A new publication called Primary Care Pharmacy is to be launched in the autumn by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It will be aimed at the growing body of pharmacists who work with general medical practitioners or primary care groups (in England), primary care trusts (in Scotland) and local health groups (in Wales) on prescribing costs, formulary development, the operation of specialist clinics and related issues. The objective of the publication will be to help primary care pharmacists to develop their role.
The editor is to be Sheena Macgregor, who until recently was a practice pharmacist within Downfield Surgery, Dundee, and is now senior prescribing adviser, Borders primary care trust. She will continue to hold her trust appointment. The project will be managed within the editorial department of The Pharmaceutical Journal.
The new journal will be distributed free of charge to primary care pharmacists. A mailing list is being compiled. Primary care pharmacists who would like to receive the new journal should contact Primary Care Pharmacy, Publications Directorate, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN, giving their name, address and registration number, plus a brief indication of their role in this field, eg, "practice pharmacist", "prescribing consultant", "community pharmacist offering prescribing advice on a consultancy basis" or "hospital pharmacist offering prescribing support". (A card for this purpose was included in last week's issue.)
Academic and other pharmacists with an interest in the field can also request a free copy. They should supply the same details as primary care pharmacists and indicate briefly their reason for requesting a copy. Names and addresses of members of special interest groups operating in this area would be helpful to the Publications Directorate in compiling the mailing list.
The editor of the new journal can be contacted at the Borders Primary Care NHS Trust, Newstead, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9DB (tel 01896 825579) or by e-mail at sheenamacgregor@yahoo.co.uk. Alternatively, editorial inquiries will be handled within the PJ office.