Nutrigen

A SPRINKLE OF NUTRITIONAL MAGIC FOR BABIES AND INFANTS The first flavour-free vitamin food sprinkle for children Nutrigen, a brand new range of nutritional supplements for children is launching its first products to the UK; providing parents with a fresh approach to children’s healthy diet and nutrition. The products, Vitam...

The Science of Education

The Science of Education

Interactive learning programmes have been widely trailed for children and adults alike, across a range of subjects. In a bid to boost children’s interest in the sciences, Queen’s University Belfast has made history by taking on a new pharmacy-based programme.

PCC Vindicated

PCC Vindicated

PCC win 18 month Category M battle against DHSSPS

News in Brief

NPA Go Green
The NPA has launched a new campaign to find out what pharmacists want from their IT systems, to refine their list of must-haves. Ten categories, including clinical governance, patient records and dispensing have been drafted and now members are invited to give their views on the Association’s web-based forum. It is intended that the ‘IT Green Paper’ will give a definitive list for system suppliers to improve their services with.
 
Cancer Drug Falls Short
The kidney cancer drugs bevacizumab (Avastin), sorafenib (Nexavar) and temsirolimus (Torisel) should not be used by the NHS as first-line drug treatments for people with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, according to NICE. As for second-line treatment for these conditions, neither sorafenib nor sunitinib (Sutent) are recommended.
 
Co-op Ditch NPA
The Co-operative Pharmacy chain has severed its ties with the National Pharmacy Association, stating that its services are of no value to the firm. “It didn’t meet what we needed as a business,” explained superintendent pharmacist Janice Perkins. “The NPA provides a very good service to its members, we don’t have an issue with the NPA.”
 
Itchy Topic
Alitretinoin (Toctino) has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence as a possible treatment for people with severe chronic hand eczema that has not responded to potent topical corticosteroids. According to the guidance, only dermatologists or doctors experienced in treating people with severe chronic hand eczema and using systemic retinoids should initiate and monitor treatment.
 
All About Health
AAH Pharmaceuticals has officially launched allabouthealth.org.uk, a new website designed to promote self-care and to empower patients to make decisions about their own health and lifestyles. The campaign is supported by The Patients Association and will enjoy nationwide, high-profile public advertising. 
 
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Magical Mystery Tour PDF Print E-mail
Written by Laure James - Editor Pharmacy in Focus   
Friday, 01 May 2009 13:24
Spending hours on an all-Ireland bound coach may not sound like fun but as seventy pre-registration students demonstrated, great company and even better craic will guarantee a good weekend, however many miles are spent on the island’s motorways! Led by Niall McPartland and Chris Maguire’s exemplary organisational skills, the group of pharmacy trainees, many of whom had not seen one another since graduating, met in Belfast on one Saturday afternoon – with no idea of where they were going. “It was something of a mystery tour for our friends from university as they hadn’t been told about the journey beforehand,” Chris, who is doing his pre-reg year at Medicare Pharmacy in Dungannon, told NIPinF.

“As soon as we had confirmed everyone was there, we got onto two coaches and headed towards Enniskillen.” The group stopped off for lunch at the Three Way Inn before continuing down south to Sligo. “We met up again at the Stran Bar in Sligo, where we saw Ireland beat England in the rugby, something that has been made even more memorable now that Brian O’Driscoll has lifted the Grand Slam trophy!” The students then ended up in Galway where they partied the night away and stayed in a nearby hostel. After breakfast the next morning, the group had a chance to see some of the stunning surroundings before going back to Sligo to watch some Sunday afternoon football and grab some lunch, before coming back to Belfast.

“The majority of the pre-regs had been together at Queen’s University for four years and are now all dispersed across Northern Ireland so it was a great chance to see people we’ve not seen for some months,” Chris said. “We also welcomed some students who are working in Northern Ireland but studied elsewhere, such as in Liverpool. We wanted to get to know them as they’d arrived here but didn’t really know many people.

“Northern Ireland’s a great place to do a pre-reg year and I am really enjoying mine although I cannot wait to qualify. I’ve been involved with the Minor Ailments Service and our smoking cessation programme but I’ve really liked looking into travel vaccines, melatonin and talking with prescribing advisors at board level.”