PJ, August 2019, Vol 303, No 7928

Low rates for locum pharmacists are unfair

I happened to be in Barnet, North London, recently, and I popped into the local pharmacy for a couple things. To my delight, the locum pharmacist on duty there had been a student of mine a few years ago at the UCL School of Pharmacy. Naturally, we had a chat and he said he had plenty of work, …

Efficacy of tramadol reduced by concurrent use of some antidepressants

Taking certain antidepressants reduces the efficacy of the opioid medicine tramadol, according to research published in Pharmacotherapy.…

Statin treatment associated with reduced risk of glaucoma

Receiving statin treatment for five years or more is associated with a 21% reduced risk of primary glaucoma, research has shown.…

MHRA has taken action against companies on FMD compliance

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency has confirmed that it has taken regulatory action against a small number of companies for infringements relating to compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive.…

Pharmacists told flu vaccine deliveries will be delayed

Flu vaccine suppliers have told pharmacies that some deliveries of the standard quadrivalent flu vaccine will be delayed until November 2019.…

Fewer than half of GPs will be able to receive patient flu data from pharmacy this autumn

Four in ten GP practices are expected to be able to receive updates on patients who have their flu vaccination at pharmacies this autumn, NHS Digital has said.…

Deaths: John Clarkson

On 12 July 2019, John Clarkson MRPharmS, aged 82 years, of Preston, Lancashire. Mr Clarkson registered with the Society in 1961.…

Majority of patients not asked for consent before being switched to a biosimilar, survey finds

Less than half of patients (47%) were asked for their consent before being switched to an adalimumab biosimilar, according to the preliminary results of a patient survey carried out by the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society.…

Pharmacy’s growing role in travel health vaccination

As newly appointed chair of the Pharmacy Professional Group of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), I represent more than 500 pharmacists who provide specialist travel health and travel medicine services globally. Also, as a member of the leadership council, I also represent the…

Deaths: David Ralph Hargreaves

On 5 July 2019, David Ralph Hargreaves MRPharmS, aged 82 years, of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Mr Hargreaves registered with the Society in 1958.…