Patients

Writing competition now open: tell us about the patient who changed your practice

The Pharmaceutical Journal is asking readers to write a short piece on the theme of ‘The patient who change my practice’, where the winning entry will receive an Amazon Fire 8 tablet.…

How pharmacists can support patients’ psychological, as well as physical, needs

The fifteen minute hour: efficient and effective patient-centered consultation skills by Marian R Stuart and Joseph A Lieberman…

Why patients are still being denied legalised medical cannabis

Hospital trust bureaucracy and doctors’ ignorance are to blame for the lack of prescriptions for medical cannabis being issued on the NHS, despite its reclassification for medical use in November 2018.…

Lessons for better use of community pharmacy in primary care

Policymakers have, for some time, recognised the importance of community pharmacy in optimising patient-centred care and reducing GPs’ workload through extended service delivery. However, awareness and use of such services among patients and members of the public remain low[1] . The p…

Charity launches campaign to stop prescription charges for people with asthma

Asthma UK is calling for Matt Hancock, health and social care secretary, to stop “unfair” prescription charges in England, so that people with asthma no longer have to “pay to breathe”.…

Contribute to research on perceptions of ‘the pharmacist’

At this time of uncertainty within the pharmacy profession, it is more important than ever that, together, we can articulate exactly what a pharmacist is. Without a clear idea, we will struggle to convince patients, commissioners and politicians of our value and the contribution we make. Never…

Doctors encouraged to write directly to patients using plain English

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has developed guidance to help and encourage hospital doctors to write their outpatient clinic letters in plain English.…

Doctors recommend 50 more ways to cut unnecessary treatment

Women taking the contraceptive pill should be given repeat 12-month prescriptions, rather than three or six months’ worth of supplies, guidance from leading doctors has said.…

Over 40% of patients not told about side effects of their medicines

Hospital patients are not getting enough information about how to take care of themselves after discharge, according to a report by the Care Quality Commission.…

Ignorance is not bliss: why we need more empowered patients

Shared decision-making should become a mandatory part of training for all healthcare professionals to improve collaboration with their patients, save the NHS billions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes, say Aseem Malhotra and Sue Bailey.…