Charting obesity Subscription
In the UK, the prevalence of obesity is continuing to grow, bringing with it a whole host of hidden diseases affecting a number of body systems — from cardiovascular to skeletal.
Editorial
Community pharmacies ideally placed to help the global fight against hepatitis C Subscription
2016 brought with it the first fall in deaths from hepatitis C in the UK in more than a decade, likely the result of increased treatment with new direct acting antiviral drugs
Off-label drug use: the need for clear national guidanceSubscription
In October, twelve NHS clinical commissioning groups across northeast England and Cumbria agreed a policy to offer patients in the region with wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration the choice of ‘off-label’ use of bevacizumab (Avastin) as preferred treatment, with potential savings of up to £13.5m over the next five years.
Comment
Decriminalisation legislation cannot come soon enoughSubscription
On 14 November, an Order was laid before Parliament purporting to introduce a statutory defence to the offence committed when patients are supplied with the wrong prescription medicine.
Books and Arts
A useful adjunct to on-the-job training in hospital pharmacySubscription
Introduction to Acute and Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice, Second Edition, by David A. Holdford.
Tackling the obesity epidemic requires government interventionSubscription
The obesity epidemic. Why diets and exercise don’t work and what does, by Robyn Toomath
Why dieting is a battle of the mindSubscription
The hungry brain. Outsmarting the instincts that make us overeat, by Stephan Guyenet
Learning article
Clinical management of drug misuse and dependence: an updateSubscription
July 2017 saw publication of the fourth edition of ‘Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management’, also known as the Orange Book, which provides guidance that supports healthcare professionals in the field of dependence on illicit and licit medicines. Pharmacists and pharmacy teams should be aware of this online-only update and what the changes mean for practice.
Hepatitis C and the potential for care delivery in community pharmacySubscription
Community pharmacists are uniquely placed to deliver hepatitis C virus testing and treatment, and could help efforts in reaching the World Health Organization target for elimination of the disease by 2030.
Careers
Tech pioneers: pharmacists in technology and software developmentSubscription
Technology enables better healthcare, so it comes as no surprise that many pharmacists are dedicating their careers to developing digital solutions to optimise patient health outcomes.
How I work to improve patient health outcomes at a national level at NHS RightCareSubscription
Working on areas of healthcare where there is true innovation and value can be challenging but is also rewarding, says Jas Khambh.
From Brighton to Oman: my journey to establish pharmacy globallySubscription
The pharmacy workforce is an investment not a cost, says Sarah Marshall.
Correspondence
News
Delay in price concessions leads to community pharmacy's 'worst month for 30 years'
An unprecedented delay in reaching a national agreement on drug price concessions for generic products has led to community pharmacists facing the “worst month for 30 years”
New pharmacotherapy service to be set up as part of Scottish GP contract
A new pharmacotherapy service could be developed in Scotland as part of a proposed new GP contract.
FDA approves first digital pill
The first pill which can be digitally tracked as it makes its way through the body has been approved for use by the US safety drugs watchdog, the Food and Drug Administration.
Pharmacy profession welcomes dispensing error decriminalisation legislation
Pharmacy leaders have welcomed new legislation that will protect community pharmacists from prosecution over dispensing errors.
Celesio boss resigned 'to be with family'
The outgoing managing director of Celesio UK, the parent company of LloydsPharmacy, has said he resigned because he “needs to go back to [his] family.”
'No deal' Brexit would cause 'extensive problems' for the NHS, says Nuffield Trust
A ‘no deal’ Brexit would do serious damage to an already overstretched NHS, the Nuffield Trust has cautioned
NHS patients can switch to online-only GP surgery
NHS faces legal action for prescribing cheaper drug off label for sight loss
Community pharmacists to spell out to MPs how they can ease winter pressures
Pharmacists deliver 1 million flu jabs
Minor ailments schemes have 'moved on', says Ridge
Methadone and buprenorphine to be used to tackle US opioid crisis
Future of GPhC could be at risk
Almost 200 Lloyds pharmacies to be closed or sold off
More generic prescribing could save £18m, NHS Business Services Authority says
Pre-reg exam pass rate below 50% for trainees from one pharmacy chain
World Medical Association says laws on cannabis research should be reviewed
News in brief
Amsterdam to be new home of the EMA
Amsterdam has been chosen as the next host of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Alcohol-related deaths on the rise in Wales
The number of alcohol-related deaths in Wales rose to 504 in 2016 — an increase of 8.9% in 12 months, according to the latest annual report tracking progress on the government’s 10-year substance misuse strategy.
PDAU moves a step closer to representing Boots pharmacists
The Central Arbitration Committee has accepted a legal application from Boots pharmacists to dissolve the agreement between Boots and the non-independent trade union, Boots Pharmacists’ Association.
Patients to undergo blood test before being given antibiotics
Patients will be required to undergo a blood test to decide if they require antibiotics to treat their symptoms as part of a pilot scheme in the north of England.
Bradford University Pharmacy Team win innovative teaching award
Staff in the pharmacy department at the University of Bradford have won a national award for ‘transforming the student learning experience’.
Pharmaceutical Expert Advisory Panel says Brexit negotiations must protect UK pharmaceutical industry
Brexit must be negotiated in a way that guarantees UK pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries access to European markets, a paper released by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Pharmaceutical Science Expert Advisory Panel (PSEAP) has warned.
Using aspirin for six months or more reduces the risk of some gastrointestinal cancers, study finds
Long-term use of aspirin can reduce the risk of several major types of gastrointestinal cancer and some non-gastrointestinal cancers, a 10-year population-based study has found.
Dutch tapering kits website has not broken law, MHRA concludes
Public health inspectors in the Netherlands and the UK’s drugs safety watchdog have both concluded that the English-language version of a Dutch-based website selling tapering kits to patients to help wean them off antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs, does not break the law.
Scotland becomes first UK nation to approve home-based medical abortion
Scotland has become the first nation in the UK to allow women to complete medical abortion procedures at home.
