 The idea behind the minimum pricing on alcohol is to dissuade the public from excessive drinking, writes C+D's James Bloodworth. But, personally, I think we need to take a more targeted approach if we're to deal effectively with the problem |
 England’s official data for dispensed prescriptions over the past ten years is out and CPD editor Chris Chapman sheds some light on the changes that are beginning to emerge |
 C+D Senate Friday's C+D Senate will look at the issue of delivering quality services to a high standard, writes Zoe Smeaton . Join us live as we debate the issues of workload, funding and more |
 From contract woes to commissioning strife, there’s plenty of issues pharmacists would like answers on. James Bloodworth puts your questions to PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe |
 This morning I got some Levonelle One Step in the post – a bargain on eBay for £12.99 plus postage and packing. |
 With it having been just over a year since the RPS split from the GPhC, C+D's Melanie Hall is keen to find out what it's been like for members |
 This week's news blog is all about money as C+D's Zoe Smeaton looks at the financial challenges facing pharmacists, from category clawbacks to prescription pricing errors |
 Sigma Conference Day two of the conference is all about business, writes Emma Weinbren . From generics to OTC, the agenda is jam-packed with little time to get a sun tan |
 Sigma Conference 2012 After a long-haul flight to Thailand, relaxing by the pool would be great. But, as Emma Weinbren reports there is no time to rest at what is going to be a busy Sigma Conference |
 News blog This week news editor Zoe Smeaton visits the ABPI to discuss stock shortages with CEO Stephen Whitehead and brings you the latest on 100-hour pharmacies |
 Team blog Cuts, freezes and economic downturn are words pharmacists are all too familiar with, writes Jennifer Richardson. But with financial pressures showing no sign of easing she looks at just how important money really is |
 News blog News editor Zoe Smeaton talks to MPs in parliament about what kind of evidence they need to see if they are to take stock shortages further |
 News blog Treatments for animals might be the last thing you’d expect to find in a pharmacy, but as Melanie Hall discovered on her trip to visit C+D’s New Pharmacist of the Year 2011, pharmacists are branching out in more ways than one |
 News blog For C+D reporter Emma Weinbren a visit to the seaside town of of Jaywick in Essex is a reminder that social deprivation is rife in the southeast. |
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News editor Zoe Smeaton welcomes you to C+D's first news blog. Every week we'll bringing you all the most important news from community pharmacy.This week stock shortages have been dominating the headlines and Zoe explains why
 News blog Having been prescribed a salbutamol inhaler for the first time made me eligible for the NMS, writes C+D's Isobel Smith. Follow her three-part blog to find out how she got on and her thoughts on the new medicine service |
 News Blog Despite the best intentions about using an independent pharmacy for her flu jab, C+D news editor Zoe Smeaton was lured by the bright lights and slick marketing of Boots |
 Chris Chapman brings you the gossip from the Pharmacy Show at the NEC in Birmingham |
 C+D Conference Building strong working relationships with other healthcare professionals is key if pharmacy is to thrive under NHS reforms, writes Jennifer Richardson . And the C+D Keynote Conference at the Pharmacy Show aims to explore the landscape of the future NHS |
 News blog Over the past few months, writes Emma Weinbren there's been a great deal of talk about pharmacy's role in public health. As the NHS reforms take shape, the overriding message seems to be that pharmacists should do more to promote wellbeing in their communities. |
 To whom are pharmacists supposed to turn for support, asks Xrayser. The plethora of representation is confusing, but if Mike Holden plays his cards right, the NPA could hold the answer |
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The NPA's renewed focus on independents is a bold move, writes Jennifer Richardson, but if it can translate into tangible successes for the independent sector, then it may well be the right one |
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Having just returned from a conference of community pharmacy representative organisations, it was interesting to reflect how similar the challenges are around the world - supply chain, healthcare... |
More from Mike Holden
 Ask Dr Livingstone about coughs and colds and he’ll switch into autodoc mode, advising patients not to bother with OTC remedies. But he can't help it, it’s become a reflex |
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For every one of the Department of Health's Big Ideas there's a downside, writes Dr Livingstone, and it usually involves GPs mopping up the mess |
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When chloramphenicol went OTC for conjunctivitis, Dr Livingstone assumed he would see a drop in affected patients. But he's found that access only leads to excess |
Dr Livingstone is a real-life GP lost somewhere in the NHS jungle. A reluctant part of a GP commissioning consortia, he offers his slightly wry look at all things NHS
 Big Tobacco has muscled in on the e-cigarette business and smoking cessation services have seen take-up fall, so is harm reduction better than no action at all, asks Terry Maguire |
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A train of pharmacists lined up to get into the training sessions for MURs for asthma and COPD, writes Terry Maguire, reflecting the enthusiasm for this style of working |
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Until the issue of time management is properly tackled, taking on new services will only ever be a struggle, writes Terry Maguire |
Terry Maguire is a community pharmacist in Northern Ireland with over 20 years' experience. He is recognised as a pioneer in the development of pharmacy services in the UK and beyond, having developed a model service for pharmacists in screening for raised cholesterol in the 1980s, and a smoking cessation programme in the early 1990s.
 We've got a small collection of NVQ portfolios appeared on the shelf for checking, in time for the next technician workshop. The current candidates are getting towards the end of the... |
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I've dutifully filled in the C+D Salary Survey, but it did get me wondering where I slot in to the profession. Am I community? Am I academic? I do training in community pharmacy; I still face... |
Mark Sykes is not your typical pharmacist. He's an employee community pharmacist practising in Yorkshire who qualified eight years ago. After starting as a branch pharmacist, he turned to the dark side and now spends most of his time looking after his company's dispensing technician and assistant qualifications, and pre-reg training. Outside of work, he can be found out and about enjoying the countryside while trying to improve his landscape photography. You might see some of the results of this from time to time (it'll provide a break from the prescriptions)
 In order for us to save lives by helping smokers go smoke-free, it would be beneficial for us to look at the ways we can improve support for patients when they conquer one of the most difficult... |
Darush Attar-Zadeh , a pharmacist and cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, provides training and consultancy services for both NHS primary care trusts and private companies. His innovative style of running rolling Group programmes has been a theme in the Global Health Alliance 2009 in Athens and at the UK national Smoking Cessation Conference for 2007 and 2008. And he was asked to help review the new National Training Standards for Smoking Cessation.
 Forget the Brown-Cameron-Clegg debate; "The Great KCL Pharmacy Debate 2011" was definitely one to watch. An event that put classmate against classmate and friend against friend. ... |
Anshu Bhimbat is a fourth year pharmacy student at Kings College and regular contributor to Chemist+Druggist
 Very difficult choices need to be made about how the NHS is funded, writes Brian Austen, and he reckons he’s got the solution to the problem of pharmacy services |
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Blog With many independent pharmacies struggling to grow in the shadow of multiples, Brian Austen takes a look at how other professions have changed and developed their business models and what pharmacy can learn from them |
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Blogs EPOC Health director Brian Austen is well-versed in the spat between pharmacists and dispensing doctors, but says the focus should always be on benefits to the patient |
Brian Austen is a busy man: he's worked as a director of a GP practice and as a consultant with experience of setting up GP-owned pharmacies. His aim? To work with and for GPs and pharmacists to help them realise the benefits of working together
 As you well know, I have a penchant for all things pharma industry related. An interesting story arose last week from the analysts CMR International. They concluded that research and... |
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Community pharmacies are being invited to put themselves forward to become a Healthy Living Pharmacy as part of a national drive to develop the initiative across England. At least 100... |
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The merger of the School of Pharmacy, University of London (ULSOP) with University College London has been announced, starting in January 2012. Although this had been on the cards for many... |
After qualifying as a pharmacist in 2007, Adnan Khan started his PhD at the University of Nottingham looking at how the immune system can be manipulated to reduce cancer burden. A regular community pharmacy locum, he also acts as a teaching assistant on some modules on the MPharm degree at the University of Nottingham and is involved in projects on EPS and inter-professional learning and development.
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The idea behind the minimum pricing on alcohol is to dissuade the public from excessive drinking, writes C+D's James Bloodworth. But, personally, I think we need to take a more targeted approach if we're to deal effectively with the problem |
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England’s official data for dispensed prescriptions over the past ten years is out and CPD editor Chris Chapman sheds some light on the changes that are beginning to emerge |
|
C+D Senate Friday's C+D Senate will look at the issue of delivering quality services to a high standard, writes Zoe Smeaton . Join us live as we debate the issues of workload, funding and more |
|
From contract woes to commissioning strife, there’s plenty of issues pharmacists would like answers on. James Bloodworth puts your questions to PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe |
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This morning I got some Levonelle One Step in the post – a bargain on eBay for £12.99 plus postage and packing. |
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With it having been just over a year since the RPS split from the GPhC, C+D's Melanie Hall is keen to find out what it's been like for members |
|
This week's news blog is all about money as C+D's Zoe Smeaton looks at the financial challenges facing pharmacists, from category clawbacks to prescription pricing errors |
|
Sigma Conference Day two of the conference is all about business, writes Emma Weinbren . From generics to OTC, the agenda is jam-packed with little time to get a sun tan |
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Sigma Conference 2012 After a long-haul flight to Thailand, relaxing by the pool would be great. But, as Emma Weinbren reports there is no time to rest at what is going to be a busy Sigma Conference |
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News blog This week news editor Zoe Smeaton visits the ABPI to discuss stock shortages with CEO Stephen Whitehead and brings you the latest on 100-hour pharmacies |
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Team blog Cuts, freezes and economic downturn are words pharmacists are all too familiar with, writes Jennifer Richardson. But with financial pressures showing no sign of easing she looks at just how important money really is |
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News blog News editor Zoe Smeaton talks to MPs in parliament about what kind of evidence they need to see if they are to take stock shortages further |
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News blog Treatments for animals might be the last thing you’d expect to find in a pharmacy, but as Melanie Hall discovered on her trip to visit C+D’s New Pharmacist of the Year 2011, pharmacists are branching out in more ways than one |
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News blog For C+D reporter Emma Weinbren a visit to the seaside town of of Jaywick in Essex is a reminder that social deprivation is rife in the southeast. |
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News blog Having been prescribed a salbutamol inhaler for the first time made me eligible for the NMS, writes C+D's Isobel Smith. Follow her three-part blog to find out how she got on and her thoughts on the new medicine service |
|
News Blog Despite the best intentions about using an independent pharmacy for her flu jab, C+D news editor Zoe Smeaton was lured by the bright lights and slick marketing of Boots |
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Chris Chapman brings you the gossip from the Pharmacy Show at the NEC in Birmingham |
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C+D Conference Building strong working relationships with other healthcare professionals is key if pharmacy is to thrive under NHS reforms, writes Jennifer Richardson . And the C+D Keynote Conference at the Pharmacy Show aims to explore the landscape of the future NHS |
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News blog Over the past few months, writes Emma Weinbren there's been a great deal of talk about pharmacy's role in public health. As the NHS reforms take shape, the overriding message seems to be that pharmacists should do more to promote wellbeing in their communities. |
 With NICE assessing the cost-effectiveness of new and existing medicines, senior primary care pharmacist Navin Sewak takes a look back at a few high-profile cases to see how we really value innovation |
 Was it only three years ago that the English Government’s pharmacy white paper stated its intention to roll out a national community pharmacy minor ailments scheme? |
Navin is a senior primary care pharmacist in a Central London Primary Care Trust Cluster. His work involves consulting with general practices, other healthcare professionals, and patients to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medicine-use across primary and secondary care. With a Masters in Health Economics, he is also one of only five pharmacists on the NICE's technology appraisal committees, as well as a visiting lecturer at King's College London, and a member of NHS London Emerging Leaders Network. His current interests include mentoring junior pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to help achieve their potential.
You can follow Navin on Twitter at @navinsewak
 I spent one evening recently at a CPPE event in Teeside entitled, Communicating locally with commissioners and GP consortia. The evening was enjoyable and informative but one... |
With over 17 years experience in community, hospital and prison service pharmacy, Shaun Hockey set up PL-UK Recruitment in 2003 and is now a leading recruiter of locum and permanent pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians. He is passionate about all things www, sport, especially rugby and taking holidays with his family, especially in Cornwall
 NHS clinical adviser Jonathan Mason discusses the importance of gaining professional experience while studying a pharmacy degree |
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As temperatures outside begin to nose dive, NHS clinical advisor Jonathon Mason talks through who pharmacists should be targeting when it comes to flu vaccinations |
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After a busy two days at the Pharmacy Show in Birmingham, NHS clinical adviser Jonathan Mason talks through his experience and areas where pharmacists have a vital role |
 Blogs Department of health hospital pharmacy tsar Martin Stephens discusses new Department of Health guidance on antibiotic prescribing |
 Department of health hospital pharmacy tsar Martin Stephens writes about the importance of knowing exactly what medicines or treatments a patient is receiving on admission to hospital |
 Blog In his latest blog, Martin Stephens discusses how patients with Parkinson's Disease can get the most from their medicines |
 What is it about patients and inhalers? Yesterday I saw a patient in my COPD clinic – someone whom I have seen twice before and spent a lot of time deciding what sort of inhaler device she would... |
Two-time C+D Award-winner Valerie Sillito is a community pharmacist based in Aberdeen. An independent prescriber, she runs clinics in hypertension, and COPD and asthma. A keen skier and sailor, she describes pharmacy as another of her interests, rather than simply a job.
 It could be said that all history is the history of change. Some thrive on continual change and others strive for stability and calm. Instituting changes in an organisation such as a pharmacy... |
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I had an interesting conversation a few weeks ago with a friend who was planning a re-fit of his new premises. There was talk of a retail area at the front, a counter towards the back, the... |
Mohammed Hussain has been a pharmacist for more than 10 years and was previously head of community pharmacy services at NHS Leeds. He is now clinical safety assurance manager for the electronic prescription service at NHS Connecting for Health. He continues to practise in Yorkshire
 I was at the Health Service Research and Pharmacy Practice Conference (HSRPP) ( http://www.hsrpp.org.uk/ ) at the University of East Anglia ( www.uea.ac.uk ), which was a great success on a... |
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Hello C+D readers, let me introduce myself: my name is Amir Rashid and I am a PhD student looking at professional commitment and organisational commitment in the community pharmacy sector in Great... |
Studying for a doctorate, Amir Rashid is based at The University of Manchester'sCentre of Pharmacy Workforce Studieswhere he is supervised by Professor Karen Hassell.
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Care homes are no strangers to controversy. In 2009 the media announced that seven in 10 care home residents were victims of drug error. Now, the BMJl has released a study that shows carers are... |
Norman Niven describes himself as an industry trouble-shooter with 30 years' experience in the health and caring sector. A pharmacist and former director of BUPA Care Services, Norman is the creator of the Biodose medication management system and founder of Protomed
 Patients today seem to choose which pharmacy they use based on location, writes contractor Ravi Patel, so allowing open entry never created healthy competition |
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With his local surgeries having gone live with EPS release two last month, contractor Ravi Patel couldn’t help feel a bit disappointed after all the hype |
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With several experiences of surgery computer’s behaving badly, contractor Ravi Patel wonders just how far mistakes get elsewhere in the country before they're flagged |
 After learning more about what it’s like to live with OCD, pharmacy student Thorrun Govind looks at what can be done to improve treatment |
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Much like Olympic athletes, pharmacists train hard for years, writes pharmacy student Thorrun Govind. But instead of staying focused we seem to get distracted by the little things |
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From funding to demands on healthcare, there was plenty of food for thought at a talk last week attended by pharmacy student Thorrun Govind |
Thorrun Govind is studying pharmacy at King's College London. Coming from a pharmaceutical background, from an early age when asked the question ‘What do you want to do when you were older?', she always replied, a TV presenter and a pharmacist. She's been lucky enough to have had her 15 minutes of fame on BBC Newsround and is working with ITV to produce a mini-documentary about teens on the roads. You can follow Thorrun on Twitter
