The Pharmaceutical Journal
March 4, 2000

Back issues

Comment

An Onlooker's Notebook   352

• Cowslip lore
• Keeping fit
• Rough homes

Leading Article   353

• Internet frenzy

News   354-357

• Parliamentary group wants pharmacies to supply emergency contraception 354
• BMA backs pharmacy emergency contraception 354
• Group protocols website launched 354
• Health Minister launches walk-in centre at Boots in Birmingham 355
• Full marks for pharmacy at Queen's 355
• NICE consults on clinical guidelines 356
• Pharmweb updates 356
• NHS Direct referrals to pharmacies start 356
• Fines in Boots baby death case 356
• Extended role for A&E nurses 357
• Weldricks "stop smoking" scheme 357
• PHS No-Smoking Day support 357
• New blood to manage the NHS 357

Clinical Pharmacy   358-363

• CSM advice on St John's wort 358
• Cannabis may be useful for brain tumours and MS 359
• New study suggests nicotine might help in Parkinson's disease 359
• Haemophilia device in development 359
• Evidence-based coronary care linked to decline in heart disease 360
• Abbott's apomorphine for impotence 360
• New short half-life hypnotic said to have minimal residual effects 360
• New method reported for islet cell transplantation in diabetes 361
• Hospital-acquired infections could be cut by 15 per cent, says NAO 362
• Long-term benefits of intensive treatment in diabetes demonstrated 362
• Chocolate good for heart? 362
• Flu vaccine for next season 362
• Are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis exacerbated by cereal grains? 363
• Study suggests growth hormone may precipitate diabetes in children 363
• Advice to patients: (37) Betamethasone valerate cream and ointment 363

Business   364

• One internet portal to offer free PCs . . . another registers pharmacy names 364
• Astra Zeneca looks beyond Losec as merger costs bite 364
• Pfizer fined $143m for misuse of Trovan name 364

The Society   365-367

• Society holds first public debate 365
• Obituaries 365
• MEP guide: March amendments 365
• Media interest in Society's men's health campaign 367
• Statutory Committee
  • Case dismissed against "duped": superintendent pharmacist 366
  • Theft of compact discs leads to striking off order 366-367
  • Poor professional control did not amount to serious misconduct 367

Broad Spectrum   368

• District nurses and medication compliance devices (C. McGraw and V. Drennan)

Letters to the Editor   369-371

• Six month report 369
• Pivotal issue 369
• Status under competition law 370
• An insulting proposal 370
• Useful linklists 370
• I disagree 370
• Get the patient right 371
• Discovered by Meischer 371
• Parenteral administration of insulin in an emergency 371

Special Feature   372-373

• Business focus: "Good afternoon, can I help you?" (J. Gott)

Articles   374-380

• Caring for the elderly - a risky business (R. I. Hughes) 374-375
• Pharmaceutical care in Minnesota - initial impressions (G. Calder) 375-376
• The remuneration of pharmacy and pharmacy as a profession (G. Calder) 377-380

Forum   381-383

• Association of Scottish Trust Chief Pharmacists 381
• Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group 382-383

Products   384

• Sonata capsules 384
• Molipaxin liquid 384
• Cytarabine injection 384
• Docusol paediatric solution 384
• Palfium availability 384
• Discontinued 384
• Celevac tablets 384
• Price changes 384

Notice-Board   385-386

• Official Notices 385
• Diary 385
• Appointments 385
• Future Events 386
• Wants list 386
• Corrections 386
• Personal 386
• Society meetings 386

Special feature

This week's special "Business focus" feature is on security measures for community pharmacies (p372).

Emergency contraception

The Parliamentary All-Party Pharmacy Group wants the Government to make emergency hormonal contraception available without a prescription from community pharmacies. The British Medical Association is backing the proposal (p354).

Extended role for A&E nurses

The Department of Health is recommending that appropriately trained nurses in accident and emergency departments be allowed to select and issue medicines to patients (p357).

St John's wort advice

The Committee on Safety of Medicines has produced cautionary advice for patients taking St John's wort preparations (p358).

Internet portals

Two new internet portals for community pharmacists have been launched this week (p364). Comment (p353).

Minneapolis impressions

Professor Graham Calder reports from Minneapolis, Minnesota, a centre of pharmaceutical care (p375).