The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ms Gisela Stuart) visited a community pharmacy in her constituency (Birmingham Edgbaston) on June 30 to find out about services for drug misusers.
The Minister visited one of the Linthorns chain of pharmacies because of the interest of its superintendent pharmacist (Mrs Christine Doolan) in shared care for addicts.
Mrs Doolan told The Journal on July 11 that she was trying to develop pharmacy involvement in drug misuse services in Birmingham, including supervised consumption of methadone and needle exchange services. Together with Birmingham health authority's pharmaceutical adviser (Mr Richard Seal) she was leading a group that was putting together a multidisciplinary scheme.

Gisela Stuart, Tai Wa Chew (pharmacist, Linthorns Chemist), Richard Seal and Christine Doolan (left to right)