PJ July 2020, Vol 305, No 7939

Five things pharmacists should look out for in the government’s Brexit deal

The prime minister has said that he will put a “tiger in the tank” of Brexit talks, but what should the pharmacy profession look out for in any deal that is eventually agreed?…

Hundreds of UK pharmacies are now offering rapid point-of-care COVID-19 antibody testing

Exclusive: Almost 500 pharmacies across the UK are now offering a rapid COVID-19 antibody testing service.…

Pharmaceutical considerations for patients with stomas

Pharmacists should be aware of the requirements of their patients who may have a temporary or permanent stoma.…

New Pharmacy Quality Scheme will focus only on COVID-19

A newly agreed Pharmacy Quality Scheme will focus on ensuring contractors in England have taken measures to protect staff and patients from COVID-19. …

Deaths: Roy Keyworth

On 1 July 2020, Roy Keyworth, aged 92 years, of Brigg, North Lincolnshire. Mr Keyworth was a former member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. …

Health secretary refuses to commit on repayment of pandemic advance funding

Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, told an audience of pharmacists that he could not make a commitment on whether, or how, £370 million in advance funding given to community pharmacies in England to help them manage through the COVID-19 pandemic should be repaid.…

We need new medication software to link hospital care to community pharmacy

As a relief pharmacist, and a locum on my days-off, there’s variation in my work — I check a plethora of interesting medications across a range of demographic groups. But there are two aspects of my work that remain unvaried no matter where I go: the dreaded desynchronisation of pa…

We always used to put returned medicines to good use if it was appropriate

I appreciated the article ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the government to allow medicines reuse: we must not waste this opportunity to counter our throwaway culture’ in the June 2020 issue of The Pharmaceutical Journal. When I started work in retail pharmacy back in 1962, it wa…

Medical training for pharmacists would give our profession a new lease of life

I think the pharmacy profession could slip into oblivion sooner rather than later if nothing is done to change the status quo. The way to give the profession a new lease of life is to fully support the government’s idea to train pharmacists to become doctors. The tasks we do at the momen…

‘It is difficult witnessing patients fight for their lives’ — a day in the life of a critical care pharmacist

Working in critical care can be both physically and emotionally challenging, but being proactive can help ensure patient safety and continuity of care.…