Pharmacists will be on the front line as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. Here's the latest advice and developments as they happen from The Pharmaceutical Journal team.
Features
Everything you should know about the coronavirus outbreak
The latest information about the novel coronavirus identified in Wuhan, China, and advice on how pharmacists can help concerned patients and the public.
Isolated, but not alone: how pharmacies are supporting older patients during COVID-19
Community pharmacy is providing a vital connection to support older and clinically vulnerable patients during lockdown in the UK.
Pharmacy — one of the driving forces behind the COVID-19 emergency hospitals
The temporary field hospitals set up across the UK to help the NHS cope during the COVID-19 pandemic have given hospital pharmacists a unique opportunity for valuable learning and teamwork.
Are pharmacy teams being protected against COVID-19?
When Public Health England published new guidance on the use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic on 2 April 2020, pharmacy’s representative bodies thought the battle was won.
The hunt for an effective treatment for COVID-19
As researchers around the globe drop everything to find a treatment for COVID-19, we look at the likely frontrunners for managing this deadly disease.
Infographic
Targeting COVID-19: the drugs being fast-tracked through clinical trials and how they work
The NHS is rapidly enrolling patients into studies as part of a focused international effort to find medicines that will interfere with viral replication or help modulate the immune system response.
The race to stop COVID-19
As a new strain of coronavirus threatens public health systems across the globe, researchers are racing to develop a vaccine.
Learning
Community management of pneumonia and suspected COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of understanding the differences between viral and bacterial pneumonia, and how adult patients can be managed as they recover at home.
How to keep your community pharmacy running during the COVID-19 pandemic
How pharmacists can implement guidance and best practice in response to the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure patient and staff safety, as well as the approaches pharmacy teams across the UK are taking in response to the virus.
Careers
Training during a pandemic: tips for new preregistration trainees
Pharmacy professionals share their advice with the new cohort of preregistration pharmacists about to start their training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
'I do not know what to expect' — a day in the life of a pharmacist redeployed owing to COVID-19
Despite having a background in hospital, integrated care pharmacist Shazia Karsan felt an element of anxiety when redeployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘We are at the forefront of COVID-19 research’ — a day in the life of a clinical trials pharmacist
With COVID-19 becoming the number one priority for researchers around the globe, Parham Hashemi describes his role in overseeing the new trials being launched during the pandemic.
Five ways to promote self-care for you and your team during COVID-19
It is more important than ever to ensure the wellbeing of the frontline pharmacy workforce; here are some tips on how this can be done.
Research briefings
No significant efficacy difference between courses of remdesivir in patients with severe COVID-19
Corticosteroids should be used with caution in patients with COVID-19, researchers say
Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors not linked to COVID-19 severity, researchers conclude
Neurological symptoms common in COVID-19 patients, researchers say
Myocardial injury associated with increased risk of death from COVID-19, research suggests
Unclear if antiretrovirals help against COVID-19, initial assessment concludes
COVID-19 death rate under 1% when unconfirmed cases considered, researchers estimate
Smoking linked to progression of symptoms in COVID-19, study suggests
SARS-CoV-2 can survive on some surfaces for days, research reveals
Patients with mild cases of COVID-19 may shed virus for up to eight days after symptoms resolve
Editorial
It should not have taken another pandemic to highlight BAME health inequalities
The high proportion of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups dying from COVID-19 has brought health inequalities between ethnic groups to the fore, but this should have been looked into long before the pandemic began.
Pharmacy must change as a result of COVID-19, or be left behind
The pharmacy sector must not underestimate the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will transform the NHS.
Serology testing for COVID-19 is the way forward, but we could face a long wait
While news of imminent serology testing is incredibly encouraging, we must be pragmatic about how quickly it can be made available to the general public.
Why we should be wary of 'game-changing' claims about COVID-19 treatments
Dozens of drug candidates are being trialled for both prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19, but it is too early to recommend any of them for routine clinical use.
Insight
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the government to allow medicines reuse: we must not waste this opportunity to counter our throwaway cultureSubscription
Fears over drug shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic mean that, in care homes and hospices, costly medicines prescribed but unused by one patient can now be given to another, rather than destroyed. This formerly illegal practice should stay long after we recover from the pandemic, and be extended to other healthcare settings, so we can reap the financial and environmental benefits.
Comment
We must tear down the barriers to equality for BAME communities highlighted by COVID-19Subscription
There are two ways that we can begin to address the long-running health disparities between different ethnic groups, which have been highlighted by the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We risk a cardiovascular health crisis if patients stop seeking help when they need it
Footfall in emergency departments across the world has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and experts worry that patients with symptoms are staying at home for fear of burdening their healthcare systems. But preventing serious cardiovascular events is still as important as ever, says cardiology consultant pharmacist Rani Khatib.
There is a vulnerable group we must not leave behind in our response to COVID-19: people who are dependent on illicit drugs
None of us are safe from COVID-19, but the health status, needs and behaviours of those who use illicit drugs leave them particularly vulnerable — pharmacists can reduce this risk, says drugs researcher Amira Guirguis.
Ways to safeguard UK drug supplies during COVID-19 and beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic is stretching the NHS, including its supplies of essential drugs, to the limits. We may need new systems in place to ensure patients never miss out on medicines they need.
Research
Investigational treatments for COVID-19
A review of several of the treatments for COVID-19 currently being trialled.
Q&A
Jo Churchill: 'I'm having forceful conversations about new funding for pharmacy'
The pharmacy minister on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health support for pharmacists and what may be the enduring legacy for the sector.
Leyla Hannbeck: ‘COVID-19 has many pharmacies struggling to keep their heads above water’
The chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies speaks about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected pharmacy and the risk of impending closures.
Blogs
I'm an academic pharmacist who retrained to give remote consultations during the pandemic
Pharmacy researcher Zoe Edwards could safely do her university work from home, but she knew there was another way she could help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How fearful medication requests have wreaked havoc on my general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
Medication-related coronavirus media reports and worried patients have put pressure on general practices and local pharmacies, but we must continue to do right by our patients with chronic conditions, or risk ‘playing catch-up’ later on, says clinical pharmacist Danny Bartlett.
They don’t teach you how to cope with wearing your PPE when you burst into tears on the COVID-19 ICU
The pandemic has brought with it a new and overwhelming way of working in intensive care, and it is taking a heavy emotional toll on hospital staff, says clinical pharmacist Sarah Seddon.
How I faced COVID-19 as a critical care pharmacist in one of the UK's worst hit regions
Specialist critical care pharmacist Greg Barton recounts how his unit adapted to new practices and unknowns as cases of coronavirus surged in north west England.
Your RPS
The importance of good mentoring, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Mentoring can help pharmacists form strong bonds with colleagues early in their career, with mentors providing both professional and emotional support. But mentors can also benefit from being mentees, as senior members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society explain.
Visitors to pharmacies should wear face coverings, RPS says
The government’s decision to make face coverings compulsory in hospitals should be extended to pharmacies, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said.
News
Lopinavir/ritonavir 'not effective' for patients hospitalised with COVID-19, third set of RECOVERY trial results show
An antiviral treatment commonly used to treat HIV has been found to have no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, according to the third set of results to come out of the ‘Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy’ trial.
A quarter of medicines deliveries booked through Welsh volunteer scheme have not been completed
More than 3,300 medicines deliveries have been scheduled since the launch of the National Volunteer Prescription Delivery Scheme in Wales, although, to date, only 2,473 deliveries have been completed.
Government will not say if Brexit medicines stockpile warehousing contracts have been extended beyond June 2020 cut-off
Emergency contraception sales fall by more than 50% as pandemic causes 'disruption' to sexual health services
Family of pharmacist who died from COVID-19 to bring legal claim against government
Charity in talks with government to develop code word for pharmacies to act as refuges
More than two-thirds of BAME pharmacists yet to receive COVID-19 risk assessments, survey reveals
Government begins recruiting volunteers to evaluate finger-prick COVID-19 antibody tests
Pandemic medicines delivery service expected to end on 31 July 2020, says pharmacy representative body
Committee considering ethnicity as a factor in prioritising COVID-19 vaccinations
Pharmacies provide more than 400,000 medicines deliveries in first month of pandemic service
Well Pharmacy to risk assess all staff for COVID-19 from next week
MHRA instructs all UK hydroxychloroquine COVID-19 clinical trials to suspend recruitment
Visitors to pharmacies should wear face coverings, DHSC says
Dexamethasone is ‘first drug’ to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19
Pharmacy degree apprenticeships put on hold by COVID-19
Government SAGE committee suggests flu vaccinations for 'entire UK population'
Digital hospital-to-pharmacy referral service launch delayed by COVID-19
Pharmacist dies from COVID-19, bringing total number of confirmed pharmacy staff deaths to five
Pharmacy staff required to self-isolate as part of NHS Test and Trace, NHS England confirms
Additional resources
End-of-life care
Caring for palliative care patients at home: medicines management principles and considerationsSubscription
Pharmacists need to understand the range of medicine support that they and their teams can provide to palliative care patients and their caregivers.
Case-based learning: palliative and end-of-life care in community pharmacySubscription
Community pharmacists encounter patients at all stages in their life; however, patients who require palliative care require dedicated time and special consideration.
Prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patientsSubscription
Pharmacists should note the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s updated guidance on use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in a range of hospitalised patient groups.
Improving and standardising the management of controlled drugsSubscription
Ensuring the safe and effective management of controlled drugs is an important role for pharmacists, particularly in secondary care.
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.
Facilitating anticipatory prescribing in end-of-life careSubscription
Communicating with palliative care patients nearing the end of life, their families and carersSubscription
Mixing medicines: how to ensure patient safetySubscription
Nausea and vomiting in palliative careSubscription
Dealing with the dying patient - treatment of terminal restlessness and agitation
Critical care
Lopinavir/ritonavir 'not effective' for patients hospitalised with COVID-19, third set of RECOVERY trial results show
An antiviral treatment commonly used to treat HIV has been found to have no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, according to the third set of results to come out of the ‘Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy’ trial.
The top ten prescribing errors in practice and how to avoid themSubscription
Prescribing errors affect patient safety, but pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can reduce the risk of them occurring.
Intravenous fluid managementSubscription
An introduction to fluid management for adults in hospitals, covering replacement during resuscitation, malnourished patients and following large electrolyte losses.
Infection prevention
Hand hygiene interventions could lower death rates in nursing home residentsSubscription
Hand hygiene interventions, well known for their ability to reduce disease and death rates, are rarely implemented in nursing homes.
Diagnosis and management of hospital-acquired pneumonia in older adults Subscription
Hospital‑acquired pneumonia increases the length of in-patient hospital stay and is associated with high mortality rates, particularly in older people. Pharmacists and healthcare professionals need to know how to diagnose and manage the condition, and be cognisant of the gaps in the evidence base.
Principles of initiating antimicrobial therapy and empiric prescribingSubscription
Healthcare professionals should be aware of the principles of antimicrobial treatment and the need to reduce inappropriate prescribing to retain the effectiveness of drugs currently available.
Healthcare-associated infection: best practice in prevention and controlSubscription
Understand the standard principles and practices of infection control, with a brief overview of initiatives aimed at reducing rates of infection acquired in a healthcare setting.
Wellbeing
Sick from stress: 'presenteeism' in pharmacySubscription
With increasing pressures placed on pharmacy professionals, presenteeism — or working when not fit to do so — is becoming more common. This can have detrimental effects on individuals, their families and patients.
Just talking, itself, is therapeutic
Writing competition 2019
Supporting the supporterSubscription
With ever increasing stressors placed on the healthcare sector, it is important that pharmacy professionals are able to look after their own health and wellbeing. But who can pharmacy professionals turn to when they are the ones in need of support?
