PJ, 25 April 2015, Vol 294, No 7859

General election promises should be based on evidence

When it comes to developing policy, politicians should heed the best available evidence. Election promises should be no different.…

UK political parties discuss healthcare and pharmacy issues ahead of general election

Ahead of the UK public going to the polls on 7 May in the 2015 general election, the three largest political parties in Westminster respond to questions on the big issues in healthcare and pharmacy.…

Pharmacists often fear complaints

I write in response to Adam Pattison Rathbone’s blog ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2015;294: 385), where he describes a colleague referring a minor paracetamol overdose in a child to accident and emergency. Perhaps the pharmacist referred the patient bec…

Why doesn’t NHS 111 refer patients to pharmacists?

Less than 1% of NHS 111 callers are directed to speak to a pharmacist. Stephen Robinson asks why and looks at what can be done to increase referrals.…

Combining nortriptyline with morphine may provide superior analgesia over monotherapies

For patients with neuropathic pain, average daily pain scores were reduced significantly more with combination therapy than with either nortriptyline or morphine alone.…

Clinical trials and tribulations

A shake-up of the way clinical trials are conducted is on the horizon, with the aim of improving access to medicines.…

Relocation of RPS headquarters

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is moving offices from 1 Lambeth High Street to 66 East Smithfield later this year. Due to a revised completion date in the refurbishment of the new site, the RPS will relocate to offices in Aldgate on 11 May 2015 for a period of six to eight weeks. …

Thursday 7 May: RPS Faculty webinar

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Faculty webinar, ‘Faculty Question Time with a Faculty member’.  Ask questions and listen to the experiences of a colleague who has gone through the Faculty assessment.  Includes a live demonstration of the Faculty …

The RPS needs a change in approach

Pharmacy is no longer synonymous with pharmacists. Pharmacy now includes a range of support staff. Pharmacy technicians are qualified team members regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) needs to decide whether its remit is to promote pharmacy o…

Advice, rules and regulations for setting up an internet pharmacy

There are 496 distance-selling pharmacy websites currently registered in the UK. What do pharmacists who want to set up their own online pharmacy need to know? …