PJ, 18 October 2014, Vol 293, No 7832

Cecily Denise Helliwell dies

On 20 September, Cecily Denise Helliwell, aged 85, of 26 Grange Road, Dacre Banks, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 4HA. Mrs Helliwell registered in 1950 and left the Society in 2005.…

Ralph Harwood dies

On 11 October, Ralph Harwood, aged 102, of Flat 11, Stevenson Lodge, 39 Poole Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH4 9DX. Mr Harwood registered in 1934 and left the Society in 2006.…

Risks of opioid use

30th September 2014: The Daily Mail reported on a statement from the American Academy of Neurology that said the risks of strong painkillers, including codeine, morphine and oxycodone, outweigh the benefits. Speaking to the paper, Royal Pharmaceutical Society spokesperson Roger Knaggs said: “L…

Using antibiotics frugally

10 October 2014: the first annual report of Public Health England’s English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance was published, showing a 6% increase between 2010 and 2013 in the prescribing of antibiotics by GPs and hospitals. Speaking to BBC Radio Ber…

Creating a culture of whistleblowing for pharmacists

How do we improve the treatment of whistleblowers in the healthcare sector?…

NICE puts forward recommendations on safe use of medicines

Nearly 50 recommendations on how health and social care staff and organisations can ensure medicines are used safely have been published by NICE.…

Union representing hospital pharmacists hopes strike will force government to rethink pay deal

The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists hopes the UK government will reconsider the terms of the 2014 pay deal after NHS strike action.…

Wednesday 29 October: Worthing

Local practice forum (LPF) event, ‘Antibacterials’, by Sue Carter, head of medicines management at NHS Coastal West Sussex clinical commissioning group. Worthing Postgraduate Medical Centre, Park Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2HR. Event 7.30pm, buffet 7pm. Book via ww…

Monday 10 November: Portsmouth

Local practice forum (LPF) event, ‘I can see clearly now’ by Christine Purslow PHD MCOptom FBCLA and Spectrum Thea. Entertainments Hall, St James’ Hospital, Portsmouth PO4 8LD. Event 7.30pm, buffet 7pm. Book via this link: http://www.rpharms.com/events-calendar/event/549/i-can…

Tuesday 25 November: Wimbourne

Local practice forum (LPF) event, ‘I can see clearly now’, by Christine Purslow PHD MCOptom FBCLA, Spectrum Thea. Merley House, Wimbourne, Dorset BH21 3AA. Event 7.30pm, buffet 7pm. Book via this link: http://www.rpharms.com/events-calendar/event/550/i-can-see-clearly-now-joint-pharmacis…