COELIAC DISEASE FEATURE
disease can get the quick and accurate diagnosis they need. GPs can also find the symptoms of coeliac disease vague and challenging and this can lead to delays in diagnosis. For example, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people with coeliac disease have previously been misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Clinical guidelines from NICE now state that individuals should be screened for coeliac disease before a diagnosis of IBS is made. Coeliac UK will be working hard to increase awareness among GPs so they too will ask themselves when a patient presents with symptoms – is it coeliac disease?
This campaign also looks to engage the help and support of pharmacists.
All over Scotland, pharmacists already do a great job in supplying people with coeliac disease their prescribed gluten-free food products and in providing advice and information with the aim of improving adherence to the gluten-free diet. In addition, pharmacists are also key in identifying individuals in their local community with recurring symptoms of undiagnosed coeliac disease, signposting them appropriately for diagnosis. Some people can view their underlying symptoms of coeliac disease as being minor in nature, and they may be more likely to visit their local pharmacy for help than bother their GP with the symptoms. As such, pharmacists will come into contact with many people who potentially have coeliac disease making them an integral part of this campaign.
A point of care test (POCT) in the form of a rapid finger prick blood test has the potential to increase diagnosis in coeliac disease, if used as part of an active case finding approach in community pharmacies. There are currently four POCTs available for detection of coeliac disease, with limited research around their use, however Simtomax® (IgA and IgG antibodies against a combination of Deamidated Gliadin Peptides (DGP)) is
supported by an emerging evidence base and is being used in a proof of concept project in England involving Coeliac UK in conjunction with the National Association of Primary Care. In this project, customers presenting to a community pharmacy with a prescription, or purchasing over the counter medicines, where the medication has been identified as a treatment for conditions which may be consistent with having coeliac disease, will be offered a POCT within the pharmacy setting and advised on the next steps depending on the test result. Individuals will be referred to their GPs in line with the established NICE guideline on recognition of coeliac disease (2009).
In addition, Coeliac UK has worked in collaboration with the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE) on development of training on coeliac disease via the CPPE learning platform. The training is free and is recognised in Scotland and the other home nations. If you haven’t done this training already, it is very valuable and worth finding the time to complete it. The knowledge gained here will help in both identifying those who may have coeliac disease and in managing those who currently have a diagnosis of coeliac disease.
The training can be found here
www.thelearningpharmacy.com/ content/
programme.asp?topic=33
Undiagnosed coeliac disease is a difficult condition, with tough and challenging symptoms which, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems. Our diagnosis campaign has a target that by 2020 a further 250,000 people across Scotland and the UK will be freed from those symptoms, from feeling unwell, and from the long term risk to their health.
It’s a big ask. But by raising awareness of signs and symptoms and by working with healthcare professionals, we can meet this ask. •
GET INVOLVED
Should any pharmacists wish to get involved in the campaign,
please visit:
www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk/ supporter-resources
The Coeliac UK website is
www.coeliac.org.uk .
Janice Oman
Scotland Representation Manager
Websites Selling Medicines – New Legislation Requirements
NPA Members should now be aware that European laws affecting pharmacies in the UK selling medicines online to the general public came into force on 1 July. Websites supplying medicines at a distance must now display an EU logo with a hyperlink to an online register.
To be compliant with this new requirement, pharmacies must register with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) if they offer medicines to members of the public online and supply these medicines themselves. Register as soon as possible at
pclportal.mhra.gov.uk If you require more information or use a third party to supply medicines to the patient please contact the NPA Pharmacy Services team on 01727 891800 for advice.
Palliative care - “We need to talk about Palliative Care”
Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is holding an inquiry into Palliative Care in Scotland. The Committee has issued a call for written views which will run until 12 August 2015. The remit of the inquiry is threefold; considering access to palliative care, how and when conversations about palliative care begin and how palliative care access and quality can be measured by specific
indicators.The NPA will be responding to the Committee from the viewpoint of independent community pharmacy contractors and their pharmacy teams.
To help inform our response, we invite NPA members to email
j.oman@
npa.co.uk with examples of pharmacy based palliative services and thoughts on what opportunities exist for pharmacy to improve the patient experience.
Pro-Delivery Driver App Pro Delivery Manager is an Android and iOS app developed specifically for community pharmacy. The ‘Pro Delivery Manager’ app enables users to:
• Track the status and delivery of prescription medication to patients, improving safety
• Work out the best route for the driver to take, increasing efficiency and saving costs
• Notify patients of delivery status via SMS for better customer service • Produce detailed reports for robust audit
To try out Pro Delivery Manager, call the NPA Sales Team on 0844 736 4199. More information is also available at
www.prodeliverymanager.com.
Please do not hesitate to contact Janice on
j.oman@
npa.co.uk if you have any issues you would like to raise.
SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 25
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