NEWS
CHALLENGES TO CAMERON’S PHARMACY CLAIMS
NPA Chairman Ian Strachan has accused the Prime Minister David Cameron of being ‘poorly advised.’
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister (April 21), the Prime Minister’s implication that pharmacies were not part of the health service front line, were sharply challenged.
He says, “At Prime Minister's Questions this week, you told MPs that there has been a 'massive increase in pharmacy spending'.
You also implied that pharmacies are not part of the health service front line, and therefore less deserving of public investment than doctors, nurses and A&E.
“Prime Minister, you have been poorly advised.
“You have also apparently been misinformed about the level of investment in community pharmacy in recent years. I suspect that your comment about a massive increase in pharmacy spending actually refers to the medicines budget (the drugs bill) rather than the cost of providing pharmaceutical care in pharmacies.
“You may be aware that three quarters of a million patients and concerned citizens have already signed a petition against recent Department of Health proposals which put pharmacy services at risk. The petition continues to grow at a rate of 30,000 signatures every day.
“I might add that you also claimed yesterday that there is 'a specific scheme to help' rural pharmacies. That is also untrue. In fact, there is merely a promise to consult on a scheme to maintain access.
“May I respectfully ask that you take an early opportunity to correct on record the misinformation you gave to Parliament?
More importantly still, please ask your Health Ministers to think again about the disastrous course of action they have recently embarked upon in relation to community pharmacy.
It is a dangerous experiment which could see local pharmacies close, thereby reducing people’s access to pharmaceutical and healthcare advice, and putting extra pressure on GPs and hospitals.,” he concluded.
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pharmacyinfocus.co.uk
Andrew Cheung Harrison Healthcare, Anne McAllister NPA, Jude Austin CPNI, Jennifer Moran Harrison Healthcare, Anne McAllister Donegal Pass Community Forum, Emma Pengelly MLA DUP, Colin Harrison, Christopher Ho Harrison Healthcare, Camilla Reynolds Inner South Health Project, Mairead Conlon UCA, and Elaine Mansfield Donegal Pass Community Forum
Thousands of local smokers were urged to stub out their cigarettes and become ‘Proud Quitters’ on No Smoking Day, which was held recently on Wednesday, March 9
Harrison Healthcare in South Belfast's Donegal Pass area has a long history of outreach work with the local community and of course was fully engaged with National Stop Smoking Day this year.
The team invited key members of local groups along to help spread the word alongside Emma Pengelly, MLA representative of South Belfast.
Colin told Pharmacy in Focus that the support community pharmacies can offer with initiatives such as No Smoking Day makes a real difference.
"I have a lady who comes to our pharmacy who is in her fourth week of quitting and while she has had blips, she is determined to stop. With tailored support offered by us, she will."
Harrison Healthcare’s next venture will be with BCPP and looking at young men's mental health issues in the surrounding area.
Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Focus NI, said, “Stopping smoking can be difficult, but help is at hand. Studies have found that smokers are four times more likely to succeed in quitting with help from stop smoking services than if they go it alone.
“Cancer Focus NI provides a wide range of services and we have an
excellent track record in helping people to quit. Our experienced stop smoking staff, provide a friendly, supportive environment. They’ll help you assess how addicted you are to nicotine, overcome the fear of quitting, cope with cravings, manage stress, avoid weight gain and adjust to a healthier lifestyle.”
In Northern Ireland there are more than 650 free stop smoking services which are run by specially-trained staff who can advise on the best way to stop smoking.
No Smoking Day is organised in Northern Ireland by Cancer Focus NI, the British Heart Foundation NI and the PHA, who are part of the local No Smoking Day Coordinating Committee.
Top 100 listing for MediCare Breakthrough in prostate cancer
A major breakthrough by leading Ulster University scientists into prostate cancer has revealed the reason why many men may suffer a relapse within two years of starting one of the most frequently used treatments for the disease.
Chartered Accountants Harbinson Mullholland last month launched the inaugural Northern Ireland Top 100 locally owned family businesses with pharmacy chain the MediCare Pharmacy Group listed 18th.
This new listing was initiated to acknowledge the critical role that these locally owned businesses play in Northern Ireland’s private sector in the
provision of jobs, wealth and the opportunities that this affords to the wider community.
Pictured after receiving a certificate at the awards ceremony on behalf of MediCare Pharmacy Group, is MediCare Managing Director Michael Guerin with Michael McQuillan, Ulster University Business School and Darren McDowell, Harbinson Mulholland.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Northern Ireland. Around 1,000 men here are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.Ulster University's research findings, revealed that some men who receive a hormone treatment known as androgen deprivation therapy can suffer a relapse; not because the treatment is ineffective but because a low level of oxygen in the tumour can trigger genetic changes that accelerate the growth of new cancer cells. Ulster University's team is now currently studying the benefits combined drug therapy can bring in targeting the low oxygen cells and prevent tumour growth following the hormone therapy.
Harrison Healthcare help the quitters
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