PJ, August 2022, Vol 309, No 7964

Safety requirements for use of valproate ‘still not being fully met’, finds NHS audit

Only 26.5% of patients taking sodium valproate who did not use highly effective contraception were referred to their GP by a pharmacist, the 2019/2020 Pharmacy Quality Scheme Valproate Audit found.…

Advanced therapy medicinal products: a comprehensive overview for pharmacy professionals

An overview of the clinical, institutional, regulatory, safety and economic considerations of advanced therapy medicinal products.…

Antipsychotic use in people with dementia living in care homes rose during COVID-19 pandemic

Data show the rate of antipsychotic prescribing rose from 18% of people with dementia in care homes before the pandemic to 28% of people during the pandemic.…

Silencing the genes that harm the brain

There have been variable results so far, but researchers are hopeful that new drugs can be developed to halt disease progression in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.…

More than half of pharmacists warn medicine shortages have risked patient safety in the past six months

Exclusive: Results from The Pharmaceutical Journal’s annual salary and job satisfaction survey show that 54% of UK-based pharmacists said medicines shortages have put patients at risk in the past six months.…

Children in London to be offered polio vaccine booster after virus found in sewage

Poliovirus has been detected in the sewage of eight London boroughs.…

Pharmacogenomics is the future of prescribing in psychiatry

Patients' pharmacogenetic data could be used to improve adherence to antipsychotic medication by increasing the likelihood of therapeutic response and reducing the prevalence of adverse drug reactions.…

Developments in the management of anaemia and other complications in adults with chronic kidney disease

An overview of updates to guidance on the management of chronic kidney disease and advancements in treatment for anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.…

Hospital pharmacists balloted on industrial action over NHS pay award

Unite has recommended that its members vote yes to industrial action in response to the 2022/2023 Agenda for Change pay award.…

Nearly a quarter of pharmacists aged over 55 years plan to retire within the next year, survey suggests

Exclusive: Of 291 participants of The Pharmaceutical Journal's annual salary and job satisfaction survey aged between 55 and 64 years, 67 said they were planning to retire within 12 months.…