ND Pharmacy

Analgesics linked to hearing loss in men

helen.rowley — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:12:05 +0000

Niall Hunt – Chemist + Druggist

Regular use of common analgesics such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen can increase the risk of deafness, according to a study of 26,000 men in the US, published in the American Journal of Medicine.

The under-60s were a third more likely to develop hearing problems if they regularly took aspirin, the study found. Those who took paracetamol were at greater risk, the researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston found.

Those taking NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, were found to increase the risk by 61 per cent for those under 50, 32 per cent for those in their 50s and 16 per cent for those aged 60 and over.

One of the authors, Dr Sharon Curhan from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said: “Given the high prevalence of regular analgesic use and the health and social implications of hearing impairment, this represents and important public health issue.”

Lloyds Pharmacy Opens 'Pioneering' Dispensing Unit

helen.rowley — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:28:38 +0000

Chemist + Druggist

A pioneering outpatient service that brings together community pharmacy and secondary care has been officially opened by England’s chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Keith Ridge.

The Lloyds Pharmacy outpatient scheme, a partnership with the Royal Liverpool University Hospital provides outpatient dispensing for haematology, gastroenterology, pain and renal clinic patients.

Outpatients using the service are able to collect prescriptions at the pharmacy, which is located within the hospital. This allows hospital pharmacy staff to spend more time providing advice and assistance to medical and nursing staff and patients.

The Lloydspharmacy team received training to ensure staff were fully briefed on the different specialist drugs which may be prescribed in the hospital.

Andy Murdock, pharmacy relations and governance director at Lloydspharmacy, said community pharmacy was “well placed to work alongside hospital trusts to deliver service efficiencies and service improvements”.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Warns of the Risk of Buying Counterfeit Medicine Online

helen.rowley — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:06:47 +0000

www.rpsgb.org 23/02/10

Commenting on the results of a survey from Pfizer released today (16.01.10) estimating that the counterfeit medicines market in Europe is worth more than €10.5 billion per year, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPSGB) urged the public to be vigilant when buying online.
RPSGB Head of Communications Neal Patel said:
“Pharmacists are deeply concerned about the sale of fake or counterfeit medicines. Internet sites that offer prescription medicines for sale without a consultation with a health professional are putting patients at risk. These medicines may be fake and individuals could end up taking a product that doesn’t work, or at worst being seriously harmed by it. People who wish to buy medicines over the net should stay safe by using a legitimate registered online pharmacy. Pharmacists can lawfully and safely supply medicines via the internet and the RPSGB has designed an internet logo so you can check you are dealing with a genuine pharmacy. Go to www.rpsgb.org for a list of sites that have been awarded the RPSGB’s internet pharmacy logo so that you can be sure that you are dealing with a UK registered pharmacy supplying genuine medicines.”

Society Confident That Profession is Maintaining Skills and Knowledge

helen.rowley — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:57:49 +0000

www.rpsgb.org 23/02/10

80% of registrants achieve “excellent” rating in first six months of CPD call and review.
The regulation directorate of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is
confident that the pharmacy profession is keeping its competencies, skills, and knowledge of
best practice, actively up to date with the announcement that over 80% of registrants have
achieved a rating of “excellent” in the first wave of its call and review Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) assessment programme.
“Over 3500 records have been called for review since the system went live in July last year,”
says Janet Flint, the Society’s lead for CPD. “Not only are we pleased to report the high
standards of registrants’ achievement in the overall assessment – over 80% of entries
achieved a rating of “excellent” against the review criteria and a further 18% of entries
achieved the “good” standard – but we are also pleased that over 80% of the records
requested were submitted promptly within the specified time limits.”
The Society’s analysis of the data from the first six months of CPD call and review also
revealed that:-
• The average number of entries submitted per record was 15
• The referral rate to the Chief Inspector for non compliance was 1.5%
• The average time between receipt of the record and review and feedback from the
Society being despatched to the registrant was 27 days
• 3.5% of registrants subject to the call requested an extension to the time frame, with
75% of those requests being granted and a further 5% rescinding their original request
“CPD is a key tool which enables the profession to demonstrate its capabilities,
professionalism and expertise, in a day and age where change is constant and innovation
continuous meaning that the resulting challenges to pharmacy professionals have never been
greater,” comments Janet. “Evidence of CPD is likely to form a significant part of the
requirements for the revalidation of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians when introduced to
the profession in the next few years. By taking a formal approach now to CPD we are
demonstrating publicly the standards which professionals are expected to attain and maintain.
This means not only that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have a framework to
support their ongoing professional development, but also, and as a result, that the public can
be reassured that it will receive the first class professional pharmacy practice it expects and
deserves.”

MURs Have Boosted Patients' Medicines Know How, Audit Finds

helen.rowley — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:01:34 +0000

Maeve Hosea – Chemist + Druggist

Eighty per cent of patients who took part in the first audit of Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) say their knowledge on medicines and how to use them had improved because of an MUR.

The audit, which enables Primary Care Organisations and pharmacists to review the MUR patient service, was compiled from 445 submissions taken from 41 pharmacies across four PCOs.

Results from the project, a partnership between the RPSGB, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Clinical Audit Support Centre, are published on the website www.qi4pd.org.uk. The findings are split into community pharmacy, General Practice, PCOs and patients feedback on the effectiveness of an MUR.

‘MUR’s are a valuable service and these results are really positive,’ said Heidi Wright, RPSGB England Practice and Policy Lead. ‘Importantly, this audit is the first method which has been used to get a national picture of MUR’s so we know how well they are received and where the service can be improved.’

2010 Research Cash Up For Grabs

helen.rowley — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:57:08 +0000

Maeve Hosea – Chemist + Druggist

This year’s Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (PPRT) awards are up for grabs for pharmacists interested in starting or developing a research career.

The 2010 awards comprise a total of £55,000 available as a number of grants open to:

-those requiring funding between PhD and post doctoral grants

-funding to go from MPhil to PhD

-practitioners new to research and PhD students requiring additional research costs to enhance their PhDs

The awards, set up to build research capacity in pharmacy practice and develop the evidence base for pharmacy practice, have helped over 60 pharmacists in their research skills and qualifications since they were set up 10 years ago, the PPRT said. 2009 grants are funding research into areas such as the evaluation of an integrated pathway for inflammatory bowel disease, the trust added.

Interested parties are invited to submit an application to a deadline of May 21. Forms and guidance notes for the Practice Research Awards are available at http://www.pprt.org.uk/ResearchFunding/2010ResearchAwards.aspx

Society Signs Partnership Agreement to Support Veterinary Pharmacists

helen.rowley — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:54:43 +0000

From www.rpsgb.org 11/02/10

The first partnership agreement between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Harper Adams University College has been signed to provide pharmacy graduates with specialist courses in veterinary pharmacy and to enable their continuing professional development.
The agreement will also provide opportunities for closer collaboration, the sharing of expertise and joint proposals for research and outreach activities.
Jeremy Holmes, RPSGB Chief Executive said: “This is an exciting opportunity to provide support for a special interest group within pharmacy. We are delighted to be working with Harper Adams University College to raise the profile of veterinary pharmacy through the provision of high-quality specialist courses.
“The Society as the new professional body will represent a wide variety of interests and give members the tools they need to pursue and extend their chosen career path. I hope this will be the first of many such agreements as we look to build partnerships across the sector.”

Scottish Approval for EHC Drug

helen.rowley — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:44:43 +0000

Chris Chapman – Chemist + Druggist

The five-day emergency hormonal contraceptive (EHC) pill has been approved for use across Scotland by an NHS advisory body.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepted ulipristal acetate (EllaOne) on Monday for emergency contraception within 120 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.

Currently, pharmacy-based EHC is only licensed for up to 72 hours.

The SMC move follows the results of a study last month that compared ulipristal with levonorgestrel. The Lancet study concluded ulipristal was an effective alternative for emergency contraception for up to five days.

Locum Named as English Pharmacy Board Chair

helen.rowley — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:37:26 +0000

Chris Chapman – Chemist + Druggist

Locum Lindsey Gilpin has been named chair of the English Pharmacy Board, C+D can reveal. Hampshire pharmacist Sid Dajani was named vice-chair of the board.

Ms Gilpin and Mr Dajani will now represent English pharmacists on the professional leadership body assembly, the overarching body made up of members from the English, Scottish and Welsh boards. They were joined by Catherine Armstrong, Martin Astbury, John Gentle, Shilpa Gohil and Tristan Learoyd.

All members chosen to represent England on the assembly ran as Stop Remote Supervision candidates in last month’s English Pharmacy Board election.

English Pharmacy Board chair: Lindsey Gilpin

English Pharmacy Board vice-chair: Sid Dajani

EPB assembly members:

Lindsey Gilpin
Sid Dajani
Catherine Armstrong
Martin Astbury
John Gentle
Shilpa Gohil
Tristan Learoyd

Scottish Health Minister Highlights Pharmacy Role in Improving Access

helen.rowley — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:16:45 +0000

Jennifer Richardson – Chemist + Druggist

The Scottish public health minister Shona Robison has publicly highlighted community pharmacy’s role in increasing access to health services.

Shone Robison told the Scottish Parliament last week that public health services provided through the community pharmacy contract were “improving access to national health services within local communities”.

Robison added that the services were promoting collaboration with GPs “to improve patient care further”.

The public health minister made the comments in response to a parliamentary question from Conservative John Scott MSP who asked the Scottish Government what it was doing “to increase access to community-based health services in areas of multiple deprivation”.

Three new public health services in smoking cessation, EHC and chlamydia were added to the Scottish contract in 2008.