A quick guide to medical cannabisSubscription
With medical cannabis now legal in 44 countries around the world, and the UK likely to follow suit, here is what pharmacists need to know.
Editorial
Ensuring Gosport is never repeatedSubscription
A more open culture in the health service is essential to help pharmacists highlight problematic prescribing and prevent tragedies such as those at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
Racial discrimination and the preregistration examSubscription
Large differentials in pass rates for particular black and minority ethnic groups are a concern and the regulator needs to do all it can to ensure all students receive the required level of support, regardless of their ethnicity.
Comment
Ignorance is not bliss: why we need more empowered patients
Shared decision-making should become a mandatory part of training for all healthcare professionals to improve collaboration with their patients, save the NHS billions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes, say Aseem Malhotra and Sue Bailey.
Q&A
‘We need to move on and get the best deal for community pharmacy’Subscription
Simon Dukes, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, on how he is going to negotiate a new deal for community pharmacy.
Learning article
Accurately diagnosing antibiotic allergiesSubscription
Diagnosing true drug allergy can be challenging and it is important that patients are managed appropriately.
How to provide patients with the right information to make informed decisions
A tailored approach can help pharmacists support patients to make better treatment choices, resulting in more successful outcomes.
Careers
How to ask for a pay rise
In these difficult times of limited resources, funding cuts, lower profits and reductions in staff, it may have been some time since you have had a pay increase or even considered requesting one — but that does not mean you do not deserve one.
Correspondence
News
Advertising watchdog says Pharmacy2U ads 'misleading'
The online pharmacy Pharmacy2U has been criticised by the advertising watchdog for making “misleading” statements claiming that it could save the NHS £300m.
GPhC asked to ensure that a repeat of Gosport is not happening elsewhere
The pharmacy regulator has been urged to look at its ongoing fitness-to-practise cases to make sure a repeat of the Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal is not currently happening.
Pharmacist qualifications would be recognised after Brexit under UK proposal
The UK government wants to keep the free movement of seven protected professions — including pharmacists — between the EU and UK after Brexit.
MPs back national scheme for pharmacy to help manage long-term conditions
All patients with one or more long-term conditions must have access to a personalised care plan by 2020 to help them take control of their health, a report written by the All-Party Pharmacy Group says.
Pharmacies advised to recall valsartan products
Pharmacies are being advised to recall all batches of valsartan-containing medicines made by Dexcel Pharma Ltd and Accord Healthcare following an urgent investigation into medicines containing valsartan.
Number of smokers in England falls by 1.6 million in six years
Official figures show the number of adults smoking in England fell by 1.6 million between 2011 and 2017, but falling numbers quit using NHS Stop Smoking Services.
'Worrying gaps' in new pharmacy technician qualification
First CAR-T cancer therapies recommended for approval
NHS planning to safeguard medicines supply in case of no-deal Brexit
Wales updates guidance on medical abortion at home
Patient-centred interventions for multimorbidity do not improve quality of life, study shows
FDA grants first approval of a cannabis-derived medicine
Opiates, antibiotics and Botox should be harder to get online, GPhC proposes
Pharmacy technicians to be consulted on supervision
Online dispensing could save NHS £1.2bn, Pharmacy2U tells MPs
Government launches double consultation on dispensing errors legislation and role of responsible and superintendent pharmacists
Over 40% of patients not told about side effects of their medicines
First ever primary care consultant pharmacist appointed in the UK
News in brief
Financial incentives succeed in reducing antibiotic prescribing, says Public Health England
A scheme using financial incentives to reduce antibiotic prescribing has worked, Public Health England has said.
Shares in owners of Boots and LloydsPharmacy fall after Amazon buys online pharmacy
Share prices of two of the world’s largest pharmacy and healthcare firms fell after the announcement that retail internet giant Amazon has bought into the prescription drug industry.
Penicillin allergy associated with increased risk of superbug infections
Penicillin allergy is associated with an increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile mediated by the increased use of ‘broad spectrum’ antibiotics, a study in The British Medical Journal has found.
PDA Union and Boots meet to discuss future representation of Boots pharmacists
Representatives from the Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union and senior Boots managers have begun talks to establish how Boots pharmacists are represented in the future.
Gabapentinoids prescribed prior to a fifth of drug-related deaths in Scotland
Official figures show a steep rise in the proportion of drug-related deaths in Scotland in patients who had a gabapentin or pregabalin prescribed in the 90 days before death.
