Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 11 No 9 p391-393
October 2004

Moving up the Agenda

What qualifications and experience will be required to become a consultant pharmacist? What will a consultant pharmacist role involve? Does automated dispensing in hospital pharmacies provide value for money?

These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the Hospital Pharmacist eighth annual conference. The group preparing recommendations for the Governement on consultant pharmacists is underway, and is due to report in 2005. Speakers will consider what work consultant pharmacists will do, who is likely to be able to call themselves a consultant and how this will fit in with Agenda for Change.

The second session focuses on technology. The Welsh Assembly ordered a value for money study on its funding of automated dispensing in three Welsh hospitals. With automated dispensing devices being implemented rapidly across the country, we will hear whether the cost is justifiable. The session also features a presentation on IT in pharmacy.

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

The Hospital Pharmacist conference, sponsored by AAH Medecator, will feature:

· Two sessions, each including four leading speakers. Further details can be found in the advertisement on page 390.

· 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 10 November (included in registration fee) although numbers are limited.

· Accreditation has been sought from the College of Pharmacy Practice.

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.

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

The following summaries have been provided by the companies that are exhibiting at the conference:

AAH AAH Hospital Services is a leading distributor to hospital pharmacies in the UK. It assembles 4.5 million hospital lines every year from its UK-wide network of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved distribution centres. A specialist division of AAH Pharmaceuticals, it is a full-line wholesaler providing a fast and efficient distribution service to NHS, private and prison hospitals throughout the country, including Northern Ireland. It offers an excellent service, delivering twice daily and providing 24-hour emergency cover 365 days a year. Its strength lies in its ability to effectively manage the entire supply chain on behalf of customers and therefore take the hassle out of the distribution process and allow pharmacists to concentrate on their core activities.

BCM Specials BCM Specials is one of the UK’s largest commercial specials manufacturers and has been serving hospital pharmacists for over 60 years. It operates from state-of-the-art MHRA approved facilities combining traditional pharmaceutical techniques with the latest technology.

It offers one of the widest ranges of sterile and non-sterile dosage formats of any specials manufacturer and it has over 35,000 formulations on file. Normal bespoke orders are despatched within 48 to 72 hours of receipt and stock items are despatched next day.

Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) CPPE is committed to providing the widest range of learning opportunities for pharmacists in England. It provides a choice of learning methods via a national network of workshops, an extensive range of open learning packs and web-based products. Working in partnership with other NHS organisations it also develops bespoke learning on key national topics such as clinical governance.

College of Pharmacy Practice The College of Pharmacy Practice is an organisation of pharmacists from all branches of the profession, who share the aim of promoting and maintaining a high standard of pharmacy practice. Membership of the college is recognised as evidence of a commitment to high professional standards.

The college promotes continuing professional development (CPD), encourages practice research, and accredits courses and published material suitable for use in CPD.

Associateship of the college is open to all pharmacists registered in the UK. Progression to full membership is through “Membership by Practice” (requiring submission of a portfolio).

The college has developed a faculty system to recognise and promote expertise in specialised areas of pharmacy practice. The first of these are the Faculty of Prescribing and Medicines Management and the Faculty of Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacy.

DHP DHP is an independent specialist with 15 years experience of the manufacture and supply of investigational medicinal products (IMPs) for clinical trials in hospitals.

DHP occupies a new purpose built class 100,000 facility dedicated to the manufacture of IMPs in compliance with the EU Clinical Trial Directive 2001/20. The new facility was inspected and approved by the MHRA in August 2004.

The services provided by DHP include: Manufacture of a wide range of pack types; blinding of test and comparator products; randomisation; label and code break envelope printing; qualified person release of IMPs and regulatory support for completion of applications for clinical trial authorisations. DHP has MHRA manufacturing authorisation for IMPs and a manufacture and assembly licence for specials.

Durbin Plc Durbin Plc has a strong reputation for sourcing hard-to-find medicines and delivering products promptly in critical emergency situations. This year an increasing number of hospitals have turned to Durbin Plc for their regular imported pharmaceuticals.

Combining an ever increasing database of products, 40 years of exports experience and specialist knowledge of the UK pharmaceutical import market, Durbin Plc offers tailored services to supply the following categories of medicine: imported unlicensed or named-patient supplies; products discontinued in the UK; UK supply shortages and orphan drugs.

Dipti Amin, pharmaceutical services manager, says: “We provide a one-stop service where a quick phone call, fax or an e-mail is all it takes for a busy health care professional to find what they need reliably, quickly and cost-effectively.”

First DataBank Europe Ltd First DataBank is the worldwide market leader in the provision of point-of-care knowledge bases. For 20 years the company has been supplying drug information to an increasingly impressive portfolio of clinical system suppliers across all sectors of the UK’s health care industry. Health care professionals in hospitals, primary care organisations, general practice and community pharmacy use the Multilex Drug Data File within their clinical systems for safe and effective electronic prescribing and dispensing.

First DataBank is supporting the National Programme for IT by ensuring that the drug knowledge base and its clinical decision support facilitate system inter-operability and improved patient care across the entire health care community.

Lonst (International) Lonst (International) Ltd is a UK company founded in 1970 to manufacture, supply, install and service a range of queue management and patient call systems. It has supplied its product range to many hospitals in the UK including: Guy’s; Derby City and Royal Infirmary; Birmingham Childrens and Dental; North Hampshire; Royal Free; Royal Hallamshire; Southampton General and Barts and The London NHS Trust. Its systems are used in various departments including accident and emergency, X-ray, phlebotomy, genito-urinary medicine, audiology, fracture and pharmacy. For a full literature pack and a “no obligation” demonstation please visit the stand.

Martindale Already one of the UK’s major suppliers of specials, Martindale is committed to setting and enhancing industry standards. Martindale applies its quality assurance, formulation and manufacturing capabilities to producing a wide range of special presentations including sterile ampoules, aseptic eye drops and ointments as well as non-sterile oral liquids, topical preparations, suppositories, pessaries, powders and capsules. Martindale’s all-embracing approach to customer service is fundamental to its success. It takes pride in fulfilling orders within the quoted lead-times and strives to offer a consistent and reliable service.

Mayne Pharma Plc Mayne Pharma Plc is a world leader in oncology products and is represented in 14 European countries and 50 countries worldwide. It aims to provide health care professionals with cost-effective products and innovative alternatives in concentration, size, dose and formulation, together with value-added services. In the UK it markets the widest range of small volume injectable oncology products, including: bleomycin; carboplatin; cisplatin; cytarabine; dacarbazine; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; methotrexate; paclitaxel; pamidronate disodium; vinblastine and vincristine.

In line with current recommendations the new innovative packaging from Mayne Pharma identifies every product and drug strength by colour-differentiation, thus helping to avoid dispensing mistakes. Clear colour-differentiated packaging, a highly legible name, full volume strength and administration route allows for easy drug selection, dispensing and improved patient safety.

Merck Pharmaceuticals (division of Merck Limited) The Merck Group is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. It focuses on the development, manufacture and marketing of innovative drugs and chemicals. In 2003, the Merck Group generated sales of around €7.2bn.

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 central nervous system areas.

Merck regards its talented, entrepreneurial employees, its applications-oriented research and development, its consistent customer focus and its responsible handling of natural resources as the keys to its success. Today, around 34,500 committed Merck employees are helping to continue the company’s 336-year-old tradition.

Orion Locums Orion Locums is an established health and social care recruitment consultancy specialising in the provision of professional staff to the NHS, private and public sectors. Its services include the recruitment and placement of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Its aim is to create an environment to enable all employees and agency workers to work professionally, efficiently and safely with support and guidance and to create opportunities for career development. Orion Locums is committed to providing a flexible and reliable service to both client and locum based on quality.

Pharmaceutical Press The Pharmaceutical Press, the publications division of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, produces books, journals and related electronic products on pharmacy, the pharmaceutical sciences and other related disciplines.

These publications are valued by health care professionals around the world, and include established titles such as the British National Formulary, Martindale and Stockley’s Drug Interactions, with an increasing range of new student texts and pharmacy practice titles also available. A highlight for 2004 is the launch of the online database MedicinesComplete providing online access to some of the world’s leading drug and health care references on one common online platform.

Poppitts The new smart professional tool, the “Poppitt”, was designed by a pharmacist to address the problem of repetitive strain injury.

Fingers, thumbs and even wrists are being affected as large quantities of tablets and capsules are de-blistered by hand in order to fill the various individual dosage systems now being used. This specialist electro-magnetic low voltage device fits neatly on any worktop and is convenient and easy to use. It is both robust and stylish and is available in two colours (green or blue).

To quote one pharmacist: “The Poppitt is a great invention and the perfect addition to the dispensing bench.” For more information on how Poppitt could benefit your pharmacy department staff visit the stand.

Quality Locum Services Quality Locum Services recognises the required expertise and patience demanded of hospital pharmacists.

Its specialist division offers a service exclusive to hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Through its specialist knowledge and understanding of hospital pharmacy its team has built strong relationships with many NHS trusts nationwide. Its extensive database is able to offer new opportunities to pharmacists on a daily basis. For competitive pay rates, benefits and support throughout a career in pharmacy visit Quality Locums Services.

Sensible Locums Sensible Locums Ltd was created in October 2002 to supply the medical sector with an honest and efficient locum service. It currently supplies both NHS and private hospitals with locum pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from Scotland to the south coast of England.

Sensible Locums is attending this conference so that its recruitment consultants will have the opportunity to speak to pharmacists regarding any expectations, concerns or experiences that they have when dealing with locum agencies. Moreover it will provide both its clients and locums with the opportunity to meet with Sensible Locums face to face.

Sintek Sintek design, manufacture and install pharmacy storage and workstation furnishings for hospital pharmacies. The product range contains the StockFlow sloping tray and workstation system, the Rombic high density drawer storage unit and the Carrousel dispensing unit. These various products can be combined to create efficient environments for hospital dispensary and stores facilities. Contact Sintek at an early stage in the planning process to get maximum space use and budget quotations for allocating funds within the building project. Sintek products save capital and revenue expenditure.

Syner-Med Syner-Med was formed in the UK to provide an intravenous iron that would build confidence and form an important role in iron deficiency anaemia management. Venofer (IV iron sucrose) was licensed in 1998 and is the leading intravenous iron in the UK, Europe and the US (where Venofer is recommended for patients sensitive to iron dextran products without a test dose). In 2004 Syner-Med is able to provide Venofer for use in the second and third trimester of pregnancy offering an excellent solution to problems associated with oral iron therapy. For further information please call to the stand.

Venalink Venalink was incorporated in 1989 and has developed into a brand leading company exporting its expertise to Germany, Spain, Ireland, South America, Australia and Switzerland.

It offers an innovative range of blister packs which are the main part of the Venalink System and offers pharmacists’ client homes or community patients unrivalled levels of safety and hygiene in packs that are barrier proof and totally hygienically disposable.

If a pharmacist’s requirements are for a nursing or care home application, or to address community patients with compliance problems, then Venalink has a pack to suit their needs and training packs ensure a professional approach.