Pharmaceutical compounding and extemporaneous preparation

How we trained an apprentice pharmacy technician based on an aseptic unit

The aseptic team at University Hospitals Plymouth explain how and why they developed a training programme for an apprentice pharmacy technician.…

Medication maths: calculations involving molecular weight

This article is part of a comprehensive series on pharmaceutical calculations in preparation for the General Pharmaceutical Council registration assessment. It provides guidance on how to tackle questions that involve calculations based on molecular weight, including a worked example of a sample exa…

Allowing pharmacy technicians to supervise hospital aseptic facilities would increase risk of ‘catastrophic clinical error’, says PDA

Responding to the government's consultation on pharmacy supervision, the Pharmacists' Defence Association said that pharmacy technicians do not have the “clinical knowledge” needed to supervise hospital aseptic facilities.…

Becoming a product approver for an NHS aseptic unit

Chief pharmacy technician Rachel Low says her role allows her to resolve clinical issues at an early stage, ultimately leading to more efficient patient care.…

Government to open five regional aseptic pharmacy ‘pathfinder’ hubs by 2027

The move to centralise aseptic medicine production in England has been welcomed, but there are calls for the government to commit to funding to allow for delivery.…

Some aseptic pharmacy services to be centralised, Welsh government says

Exclusive: Three centralised facilities have received £67m in initial funding as part of the government's 'Transforming Access to Medicines' plan.…

Increasing injectable medicines ten-fold could release time equivalent to 4,000 extra nurses, report says

The production of injectable medicines in England could be increased from the current 3.4 million individual doses to more than 40 million per year.…

Specials system in English primary care no longer delivers best care or value for money

We are writing in response to the news story ‘Pharmacy negotiators say centralised system for specials procurement could “drive down quality”’ (The Pharmaceutical Journal online, 15 May 2019). The current system for specials’ prescription and supply in NHS pr…

NHS review finds ‘majority’ of pharmacy aseptic services cannot fund maintenance

Most aseptic pharmacy services in England are unable pay for maintenance and servicing due to a poor understanding of the costs involved, an NHS report has said.…

Pharmacists asked to help manage ‘restricted’ aseptic compounding capacity

The NHS is facing “considerable challenges” in supplying enough aseptically prepared injectable medicines, and chief pharmacists are responsible for ensuring adequate contingency plans are put in place.…