Clinical pharmacy

Impact of a pharmacist-led asthma and COPD respiratory clinic in general practice

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to account for a large burden of disease in the UK. Despite comprehensive guidelines, more than 1,000 people die from asthma each year and COPD accounts for a leading cause of emergency admissions in the UK. In a joint initiative betwe…

All you need to know about GP practice pharmacists

The first pharmacists are about to start work under a new pharmacists in GP practices scheme. What do existing practice pharmacists do and how will the new roles differ?…

A new clinical model for community pharmacy

I recently became a grandfather (twice) and have enjoyed meeting all the new parents who had children at the same time as my two daughters. Once they discover I am a pharmacist they are full of the praise for the help and assistance they have received from their local pharmacists. This custome…

Pharmacy must grasp new clinical opportunities with both hands

As a GP with 25 years’ experience, a strong interest in medical education, and married to a community pharmacist, I am constantly amazed by how pharmacy has allowed itself to be sidelined and passed over by other medical-related professions. Salaries have not kept pace with similar groups, and…

Financial incentive, informatics tool and pharmacist support reduces inappropriate prescribing by GPs

A mix of interventions – including educational support from a pharmacist – can reduce the rate of high-risk prescribing for a specific group of patients and may lead to improved clinical outcomes, according to new research.…

Department of Health extends consultation period for community pharmacy proposals

Health minister Alistair Burt has confirmed that the Department of Health will extend its consultation on proposals for the community pharmacy sector until 24 May 2016.…

MPs debate ‘perverse’ community pharmacy proposals

Government plans to slash £170m from the community pharmacy budget in England in October 2016 are uneconomic and short sighted because patients will turn to over-stretched GP services and hospital casualty departments to fill the gap in care, according to MPs.…

Why deintensification of drug therapy could be beneficial for some patients

Intensive drug treatment for certain patients with comorbidities can sometimes do more harm than good.…

Efficiency proposals for community pharmacy will not provide meaningful savings, says Pharmacy Voice

Pharmacy Voice, which represents three community pharmacy associations, has spelt out its opposition to UK government proposals to slash 6% from the national settlement for England and have described ministers’ plans for the future of the profession as “ill-conceived and inconsistent&rdq…

Burt distances himself from ‘3,000 pharmacy closures’ prediction

The government is not making any presumptions about community pharmacy closures which could result from its proposals for the sector, according to Alistair Burt, minister of state for community and social care.…