News summary

New plans for kidneys, cancer and heart disease

STRATEGIES for tackling cancer in Scotland and heart disease in Wales were launched on 3 July. At the same time a task group, which may include a pharmacist, was set up in England to develop a new national service framework for kidney patients.

Scottish Health Minister Susan Deacon launched a £40m strategy to tackle cancer in Scotland. The strategy, entitled “Cancer in Scotland: action for change”, draws attention to the role of pharmacists and contains a page devoted to pharmaceutical care [page 46]. A national pharmaceutical working group has developed a pilot system for documenting the pharmaceutical care of patients with cancer. Copies of the strategy can be downloaded from the Scottish Executive’s website.

On the same day Welsh Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt was launching a new national service framework, “Tackling coronary heart disease in Wales: implementing though evidence”, together with £3m of funding for 54 local projects to tackle inequalities in health care. Copies of the NSF can be obtained from the National Assembly for Wales on 029 2082 5111.

The Department of Health in England announced on 3 July that Professor Robert Wilkinson, professor of renal medicine, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Sarah Mullally, chief nursing officer for England, would co-chair the external working group that will be drawing up the national service framework for kidney patients. The external working group is expected to include a pharmacist.

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