Patients

Up to 40% of patients not taking their blood pressure tablets as prescribed

Non-adherence to antihypertensive treatment is common in the United Kingdom and Czech Republic, according to a new study.…

Large pharmacy chains to set up ‘crisis team’ following cyber attack on NHS

The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA), a trade body that represents multiple pharmacy chains in the UK, is planning to set up a ‘crisis team’ in the wake of the malware attack that hit the NHS on 12 May 2017.…

Delaying anticoagulation treatment for atrial fibrillation increases dementia risk, study suggests

Results reinforce the importance of starting anticoagulation treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis, researchers conclude.…

Adherence to high intensity statins drops off for heart attack patients

Better insurance for drug costs, more specialist visits and taking part in cardiac rehabilitation could improve adherence to recommended statin treatment, researchers believe.…

Demonstrating the patient benefit and value for the NHS of community pharmacy: insight from the Community Pharmacy Future model

In the face of funding and efficiency cuts to community pharmacy, the role of the sector is coming under increasing pressure. The importance of outcomes evidence (particularly health economic evidence) is being brought sharply into focus. The profession must come together to produce the evidence nee…

Rivaroxaban more effective than aspirin for preventing blood clots, study results suggest

Rivaroxaban is as safe as aspirin and more effective at preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients who were in equipoise for continued anticoagulants, a study shows.…

Health professionals are often the ‘second victims’ when patients are harmed, delegates hear

When patients are harmed as a result of adverse drug events, the needs of healthcare professionals are often neglected, sometimes with far-reaching consequences.…

Anti-inflammatory drugs show no clinically significant effect in back pain, study suggests

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seem to offer no real benefit over placebo in relieving back pain, a systematic review suggests.…

Evaluate pharmacists working in GP pilot schemes, MPs urge

Pilot schemes testing whether locating pharmacists inside GP practices can improve clinical care and free up GP time now need to be formally evaluated, says an all-party parliamentary group of MPs.…

Overseas patients to pay fees to the NHS under new plans

Hospitals in England will have to check overseas patients’ and migrants’ entitlement to free non-urgent NHS care from April 2017 when new regulations are due to be introduced, the Department of Health has announced.  On 6 February 2017, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a s…