shweta raj -

Robin Swann praises community pharmacy at NPA event

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann has thanked community pharmacy for its “unwavering” response to the coronavirus pandemic and dedication to helping people.

Swann, who was the chief guest at a dinner event to mark the centenary of the National Pharmacy Association, praised “the tremendous dedication of community pharmacy to public service in Northern Ireland” over the past 100 years.

“Recent events have shown the value of community pharmacy to the health service,” he said, at event help at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast on Tuesday (October 19).

“Pharmacies have been at the forefront of our Covid-19 response, playing a pivotal role in delivering much needed services to our communities and the people who live in them.

“I know that Covid-19 generated new and different demands for pharmacies and you’ve worked hard to maintain access to medicines and expert pharmaceutical advice, as well as offering new services.

Read more →

UK monitoring ‘subvariant’ of coronavirus Delta strain: Govt

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The government on Tuesday (October 19) said it was monitoring a subvariant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which has been seen in a growing number of cases.

Prime minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the government was keeping a “close eye” on the AY.4.2 variant but said there was no evidence it spreads more easily.

“As you would expect, we are monitoring it closely and won’t hesitate to take action if necessary,” he told reporters.

Overall infection rates in Britain remain stubbornly high, despite high rates of vaccination, and on Monday nearly 50,000 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded.

Some scientists have suggested that measures to mitigate close-contact transmission, such as mask-wearing indoors, could be needed to prevent cases spiralling further.

Coronavirus restrictions were lifted across the country in July after three national lockdowns.

The rise has been attributed to high numbers of infections among schoolchildren, and prompted calls for a more wide-ranging booster jab programme to combat waning immunity.

Healthcare sector calls for self care plan with community pharmacy in central role

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The government needs to develop a national self care strategy, with community pharmacy playing a central role, to steer people away from unnecessary GP and hospital visits, say leading healthcare and industry bodies.

The strategy will not only ease the pressure on the NHS which is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, but also improve quality of life of the people along with longevity.

A coalition including NHS Clinical Commissioners, the Royal College of Nursing and PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, has called for a co-ordinated policy drive to improve understanding of self-treatable health conditions and support self care options.

The group also includes the National Pharmacy Association, the Self Care Forum, the Company Chemists Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the National Association of Primary Care and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies.

Locum App’s services now available for Numark members

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The Locum App’s staff booking and scheduling services will now be available to more than 4,000 Numark member pharmacies across the UK.

The Locum App is an award-winning platform that aims to change the way pharmacies book locums, replacing the outdated agency model and its high fees, with a fully integrated, streamlined, and more cost-effective platform.

The App connects pharmacy owners and managers directly with locum pharmacists, through The Locum App platform and a mobile app that is available for locum pharmacists to download to iOS or Android devices. This enables pharmacies to advertise shifts, which locums can book into in just a few clicks.

DHSC publishes pharmaceutical needs assessment guidance

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published guidance on pharmaceutical needs assessments (PNAs).

PNAs, a crucial part of the market entry system, supports commissioning decisions based on patient needs.

These are developed by Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) to manage pharmaceutical services – including market entry and local commissioning – in their localities.

The guidance comprises legislative background, an overview of the PNA process, the required engagement with members of the public and relevant contractors, and information needed in PNAs.

NHS is on the edge due to growing winter pressures

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The National Health Service is close to the edge of being overwhelmed in many parts of Britain and pressure is only going to increase as winter approaches, the head of a healthcare system body said today (October 20).

“I talk to health leaders every day, and I have literally not spoken to any leader who doesn’t say that their service is under intense pressure now. This is the middle of October. Things are only going to get worse,” Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation told BBC Radio, calling for Covid-19 measures such as mask-wearing and working from home.

“The health service is right at the edge… if you push much further we will not be able to provide the level of service that people need to have.”

DHSC adds further items to October price concessions

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has announced that the Department of Health and Social Care has granted price concessions to more items for the month of October 2021.
Contractors can find information on the first batch of price concessions here, and learn about the process involved on PSNC’s website.

A price concession only applies for the month in which it is granted. No additional prescription endorsement are required as the new price is automatically applied by the NHS BSA to all items submitted for payment in the same month for which a price concession is granted.

PSNC is still working with the DHSC to agree further concessionary prices on other drugs reported to be unavailable at the stated October 2021 Drug Tariff price.

Valneva Covid-19 vaccine will compete with AstraZeneca and J&J, says GlobalData

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The newly launched Covid-19 vaccine by the French pharmaceutical company Valneva will compete with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the European market, says London-headquartered data analytics and consulting firm, GlobalData.

The new entrant has shown superior neutralising antibody levels and an equal seroconversion rate and protection against Sars-CoV-2, compared to AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria.

Sharing his view, Philipp Rosenbaum, PhD, senior pharma analyst at GlobalData, said: “Valneva’s promising initial Phase III data, with at least equal protection levels and a superior tolerability profile compared to AstraZeneca’s vaccine”, will make it a strong competitor in the European market for Covid-19 vaccines.

“If Valneva’s safety data holds up, the low risk of thromboses events of AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)’s adenovirus vector-based vaccines may become another important factor in deciding which vaccine to use.

NHS delivers over 3 million Covid booster jabs in just one month

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

Community pharmacies across England have played a big part as more than three million vulnerable people in the UK received the Covid-19 booster jabs in four weeks under the NHS booster programme launched on September 16.

The programme was initiated just two days after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) updated its advice on booster dose.

A total of 3.1 million top ups have been administered with two in five of eligible people aged 50 and over, and more than a third of health and care workers having received the third dose.

So far in England, more than 82 million vaccinations have been delivered, and well over four in five adults have had both doses, NHS stated.

New £15m fund launched to improve mental wellbeing in Scotland

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

A new Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund has been set up with an allocation of £15 million to support mental health and well-being in communities across Scotland.

By supporting community-based initiatives in Scotland, the fund will help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic.

The fund was launched by the mental wellbeing minister Kevin Stewart at Saheliya in Edinburgh, a specialist organisation for black and minority ethnic women and girls.

Stewart said: “This funding reflects the importance we place on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those in distress and will help develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities.

Lower vaccine take-up fuels Covid case rise in children

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

The spread of Covid-19 among children in England is fuelling a recent rise in cases nationally and causing concern among some scientists that vaccines are being rolled out in schools too slowly, risking the welfare of children and adults alike.

Covid-19 cases in Britain as a whole are much higher than in other European countries and are rising. On Friday one survey suggested prevalence was at its highest level since January, with 8 per cent of secondary school children infected.

Vaccination rates for the age group in England are lagging those in many European countries and even Scotland, which some scientists have attributed to mixed messaging around shots for children, a later start and inflexibility with the rollout.

Vaccines minister Throup gets flu jab at Draycott community pharmacy

Posted by shweta raj 10 months ago ()

Vaccines minister Maggie Throup had her seasonal flu vaccine administered at a community pharmacy on Friday (October 15).

“Today I’ve played my part by getting my flu vaccine,” Throup said, after getting get her flu jab at the Wilsons Pharmacy, in Draycott, Derby who are members of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

The MP for Erewash also urged those eligible to come forward and take the jab.

She said: “It’s vital people who are eligible come forward for their flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines as soon as they can to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe from the viruses ahead of winter.”

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING?