The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7204 p895-899
29 June 2002

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Macmillan Cancer Relief (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.

Each pharmacy will hold an agreed list of palliative care medicines (particularly formulations for continuous subcutaneous infusion) and pharmacists taking part in the scheme will provide advice on their appropriate use.

Shirley Kelly, principal pharmacist in palliative care, Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust, said that projections for the next 10 years show an increase in the incidence of cancer in Scotland but a decrease in mortality, with more people requiring palliative care over a longer period, hence the need for this new service. Ms Kelly's post is funded by Macmillan Cancer Relief.

An annual fee will be paid for participation in the scheme. The option of working outside normal working hours will be considered.