PJ, December 2019, Vol 303, No 7932

PDA issues ‘urgent’ guidance following serious incidents involving primary care pharmacist prescribers

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has issued “urgent” guidance for its members following several “serious incidents”, including reported fatalities, involving pharmacist independent prescribers working in primary care.…

Omega-3 supplements can improve ADHD symptoms in some young people

Omega-3 fish oil supplements improve attention and vigilance in young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, who have low levels of omega-3, a study in Translational Psychiatry suggests.…

Pharmaceutical industry must fund clinical trials of medical cannabis, Royal College of Psychiatrists says

There is a “pressing need” for high-quality research into the use of cannabis-based medicinal products for psychiatric disorders, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has said.…

RPS to publish ethnicity pay data

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society will publish its ethnicity pay data, its chief executive announced at the Society’s 2019 annual conference.…

Antihypertensive medicines most effective when taken at night

Taking antihypertensive medications in the evening, rather than the morning, improves blood pressure control and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, a study published in the European Heart Journal suggests.…

Manufacturing problems cause 60% of medicines shortages, say European wholesalers

Manufacturing problems are causing more than 60% of medicines shortages across Europe, the body that represents European drug wholesalers has said.…

RPS launches national Foundation Pharmacist Framework

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published its revised Foundation Pharmacist Framework — marking the first tangible step towards a nationwide, multisector foundation training programme for pharmacists across the UK.…

GPhC raises concerns after fitness-to-practise complaints reach record high

The General Pharmaceutical Council has raised concerns over a 7% increase in the number of fitness-to-practise complaints brought to the regulator between July 2019 and September 2019.…

Oral spray delivers vitamin D as effectively as capsules, research suggests

Using an oral spray to deliver vitamin D is just as effective as a capsule, research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown.…

‘No ethnicity pay issue’ claim pharmacy multiples

The UK’s four largest community pharmacy multiples currently do not collect ethnicity pay data for their pharmacist employees, with two of the high street chains telling The Pharmaceutical Journal that there was no ethnicity pay gap within their respective organisation…