Leading providers of influenza vaccinations in pharmacies in EnglandSubscription
In 2015–2016, 7,195 pharmacies in England administered influenza vaccinations to almost 600,000 individuals as part of the first year of the national NHS Flu Vaccination Service, with some pharmacies delivering over 1,000 vaccinations.
Editorial
Planned funding cuts for community pharmacy in England are not based on evidenceSubscription
The UK government’s documents on funding cuts for community pharmacy are inconsistent and lack evidence.
NHS England CEO should not use derogatory language about pharmacy to justify funding cutsSubscription
There is no need for Simon Stevens, the chief executive officer of NHS England, to use language that undermines the role of pharmacies in order to convince MPs that funding cuts to the sector are justified.
Comment
Defining clinical pharmacy: a new paradigm Subscription
Amid the rapid change and evolution of pharmacy, now is the time to redefine what clinical pharmacy means.
Q&A
Q&A: From training surgeons in Ireland to providing healthcare education internationallySubscription
Paul Gallagher, head of the school of pharmacy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, speaks to Benedict Lam about how the royal college focus on education and training led to the expansion of its provision of healthcare education in Ireland and beyond.
Learning article
Presenting data visually for a poster or presentationSubscription
How to present research findings and other data using a poster or interactive presentation.
How to evaluate services delivered within community pharmacySubscription
How pharmacists and healthcare professionals can perform service-based evaluations within community pharmacy.
Careers
Careers in pharmacy procurement: medicines, management and moneySubscription
Jennifer Richardson finds out what type of professionals work in pharmacy procurement and why it may be a more interesting career option than you think.
High emotions, high expectations, high flying: my life as an airport pharmacistSubscription
Working in an airport means doing shifts at odd times, running travel clinics and dispensing medicines against the clock, explains Pearl D’Souza.
How a pharmacist made a career in pain and anaesthesiaSubscription
Roger Knaggs is the first pharmacist to be appointed as a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. He tells Julia Robinson about his journey into pharmacy and pain management.
News
Government lists pharmacies that will be shielded from full effect of funding cuts
More than 1,300 pharmacies will receive additional payments to protect against the full effects of community pharmacy funding cuts in England.
Establishment payments to be phased out in pharmacy funding overhaul
From December 2016, establishment payments will be gradually phased out, the Department of Health announced on 20 October 2016.
NICE to fast track most cost-effective treatments
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England have proposed changes to NICE’s drug appraisal process so that some treatments become available more quickly to patients.
Patients needing urgent repeat prescriptions will be referred to pharmacies, not GPs
Patients who require urgent repeat medicines will be urged to see a community pharmacist rather than go to a GP or A&E department to take pressure off urgent care services under plans revealed by community health and care minister David Mowat.
Study highlights drug-drug interaction risk from two commonly used drugs
Combined treatment with the antibiotic ceftriaxone and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole can lead to an increased risk of drug-induced arrhythmia, a study has found.
The BMJ accuses drug company of withholding data on faulty test device in rivaroxaban trial
Janssen may have withheld data from the US Food and Drug Administration about a faulty blood testing device used in a trial of the anticoagulation drug rivaroxaban, according to the results of an investigation by The BMJ.
Anti-inflammatory drugs linked with higher risk of heart failure
Non-statin cholesterol-lowering therapies achieve same benefit as statins
Irritable bowel syndrome drug given green light for use in Europe
Breast cancer drug that extends life given nod by European regulator
UK government to tackle high drug prices
Antibiotic gel crosses eardrum to treat middle ear infections
News in Brief
Pharmacy integration fund will total £42m over next two years
NHS England has announced that the pharmacy integration fund (PhIF), originally proposed in December 2015 as part of the government’s plans for community pharmacy, will total £42m over the next two years. This is substantially lower than the initial figure put forward earlier in 2016, which suggested the fund would amount to £300m by 2020–2021.
David Mowat announces community pharmacy cuts in House of Commons
Health minister David Mowat has set out the government’s planned cuts to community pharmacy in a statement to the House of Commons, dashing the sector’s hopes that the plans would be rethought.
New treatment option for Parkinson’s disease launched in the UK
Drug company BIAL Pharm UK has launched opicapone (Ongentys), a new drug to improve mobility in some adult patients with Parkinson’s disease, for use in the UK.
Boots staff offered voluntary redundancy
Boots has announced that it has asked support office staff to volunteer for redundancy as part of plans to cut 700 jobs.
Pfizer loses appeal in patent case concerning Lyrica use in pain relief
The Court of Appeal in London ruled on 13 October 2016 that it has upheld last year’s High Court decision that the patent covering Lyrica for pain relief has not been infringed by generic drug manufacturers Actavis and Mylan.
Trials of genetic heart failure drug halted after patient deaths
Source: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals John Maraganore, chief executive officer at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, says the company has stopped all dosing and ...
Pharmacist-led medication reviews reduce drug-related readmissions
Medication reviews carried out by hospital pharmacists can reduce drug-related readmissions and emergency department visits but the evidence behind these services is of poor quality, according to a study.
Homeopathic teething products licensed in UK are safe, says medicines regulator
Homeopathic teething products licensed in the UK are safe, says the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, after the US Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning about US products.
GPhC reveals training providers with 100% pass rate for preregistration pharmacists
At least 14 training providers recorded a 100% pass rate for their preregistration pharmacist trainees who took the registration assessment for the first time in June 2016, according to data published by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
