News summary
NHS targets pharmacy to improve
working lives Pharmacy is the first single professional group
to be targeted by the Department of Health under its “Improving working
lives” initiative...[more]
Scottish guidance for lung cancers
Guidance on the use of docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol), gemcitabine
(Gemzar) and vinorelbine (Navelbine) to treat non-small cell lung cancer
has been issued by the Health Technology Board for Scotland...[more]
SSRIs increase gastric bleed risk Selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase risk of upper gastrointestinal
bleeding, researchers say...[more]
Airline restrictions hit insulin users People
with diabetes travelling by air face the prospect of having to prove they
need their syringes and needles while flying if they are to be allowed
to have access to them in aircraft cabins...[more]
PCP tests remote blood pressure monitoring A
remote monitoring system that can be used by pharmacists to oversee patients’
blood pressure is being tested by Primary Care Pharmacy (PCP) in Tamworth,
Staffordshire...[more]
Law changed to allow electronic prescriptions
Legislation has been brought in to allow the electronic transmission
of prescriptions in National Health Service trials of three different
systems...[more]
BNF correction The section on bisphosphonates
in the latest edition of the British National Formulary (no. 42) contains
a misleading statement in its discussion of disodium etidronate...[more]
Donations of BNFs to Pharmaid Pharmacists
can help to improve the quality of health information in developing countries
by donating recent editions of the British National Formulary and Martindale
during Pharmaid week this November...[more]
“Expert patients” to be given more
control Patients are to be given more control over managing
their illnesses, the Department of Health says...[more]
Women rate pharmacists for EHC service Two-thirds
of women who have used more than one emergency hormonal contraception
(EHC) service say that the pharmacy service is better than the others...[more]
Ocular toxicity in babies unlikely to be caused
by two rheumatology drugs Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
do not appear to cause ocular toxicity in the babies of women given either
drug while pregnant...[more]
Boots opens health and fitness centre Boots
The Chemists opened its first Wellbeing centre at the Westway Cross retail
park in Greenford, Middlesex, this week. The centre combines health and
beauty treatment services with fitness facilities...[more]
PCTs and LHGs should handle complaints against
contractors Primary care trusts and local health groups should
have responsibility for dealing with complaints made against National
Health Service contractors, including community pharmacists, according
to a review of the NHS complaints procedures...[more]
Donepezil for severe Alzheimer’s disease
Donepezil (Aricept) could be effective in moderate to severe
Alzheimer’s disease, results from a new study suggest...[more]
New centre for paediatric pharmacy research A
new centre for paediatric pharmacy research has been formed in a joint
initiative of the School of Pharmacy, the Institute of Child Health and
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London...[more]
NEWS IN BRIEF
Bayer cuts 150 jobs in UK Bayer is
to cut 150 jobs in the United Kingdom. A spokesman said that the jobs
will principally be lost from the sales force. The action follows the
withdrawal of cerivastatin (Lipobay). Bayer is to retain its pharmaceutical
activities as a core business but “significant restructuring and
earnings improvement measures” will take place.
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