COVID-19 vaccine delivery will need as many community pharmacy vaccinators as possible
Delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine to the public will require the participation of “as many of the workforce who are trained in vaccination as possible” from community pharmacy, an NHS England official has said. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 18, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Health board pilots delivery of flu vaccines by pharmacy technicians to manage increased demand
Pharmacy technicians in North Wales have started administering flu vaccines as part of a pilot to manage increased demand. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 18, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Narcolepsy medicine linked to increased risk of birth defects, warns medicines regulator
Narcolepsy medicine modafinil should not be taken during pregnancy owing to an increased risk of congenital malformations. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 18, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

How patient-centred are you? No, how patient-centred are you really?
(Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 18, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Too often patient concerns over treatment are trivialised or ignored — this must end
Expert patient Andrew Taylor lost a decade of his life to crushing side effects after being prescribed steroids against his wishes, and he was only helped when healthcare professionals started to really listen. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 18, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Falsified Medicines Directive will close in Great Britain at the end of 2020
Pharmacies in Great Britain should ensure that their systems are no longer connected to the UK Medicines Verification System at the end of 2020, the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy has said. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to obtain illicit highs: how pharmacists can prevent abuse
An overview of the range of medicines  that are being misused, diverted, or recorded on websites reporting new trends and experimentations of drug abuse for recreational purposes and how pharmacists can detect, understand and prevent drug diversion activities and drug-misuse adverse effects. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Pharmacists in one county say working with GP practices during the COVID-19 pandemic has been ‘difficult’
A survey of pharmacists in Kent has found that 80% have had difficulties with  communication and collaboration with GP practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Just out of reach: why the UK must rethink its barriers to novel medicines
The early access to medicines scheme has been running for six years, but has it had the desired impact of ensuring the sickest patients are spared the wait for the most promising treatments, or is it failing to live up to expectations? (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

In the slow lane: why the UK must rethink its barriers to novel medicines
The early access to medicines scheme has been running for six years, but has it had the desired impact of ensuring the sickest patients are spared the wait for the most promising treatments, or is it failing to live up to expectations? (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Provision of progestogen-only pill with emergency contraception in community pharmacy improves ongoing contraception use
Community pharmacy provision of the progestogen-only pill, and the offer of rapid access to a sexual and reproductive health clinic along with emergency contraception, was associated with a 20% increase in use of effective contraception. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 16, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

'Patients want a fresh start without the stigma' – a day in the life of an HIV and gastroenterology pharmacist
Akwasi Mintah details a typical day providing pharmaceutial care to patients with HIV and inflammatory bowel disease. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 16, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Public Health England to review guidance against the use of rapid COVID-19 tests in community pharmacies
Public Health England  is reviewing its guidance against the use of rapid point-of-care tests for COVID-19 in community pharmacy. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 16, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Government considers writing off £370m advance COVID-19 funding for community pharmacies
The government is considering writing off advance payments of £370m given to community pharmacies in England to deal with cash flow pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Valproate for treatment of bipolar disorder to be 'reconsidered' by MHRA
The use of valproate in the treatment of bipolar disorder in women who can have children is to be “reconsidered” by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal - November 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research