PJ October 2020, Vol 305, No 7942

Untangling IBS from IBD

Although they sound similar, share some symptoms and are not mutually exclusive, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease are two distinct conditions that require different approaches.…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management

Early diagnosis and medicines optimisation are fundamental to ensure timely and appropriate treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and improve a patient’s quality of life.…

We must learn the lessons from Priadel

The discontinuation of Priadel shows we need a tougher regulatory environment to prevent firms making commercial decisions that put vulnerable patients at risk.…

Is racism really a problem in our profession?

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author’s. If you would like to submit a letter to The Pharmaceutical Journal, please click here. I must comment on the perceptions of Elsy Gomez Campos, president of the UK Black Pharmacist Association, and Nigel Praities, w…

We’re running out of time to tackle COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

The seeds of doubt are being sown before a vaccine has even been approved. It is time to prepare the public for what could be a significant hurdle for any COVID-19 vaccine.…

The new abnormal: vulnerable patients hit by pharmacy closures

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a lot of additional pressure on an already underfunded community pharmacy sector, resulting in many pharmacies closing down.…

We pharmacists are risk-averse but it is logical that we should all independently prescribe on registration

In light of the shifts in healthcare practice that have been expedited during the COVID-19 pandemic, one important change that is long overdue is ensuring pharmacists have a much bigger role in prescribing, says Anthony Cox.…

Pharmacist contributions to consultant-led post-take ward rounds: a service evaluation

A study carried out at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust shows that pharmacists’ contributions on post-take ward rounds are highly valued, with their interventions leading to a reduction in prescribing errors and potential for harm.…

‘I have developed good working relationships with my patients beyond their diagnosis’ – a day in the life of a renal pharmacist

With the support of his manager and the renal department, Aaron Acquaye is constantly striving to develop his clinical knowledge and skills. …

Antivirals have little effect on mortality in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, suggest WHO trial interim results

Four repurposed antiviral treatments for COVID-19 have little or no effect on mortality in patients who are hospitalised, interim results from the World Health Organization’s Solidarity trial have suggested.…