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NEWS


RISKS OF vALPROATE AND PREGNANCy TOOLKIT


The MHRA has launched a new toolkit to better inform female patients about the risks of taking valproate medicines during pregnancy.


Taken by those with epilepsy and bipolar disorder, the treatment is associated with a risk of developmental disorders and birth defects in children if taken during pregnancy. valproate (Epilim, Depakote and other generic brands) is a treatment for epilepsy and bipolar disorder and is prescribed to thousands of women. It is associated with a risk of birth defects and developmental disorders in children born to women who take valproate during pregnancy.


MHRA strengthened warnings on the risks of valproate in pregnancy last year, as understanding of the extent of these risks had increased. Up to 4 in 10 babies are at risk of developmental disorders, and approximately 1 in 10 are at risk of birth defects, if valproate is taken during pregnancy. The new toolkit addresses concerns that the risks of valproate are not being adequately explained to female patients.


Developed in consultation with stakeholders including healthcare professional and patient groups, the toolkit includes a credit card sized patient card to be issued by pharmacists, booklets for healthcare professionals and for patients together with a checklist of important questions and discussion points to be kept with the patient’s file. Warnings will appear on the medicine’s packaging later this year.


The MHRA is asking pharmacists, GPs, neurologists, psychiatrists, and other relevant healthcare and mental health professionals to use the toolkit to help facilitate discussion of the risks with their patients.


Anyone who has experienced any side effects to this medicine can report these to the MHRA using the yellow Card Scheme.


4 pharmacyinfocus.co.uk


Initiative recognises public health role of pharmacy


In Northern Ireland, around 123,000 people visit a pharmacy every day, making community pharmacies the most visited among all the health services available.


With this in mind, the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and the Public Health Agency (PHA) have introduced a new initiative called Health+Pharmacy. Pharmacies with the Health+Pharmacy accreditation will work with their local communities to offer advice and services on improving health and wellbeing.


This can take place within and outside the pharmacy, for example in local schools or with community groups, to offer advice on issues such as obesity and better nutrition or pointing those in need to the organisations or local health services best placed to help them.


Launching the initiative at Randalstown Pharmacies, Health Minister Simon Hamilton said, “Community pharmacies are to be commended for the key role they play in promoting public health, providing a wide range of services within local communities. This is very much in line with the wider transformational changes in the health service, designed to bring care closer to home.


“A growing and ageing population, along with an increasing prevalence of chronic illness and unhealthy lifestyles, is creating an unprecedented burden on our health services. We cannot afford to stand still and must continue to look for opportunities presented by new models of care, such as Health+Pharmacy, that will support people to manage their own health.


“It is encouraging to see that the Health+Pharmacy initiative trains staff, including non-pharmacists, to be active health promoters. I understand nine pharmacies across NI have successfully been accredited with the Health+Pharmacy award so far,


Minister for Health Simon Hamilton pictured with Deirdre Quinn, Pharmaceutical Services Lead, HSCB at the launch in Randalstown Pharmacy


recognising their role as a very valued resource in their local communities.”


To be awarded Health+Pharmacy status, the pharmacy will have demonstrated that it meets 16 separate quality standards related to public health. Pharmacies accredited by the scheme will display a certificate and sticker and have a dedicated Health and Wellbeing adviser in the pharmacy.


To date, 440 staff from over 220 pharmacies have received training on the core skills that equip them to become part of Health+Pharmacy. Pharmacists and assistants attend live training together as a team, with the assistant going on to complete a Public Health Institute accredited course in public health to become a Health and Wellbeing adviser.


When ready to do so the pharmacy can request assessment. The assessment process opened in August 2015, with 21 pharmacies so far indicating they are Health+Pharmacy ready. In December 2015 the first nine of these pharmacies were awarded Health+Pharmacy status.


Mrs Deirdre Quinn, Pharmaceutical Services Lead at the HSCB, described the vision for the service. She said, “Over the next couple of years it is envisaged that many more community pharmacies will work towards achieving Health+Pharmacy status. The public will recognise a Health+Pharmacy as somewhere they will receive a consistently high quality of advice and service from trained staff about their health needs.”


Also welcoming the initiative was Mary Black, Assistant Director, Health Improvement with the PHA, who added, “Community pharmacy provides a springboard for supporting public health goals, working at the heart of the communities they serve. These programmes are about reducing health inequalities by identifying issues early, making sure people get the information and support that they need, and preventing long-term health problems developing. Health+Pharmacies will have a key role on the front line of this work to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”


Pharmacy Management brings more Programmes to Northern Ireland for Community Pharmacy


The Specialist Pharmacy communications organisation, Pharmacy Management, has just announced more programmes for NHS pharmacists in Northern Ireland.


The Pharmacy Management Academy will be in Belfast on Wednesday 29 June 2016 with an all-day course “INFLUENCING SKILLS”.


Previous courses from the Academy have been very popular and registration for this free to NHS course, which is supported by sponsorship, can be undertaken at www.pharman.co.uk/events/n-ireland.


Chief Executive of the company, John Stanley stated, ”These Management and Personal Development Skills


Courses are very practical and relevant for Northern Ireland pharmacists. We expect another significant attendance.”


The Pharmacy Management Academy is also planning to run another course in the Autumn 2016 which will feature a different skill and will be based in Belfast again.


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