NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF
PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT APPROVED
A treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer has been approved for use on the NHS in Scotland.
An expert at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Professor Rob Jones has welcomed the decision to offer suitable men the therapy known as radium-223 dichloride.
Scotland is said to be the first and only country in the UK to grant sustained access to the treatment for a specific set of patients.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in Scotland, with almost 15,000 cases between 2008 and 2012, and the number of cases is projected to increase by 35 per cent within the next 10 years. In some the disease can spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones, leading to pain and potential fractures.
Professor Jones, Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, said, “Around 900 men a year die from prostate cancer in Scotland. In the majority of these men, the cancer will have spread to the bones and this can cause a lot of problems such as pain, fracture and paralysis.
“The availability of radium-223 dichloride is welcome news for men living with advanced prostate cancer and their families as this is a treatment which specifically targets the bones improving pain control and preventing other complications as well as prolonging survival. I am pleased that Scotland has recognised the challenges that bone metastases can pose to patients with advanced stages of this cancer.”
In trials median survival was extended by more than three months in patients who took the treatment.
6 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST Honey of an Apple Deal for
Scottish Pharmacy Honey Pharmacy Group has acquired five new pharmacies across Scotland creating up to 40 new jobs and five traineeships after securing a multi-million pound finance package from HSBC.
and we take our personalised patient service offering across the country.
“We’re passionate about helping people and this funding from HSBC will not only allow us to reach more communities but also invest in staff through the pharmacist and technician traineeships and work experience programmes we offer in every pharmacy.”
The funding, which marks the start of a new banking relationship with the business switching its full banking requirements to HSBC, has been allocated from the bank’s national £8 billion SME fund, with £400 million specifically designated to support Scottish firms.
The Glasgow based company has completed a series of site acquisitions following HSBC funding which has seen the Honey Pharmacy portfolio grow from three to eight pharmacies across Scotland.
Honey Pharmacy has acquired five new branches from the Apple Pharmacy Group with sites situated in Edinburgh, Dundee and Polmont. Two further branches will open in prime Glasgow locations of Alexandra Parade and Cathcart Road. They will continue to trade under the Apple Pharmacy name.
Healthy Start Vitamins Scheme
NHS Scotland has issued advise to all NHS Health Boards that the national community pharmacy pilot trial scheme formally ceased on 30 September 2015.
NHS Boards should now have notified all Community Pharmacies and Dispensing Practices of this formal closure date. From 1 October, any further arrangements will be on a Local Negotiated Service basis directly with
Honey Pharmacy expects to see turnover nearly triple from £1.8m to £5.8m as a result of the expansion and the pharmacies’ improved service offering. This will include free prescription collection and delivery services and more personalised customer support.
Kasim Gulzar, Pharmacist and owner of the Honey Pharmacy Group, worked with business partner Asim Sarwar on the deal. Kasim said, “We’re at the start of an exciting journey for Honey Pharmacy as the number of sites more than double
Boards, which includes reimbursement if Healthy Start vitamins are provided to a beneficiary.
A Local Negotiated Service (LNS) specification for Community Pharmacies, engaged by their respective Boards from 1 October, has now been issued directly to each of our Healthy Start Board leads. This LNS has been drawn up by Scottish Government with input from Board Pharmacy teams and Healthy Start leads.
The publication on the review of the
Grant Bett, Relationship Director for HSBC Corporate Banking in Scotland, said: “Honey Pharmacy has an exciting future ahead as they build on their already strong Glasgow offering to open more Honey Pharmacy sites across Scotland. We’re pleased to start a new banking relationship and to be able support such an ambitious Scottish business through our dedicated SME fund for Scotland.”
Peter Gallanagh of Scottish chartered accountants, Campbell Dallas, assisted on the deal.
distribution of Healthy Start vitamins through community pharmacies is now available on the Scottish Government website.
If you have any queries regarding this letter, please contact Healthy Start Policy Manager, Douglas Armstrong on email via
douglas.armstrong@scotland.
gsi.gov.uk or by telephone on 0131 244 2070.
Action
Health Boards are asked to note the contents of this letter and inform all community pharmacists as appropriate.
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