The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 pp103-136 No 7487
2 February 2008

Jobs and Classified advertising

Leading Articles   104

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Empowering patients 104
Costs of medicines are never far from the top of the political agenda and last month the Public Accounts Committee suggested that printing prices on medicines packaging might help reduce wastage. But, as David Pruce, director of practice and quality improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, argued, the reasons for medicines wastage are complex and a single initiative is unlikely to have a huge impact on the problem
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Redressing the professional balance 104
Although relatively few members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have so far engaged with the discussions about the future professional body, there are signs in the pages of The Journal that some people are thinking about it
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News & Features   105-111

News summary  105-110
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Lead stories
-General support claimed for Scottish academic body
-Society can become a members' body again
-CCA and AIMp to tie the knot
-Responsible pharmacist plans not viable in hospital
-Consultant pharmacists' expertise should not be restricted to hospital patients, Society tells Darzi
-Complex relationship between beliefs, ethics and knowledge leads to variability in EHC supply
-Minor ailments cost NHS £2bn/yr
-Pharmacy academics shortage needs to be tackled

Making the case for a pharmacy-based minor ailments scheme for England 111
New figures suggests that minor ailments take up one fifth of GPs’ time. Tom Moberly looks at the research behind this finding
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Products   112-113

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Products   112-113
-New medicines
-SPC changes
-Prescription products
-Discontinued products
-Supply issues
-Products miscellany
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Recalled products   112
-Viscotears single-dose units
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Announcements   113
-NPA helpline
-Supply of pet medicines
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Drug tariff updates   113
-England and Wales
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Broad Spectrum   114-115

Pharmacists can help support care homes for the treatment of the elderly 114
By Valerie Fox
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Whose drug is it anyway? Should the public be taking the NHS reins? 115
By John Minshull
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Letters   116-120

-Clarke Inquiry
-New professional body
-The Society
-Community pharmacy
-Pharmacy practice
-Technicians
-The industry
-WCPPE
-Drug addiction
-Research
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Interview   121

PSNC’s challenge: to ensure potential of community pharmacy is recognised 121
Christopher Hodges, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee chairman, talks to Harriet Adcock about his vision for community pharmacy
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Articles   122-126, 131

More law and ethics learning needed 122
Being a professional has, perhaps, never been so complicated or so risky, so it is imperative that pharmacy professionals are alert to both the ethics and the law surrounding their professional practice, Sheila McLean and Ken McPhail say
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Can medicines management services reduce hospital admissions? 123-126
Pharmacists can help patients who are at risk of emergency admission by engaging in carefully targeted medication reviews, says Duncan Petty
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Calls for proposals for practice research 131
Beth Allen and Linda Sheldrake explain the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust’s future research programme for 2008/09 and call for research proposals
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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)   127-130

Recent articles

Giving advice on sore throats   127-130
With only one in 18 adults with a sore throat consulting his or her GP, for most people the pharmacy is likely to be the first port of call. Sarah Marshall looks at some causes of sore throats and factors pharmacists should consider when consulted
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Merlin   132

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Are Thursdays wetter? 132
In the late 1960s there was some minor excitement among weather experts following the publication of a note in Weather, the journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. A Mr Nicholson claimed that his rainfall records, over a period of some 14 years, showed that Thursday was the wettest day of the week, both in terms of the number of rainy days and in the total amount of rainfall that fell on Thursdays
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Unusual magazines unique to Britain 132
Britain is probably unique in the number of different types of magazines and journals published and on sale to the general public. In addition to these, there is a huge range of professional and trade journals
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Health risks ornithological … 132
Since the scares about bird flu, the Merlins have been most careful with hygiene when feeding wild birds in the garden. However, ornithology brings other health risks
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… and health risks celestial132
Many will remember the disappointing showing of Halley’s comet over 20 years ago, when it passed on the far side of the solar system. At the time, there was some discussion in the press about possible health risks if Planet Earth passed through the tail of the comet
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PJ   2008;280:133-136
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BPC 2008 — applications invited for Conference Science Medal 133
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BPC 2008 — applications invited for Practice Research Conference Award 134
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BPC 2008 — applications invited for GSK International Achievement Award 135
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Official notices 2001 to present

Council election 2008 133
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English Pharmacy Board election 2008 133-134
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Scottish Pharmacy Board election 2008 134
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Welsh Pharmacy Board election 2008 134-135
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Disciplinary Committee 135
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Registration Appeals Committee 135
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Diary
Diary / Health events

Branch meetings 135-136
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Society meetings 136
-Improving aseptic services (6 February)
-Stability testing of pharmaceuticals (18-20 February)
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Future events 113
-Critical care (27 February)
-BPSA (24-30 March)
-AAH convention (16-21 April)
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Wants 113
-BBC Two series
-Opiate withdrawal
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Clarifications 113
-Conal Farry's letter
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