Contents 6 8 10


Bid to increase European cancer survival rates


Calls for greater pharmacy involvement within hospitals


Scales of justice don’t swing in Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland favour


18


Pharmaceutical Society launch new Code of Conduct


22 A special message for the use of Specials Medicines


32 What’s on your bucket list? Asks Numark’s Wayne Harrison


33 New section detailing all UCA news and information


42 Renewed calls for antibiotic alternatives


46 Aaron aims high, pharmacy’s latest rising star profile


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EDITORIAL


Kelly Jo Eastwood News Editor Dr Dan Corbett MPharm., MPSNI Aaron Courtenay MPharm, MPSNI, Locum Pharmacist Dr Terry Maguire


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Welcome A


t the end of last year the Department of Health wrote to PSNC to impose a 6% cut


in pharmacy funding. Pharmacy provides a crucial network, highly valued by patients, that makes huge differences to their health. NHS services are already under huge strain and pharmacy can only help if the network is secure and strong.


This 6% doesn’t sound like much until you realise it equates to £170m. That is a gargantuan chunk of cash which will potentially mean pharmaceutical services, the ones which use my clinical expertise and benefit patients, may be cut. It will probably mean pharmacy closures, job losses and worsening pay for those left in the sector.


While it is unclear what exactly will change, we have had some grim examples of the future – pushing pharmacies towards a supermarket service model seems a strong contender for saving the Government money as well as devaluing the profession.


The news has been described by some as a "profoundly damaging move" that would "deliver a destructive blow to the support community pharmacies can offer to patients and the public."


The announcement was made in an open letter to PSNC and other key pharmacy bodies that spoke of the potential for greater use of pharmacy in prevention of ill health, support for healthy living and minor ailments.


And the bad news doesn’t stop there. It was learned this month that Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland has lost its latest judicial review bid. Following pressure from CPNI, including bringing the judicial review proceedings, the Department have now started a cost of service inquiry


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I


which is the key element required in efforts to secure fair and reasonable remuneration for contractors.


CPNI say they will now look at other avenues to seek a resolution as ‘we can't ignore the financial hardship, pressures and uncertainty that is being experienced in the pharmacy network as a result of the lack of funding.’


But where to now for the profession, and in what direction? It seems pharmacists and pharmacies are being given almost impossible hurdles to overcome in their pursuit of excellence in patient care. Turn to page 10 for the full story.


In other news this issue, Minister for Health Simon Hamilton announced the launch of the long awaiting and much anticipated Health+Pharmacy during a visit to Randalstown.


This initiative comes from the Health and Social Care Board and Public Health Agency to give pharmacies an accreditation to work with their local communities to offer advice and services on improving health and wellbeing.


The Health+Pharmacy initiative trains staff including non- pharmacists, to be active health promoters and already nine pharmacies across Northern Ireland have successfully gained accreditation.


This issue’s clinical features take in musculoskeletal pain, specials medicines and Alzheimer’s Disease, while UCA’s Katie McKitterick gives an overview of best practice advice when coding, endorsing and bundling your prescription items on page 62.


PRESIDENT Cliff McElhinney


OPERATIONS MANAGER/SECRETARY Adrienne Clugston


HON. TREASURER Peter Wright


PHARMACIST REPRESENTATIVES John Hamill, Madeeha Malak


REPRESENTATION PHARMACIST Mairead Conlon


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Turlough Hamill, Fergus Hamilton, Sheelagh Hillan, Paul Kelly, Jayne Laughlin, Jonathan Lloyd, Paula McDaid, Paul McDonagh, Killian Johnston, James McKay, Adele Graham, Stephen Slaine.


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