News summary
Repeat dispensing pilots
announced Pilot schemes for repeat dispensing are to start
in the autumn. Primary care trusts are shortly to be asked to bid to be
in the first wave of about 30 pilots, with a second wave to be introduced
in 2003...[more]
Pharmacists could handle 300m repeat prescriptions
a year A new Cabinet Office report estimates that up to 80
per cent (300 million) of all repeat prescriptions could be dealt with
by community pharmacists...[more]
LPS allows hospitals to dispense FP10s
The ministerial prohibition on the dispensing of GP prescriptions by hospital
pharmacies has been over-ridden by the introduction of pilots for local
pharmaceutical services schemes...[more]
UK health spending getting closer to the average
level in Europe Health spending in the United Kingdom is getting
closer to the average for the European Union in relation to gross domestic
product (GDP)...[more]
Regulation leads to public benefit, NPA tells
the OFT's pharmacy inquiry The National Pharmaceutical Association
(NPA) has told the Office of Fair Trading that National Health Service
regulations provide a major public benefit by ensuring that consumers
enjoy ready and easy access to a full NHS pharmaceutical service...[more]
LPS regulations brought in Regulations
governing the introduction of local pharmaceutical services by health
authorities came into force on 5 June...[more]
Prescription costs up 9.5 per cent
National Health Service prescription costs in England rose by 9.5 per
cent in 2001 (6.9 per cent in real terms)...[more]
CSM should consider implications for all patients
when issuing directives Psychopharmacologists and psychiatrists
caring for people with learning disabilities have called on the Committee
on Safety of Medicines to take more account of the adverse effects of
changing or discontinuing drugs when issuing directives...[more]
Topics for NICE appraisal should be in line
with NHS priorities Topics selected for review by the National
Institute for Clinical Excellence should be in line with national service
frameworks and there should be a move away from focusing on individual
products, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry believes...[more]
Superdrug fish oil removed from sale
The Food Standards Agency has asked Superdrug Stores Plc to remove a batch
of its Pure Cod Liver Oil liquid (batch number 300909, expiry date April
2003) from sale following the agency’s survey of dioxins in fish
oil supplements...[more]
Third wave of medicines management pilots to
include primary care trusts Primary care trusts have been invited
to apply to be among the third wave of participants in the national medicines
management collaborative programme being run by the National Prescribing
Centre (NPC)...[more]
Launch of ETP pilot in Peterborough
This week sees the official launch of an electronic transfer of prescriptions
(ETP) pilot under way in Peterborough...[more]
COX-2 effective for gout ETORICOXIB
(Arcoxia) is as effective as indometacin at relieving the pain from acute
episodes of gouty arthritis, a double blind trial of the two treatments
has shown...[more]
Aspirin reduces risk of lung cancer
Long-term use of aspirin might reduce the risk of lung cancer in women,
researchers from the New York University School of Medicine report...[more]
Trials suggest dietary vitamin E reduces Alzheimer's
disease risk Vitamin E from food, but not supplements, may
help protect some people against Alzheimer's disease (AD), two new studies
suggest...[more]
New cancer care pharmacy network for Tayside
Fifteen community pharmacies have been chosen to form a palliative care
network throughout Tayside, providing a new, locally funded service to
allow timely access to essential palliative care medicines...[more]
Perindopril protects against dementia
A Perindopril-based regimen reduces the chance of patients developing
dementia and severe cognitive decline following a stroke, even if they
suffer recurrent stroke, a new analysis of data from PROGRESS (perindopril
protection against recurrent stroke study) shows...[more]
Weigh benefits of losartan against costs, says
MeReC The benefits of losartan (Cozaar) in reducing cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality in people with hypertension should be balanced
against increased prescribing costs and monitoring requirements...[more]
Quit rates achieved in bupropion launch trials
matched in real world Smoking cessation rates of 30 per cent
with bupropion (Zyban) are being achieved in "real-world" community
populations, according to primary care research supported by GlaxoSmithKline...[more]
b-Blockers during surgery protect against stroke
Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery who are given beta-blockers
before or during their operation have a much lower risk of developing
stroke or coma than those not given the drugs...[more]
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