaign features the `blue man', familiar from the brand's packaging. It is expected to have wide reach among adults including the...

Pharmacy Champions.(Interview)
September 1, 2007... Bobby Mehta, of Alliance Pharmacy in Burnam, Slough, has organised activities for his local community Under the white coat * The best thing about my job is being in the heart of the community and having fun banter with my regular...

Incontinence: a three-step guide for pharmacy.
September 1, 2007... With September hosting Continence Awareness Week, Ian Holland of the Continence Foundation puts forward three measures pharmacists can introduce to help sufferers The thing about continence problems is that they are embarrassing. Attitudes...

Retailing: Building your pharmacy's brand.
September 1, 2007... Your pharmacy probably has strong brand values. But what tips can you pick up from the recognised master of brand diversification, asks Tracy West, in the last of her articles on learning from Tesco Gone are the days when a pharmacy can be...

Get set for mystery shoppers?(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Drugs regulator discusses tactic as part of clampdown on OTC pseudoephedrine sales Zoe Smeaton Pharmacists could be monitored by mystery shoppers to ensure they are meeting the new MHRA guidelines for the sale of decongestant drugs...

Industry beefs up OTC sales security.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has warned pharmacists to ensure that sales of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine drugs are limited to one pack per sale with immediate effect. A law and ethics bulletin said procedures must be in place to...

PSNI members want to go it alone.(Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland )(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... More than half of Northern Ireland's pharmacists want to keep professional leadership and regulation independent from Great Britain, a PSNI poll has revealed. Fifty-two per cent of members said PSNI should keep its dual role despite the...

Dispensing culture must change, says PSNC chief.(Sue Sharpe of Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee )(Brief article)(Conference notes)
September 8, 2007... Sue Sharpe: not enough pharmacists making shift to healthcare services Tom Hawkins Too many contractors are failing to embrace their emerging role as service-led healthcare practitioners, the head of pharmacy's negotiating body has...

PBC WEEK: A step-by-step guide to PBC.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Step 5 of our seven-point guide to writing a PBC service proposal looks at taking stock of where you are now. For steps 1 to 4 and PBC templates see www.dotpharmacy.com/PBC Step 5 Reality check Stephen Fishwick, head of NHS...

PBC key to #1bn NHS surplus.(practice-based commissioning )(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Pharmacists must engage in practice-based commissioning to capitalise on an improvement in NHS finances, the contract negotiator has said. In its first quarter financial report, the Department of Health predicted a surplus of nearly #1...

Wake up to disciplinary danger.(Primary Care Trust)(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Pharmacists must be more aware of the disciplinary powers of primary care trusts, industry representatives and lawyers have said. The warning followed a pharmacist's successful appeal against his contingent removal by Doncaster PCT from its...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pharmacy Show popular.(Editorial)
September 8, 2007... Record numbers of visitors have registered for The Pharmacy Show this autumn. More than 1,800 registrations have been received. The show runs from October 14-15 at Birmingham's NEC and free passes are available at www.thepharmacyshow.co.uk ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Minister absence.(Dawn Primarolo MP, health minister )(Conference news)(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Dawn Primarolo MP, health minister responsible for pharmacy, will not be addressing the 2007 British Pharmaceutical Conference. Benjamin Bradshaw, minister of state for health services, will address delegates in her place. www.bpc2007.org...

NEWS IN BRIEF: New free contraceptives.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Two drugs are being added to the list of contraceptive drugs dispensed free of charge. The DH said Katya and Sunya tablets would be added, and any prescriptions dispensed from July 1 should be treated as free of charge. Copyright: CMP...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pharmacy champions.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Eighteen Pharmacy 2020 Champions have been recruited by the RPSGB. The champions will support branches to encourage members to take part in the Pharmacy 2020 consultation being launched on October 6. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Blood treatment licensed.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... The blood cancer orphan drug treatment nelaribine (Atriance, GlaxoSmithKline) has been licensed for use in Europe. In studies, 20 per cent of patients who failed existing treatments or relapsed exhibited no signs of the illness after treatment....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Effective AMD treatments.(age-related macular degeneration)(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... A systematic review has concluded that pegaptanib and ranibizumab are effective in slowing or preventing further progression in age-related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol 2007; 91: 1177-82 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Out-of-hours care feels the strain of GP opt-out.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Risk that Scottish service is `unsustainable', report concludes Jennifer Richardson Allowing GPs to opt out of 24-hour care has created pressure on community pharmacy in Scotland and this must be reviewed to ensure out- of-hours...

Taking the Ricky.(Ricky Tomlinson, star of TV comedy show the Royle Family)(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Ricky Tomlinson, star of TV comedy show the Royle Family, has teamed up with Lloydspharmacy to encourage British men to check on their heart health. Mr Tomlinson, who is awaiting heart surgery, hopes the campaign will persuade one million men...

Salmeterol with fluticasone licensed for moderate COPD.(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease )(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Salmeterol with fluticasone (Seretide 500 Accuhaler, GSK) is now licensed for patients with an FEV1 of less than 60 per cent and a history of exacerbations. The treatment was previously only licensed for patients with an FEV1 of less than...

NEWS IN BRIEF: C+D survey draw winner.(Editorial)
September 8, 2007... Noreen Carruthers of Edinburgh has won the recent C+D #100 prize draw after completing a reader survey. Ms Carruthers works at Lindsay & Gilmour's Stockbridge pharmacy. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

NEWS IN BRIEF: NPA sets record straight.(National Pharmaceutical Association )(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... The NPA has assured members of the public that a company called NPA - Office of Prize Distributions has nothing to do with the National Pharmacy Association. The NPA said the other company was targeting people, asking for money to enter a prize...

NEWS IN BRIEF: New RPSGB councillor.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain appointed Margaret Jones )(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Margaret Jones (known as Mrs Allan) has been elected as a member of the RPSGB council. Mrs Allan, a Tesco pharmacist and member of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, replaces Colin Ranshaw, who resigned in June for health reasons. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Mobile money.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Alliance Pharmacy has launched a mobile phone recycling service to raise money for charity. Asthma UK will get #2.50 for working phones and 50p for non-working phones. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Asda takes OTC drugs online with Pharmacy2U.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... Supermarket firm to offer 1,000 products through website Jennifer Richardson Asda has teamed up with internet pharmacy firm Pharmacy2U to provide an online shopping service. Customers can now order more than 1,000 OTC products...

New funding for Welsh project development.(Brief article)
September 8, 2007... The Welsh Assembly Government is offering up to #12,500 to stimulate pharmacy practice development projects. Any pharmacist working in the primary sector of NHS Wales can apply to The Pharmacy Practice Development Scheme 2007-2008 for...

THE BIG QUESTION - Pseudoephedrine: What to do next.
September 8, 2007... With the MHRA backing down over its plan to make pseudoephedrine and ephedrine-containing products POM, what new demands will pharmacists face? Zoe Smeaton finds out So it's over to the profession. For now, the MHRA has decided not to make...