Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 10 No 9 p410-412
October 2003

Conference and Exhibition Preview: Pharmacist prescribing

The seventh conference and exhibition organised by Hospital Pharmacist

Thursday 30 October 2003

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
1 Lambeth High Street,
London SE

Why should pharmacists prescribe? How will patients and hospitals benefit from having pharmacist prescribers? What are the implications for the pharmacist of taking on a new role? Where will this new role lead the profession?

These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the Hospital Pharmacist 7th annual conference. As the first pharmacist supplementary prescribing courses have just started, the subject of this year’s conference could not be more topical. Pharmacists who have completed the training will be able to prescribe for their patients by the end of this year. Speakers will consider the professional, legal and political issues surrounding pharmacist prescribing in hospitals.

The venue is the headquarters of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in London and it is open to pharmacists and other health care professionals.

The Hospital Pharmacist conference, sponsored by IDIS, will feature:

• A keynote address by Dr June Crown, CBE, chair of the Society’s prescribing task force.
• Sessions on the training of supplementary prescribers, the clinical management plans that provide the framework for supplementary prescribing, the business case for pharmacist prescribing and the duties and liabilities attached to taking on an additional role. Further details can be found in the advertisement on page 401.
• A chance for delegates to put their questions to an expert panel made up of the day’s speakers.
• An exhibition which conference participants will have time to visit throughout the day.
• A pre-conference dinner arranged, in association with Mayne Pharma. The dinner, to which all delegates are invited, will take place in the Society’s Council dining room on Wednesday 29 October (included in registration fee) although numbers are limited — see booking form in the advertisement on page 402 for details.

The meeting is accredited by the College of Pharmacy Practice (providing five hours of postgraduate education to the College’s continuing education requirements).

The exhibition

The exhibition will take place next to the conference hall. As well as stands and displays, the participating companies will have representatives available during the day to give information about their products, the market in general and new developments.

Refreshments and lunch will be served in the exhibition area, allowing conference delegates ample opportunity to view the stands.

Exhibiting companies have provided summaries on pages 411 and 412.

The following summaries have been provided by the exhibiting companies:

BCM Specials BCM Specials is one of the UK’s largest specials manufacturers, serving hospital pharmacists since its establishment in the 1930s. It operates from state-of-the-art MCA-approved facilities, combining traditional pharmaceutical techniques with the latest technology. Having grown significantly over the past five years, this year BCM Specials has invested over £1m in expanding its production facilities and in introducing a new computerised dispensing management system. It offers one of the widest ranges of dosage formats of any specials manufacturer and the commitment to customer service includes a 24-hour free phone order line. To find out more contact freephone 0800 9521010 or visit www.bcm-specials.co.uk

Durbin Plc Durbin PLC set up its pharmaceutical import service in November 2002 to source medicines that are not available in the UK. Combining 40 years of exports’ experience with specialist knowledge of the UK pharmaceutical import market, Durbin PLC offers tailored services to supply the following categories of medicine: importation of unlicensed/named-patient supplies, UK product discontinuations, UK product shortages, orphan drugs. Dipti Amin, Pharmaceutical Services Manager, says “We provide a one-stop service where a quick phone call or fax is all it takes for a busy health care professional to find what they need reliably, quickly and cost-effectively.”

First DataBank Europe Ltd Multilex Drug Data File (Multilex DDF) from First DataBank is the UK's most comprehensive and widely used drug database providing a wealth of clinical and commercial information. Multilex DDF has been developed to support the whole health care community in line with the NHS National Programme for IT. Within secondary care it offers the functionality to meet the specific needs of this sector, providing all areas of the hospital with the required drug information as well as patient specific clinical checking. Visit the stand to find out more, and to see a demonstration of their dispensing and prescribing systems.

IDIS Established in the UK over 16 years ago, IDIS has evolved to become the leading global specialist in the provision of ethical solutions to the pharmaceutical needs of medical professionals and the healthcare industry worldwide. The role of IDIS is to partner the global pharmaceutical industry, managing blockbuster pre-launches, named patient distribution, temporary supply problems, medicine discontinuations and clinical trials. With an extensive portfolio of internationally licensed medicines, IDIS network covers the world. IDIS works with local healthcare systems and have a clear understanding of legislative and practical factors that govern drug supply and demand.

Mayne Pharma Plc The Mayne Pharma UK business is one of its largest and most successful. It markets the widest range of small volume injectable oncology products and is a leading supplier of generic medicines to the UK hospital market. Together with its growing aseptic manufacturing services business, it is recognised as a leading provider of innovative solutions to hospital pharmacy. With the largest dedicated hospital generics field force in the UK, Mayne Pharma is well positioned to continue to deliver growth through their exciting range of new products, and is recognised as the partner of choice in its channel for licensing opportunities.

Medacs Limited Medacs Pharmacy is a leading supplier of qualified candidates. Its extensive database means it has the skill sets for almost any eventuality. As well as hospitals, its candidates work in retail, prison and industrial environments. It fills positions throughout the UK and also supports numerous clients in Europe. There are two specialist divisions for clients – pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Its position in the marketplace and the quality of the assignments allows it to attract the best candidates and retain them on behalf of clients. It supplies candidates for short and long-term assignments, as well as permanent positions.

Merck Pharmaceuticals (division of Merck Limited) The Merck Group is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company that also owns and operates a successful laboratory distribution business through VWR International. It focuses on the development, manufacture and marketing of innovative drugs and chemicals. In 2002, the Merck Group generated sales of around €7.5bn. Merck's pharmaceutical business encompasses prescription drugs, generic drugs and self-medication products. The prescription drugs marketed by Merck Pharmaceuticals in the UK include those in the cardiovascular, diabetic, oncology and CNS areas. Merck regards its talented, entrepreneurial employees, applications-oriented research and development, consistent customer focus, together with responsible handling of natural resources, as the keys to success. Today, around 34,500 committed Merck employees are helping to continue the company’s 335-year-old tradition.

Pfizer Ltd Pfizer, with its UK business headquarters in Surrey and global headquarters in New York, is a research-based global pharmaceutical company. Pfizer discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Since 1998 Pfizer has made a capital investment of more than £1bn in the UK and, following its acquisition of Pharmacia in April 2003, is the largest supplier of medicines to the NHS. It is estimated that on any given day, 40 million people around the world are treated with a Pfizer medicine.

Phoenix Pharma Ltd Phoenix Pharma is based in Gloucester, was founded in 1971, and is a leading supplier of high quality sterile generic injections to UK health care professionals. The sterile generic injections supplied by Phoenix Pharma are manufactured in Germany by its parent company, Hameln Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures injectables for use across Europe. Phoenix Pharma prides itself in its close working relationships with health care professionals, particularly pharmacists, whose advice is essential to the future. Phoenix Pharma is planning a number of new product launches in the near future.

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd Rosemont Pharmaceuticals is a Leeds based company which specialises in the development and manufacture of oral liquid medicines. The range consists of over 100 liquid formulations available as licensed and “specials” products covering many disease areas, which are used in both hospital and community sectors. They offer people who have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules the opportunity to take their prescribed medication in a convenient form. Rosemont has a commitment to best practice through educational nurse study days and educational training materials.

Sensible Locums Ltd Sensible Locums Ltd was created in October 2002 to supply the medical sector with an honest and efficient locum service. It is currently supplying a number of hospitals, both NHS and private, with locum pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Sensible Locums is attending this conference so that both clients and locums will have the opportunity to meet its consultants and discuss their services face to face. It will provide consultants with the occasion to discuss any expectations, concerns or experiences that they may have about working with a locum agency.

Syner-Med (PP) Ltd Syner-Med is the provider of Venofer (intravenous iron sucrose) to the UK and Ireland health care markets. It provides a service to its customers, helping to identify the appropriate use of Venofer® in order to treat iron deficiency anaemia and as an alternative therapy to blood transfusion. For further information, please contact Syner-Med to be put in touch with your local territory manager.