NEWS
NEW TREATMENT APPROVED FOR
PLAQUE PSORIASIS The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Enstilar® for use within NHS Scotland. This decision confi rms that GPs and dermatology clinicians are now authorised to prescribe Enstilar® calcipotriol/ betamethasone dipropionate 50 micrograms/g + 0.5 mg/g) for the management of all severities of plaque psoriasis in adult patients, aged 18 years or older.
The SMC’s positive recommendation for Enstilar® follows its UK Marketing Authorisation on 15 April of this year. Following an abbreviated submission, the SMC’s decision states that: ‘calcipotriol and betamethasone cutaneous foam (Enstilar®) is accepted for use within NHS Scotland, indicated for the topical treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in adults.’
The SMC also advises that ‘Enstilar® cutaneous foam is another licensed formulation of calcipotriol/betamethasone and may be associated with a small budget impact’. Clinical studies show that calcipotriol/ betamethasone dipropionate foam spray is a more effective topical combination treatment than those currently available and is generally well-tolerated. More than half of patients in clinical trials experienced signifi cant visible signs of improvement within four weeks, with some patients seeing improvements at one week.
TEAM GB OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST PLAYS IT SAFE
Olympic rower, Will Satch, who earned a gold medal for Team GB in the Men’s Eights at the Rio 2016 Olympics, found time in between training sessions to access ScreenCancer’s Mole Screening Service, which is available in selected Alphega Pharmacies.
Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the UK. In 2012, more than 2,000 people died from malignant melanomas.
As a rower, Will spends long periods of time outside in the sun, and with his fair skin, red hair and multiple freckles and moles, he has a higher risk of developing skin cancer. However, his high intensity training schedule meant he had, for some time, ignored growing concerns about a number of moles on his skin. Will recently heard about ScreenCancer’s Mole Screening Service from a family member and, fi nding a rare break from training, he decided to use the service due to its convenience and accessibility.
Prior to fl ying out to Rio to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games, Will visited Wraysbury Village Pharmacy in Staines, Middlesex, which is an Alphega Pharmacy member, to have images taken of two moles which were causing him concern.
‘There is very low awareness of
BILL FOR ASTHMA CARE EXCEEDS £1BN
Asthma costs the UK health service at least £1.1 billion each year, researchers have estimated. The fi ndings are the result of the most comprehensive study of the state of asthma in UK to date.
The UK-wide research team from the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at The University of Edinburgh found that at least three people die each day from asthma attacks and that there are around 6.4 million GP and nurse consultations
62 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST for asthma each year.
Experts say the majority of asthma deaths are preventable and greater focus on basic care is needed to cut the rates of severe attacks.
Researchers used information from national health surveys and anonymised administrative, health and social care records to build a picture of asthma in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
‘Even with conservative assumptions,’
Alphega Pharmacist, Julie Tullett, checks mole for Olympic rower, Will Satch
the risks of skin cancer or how to spot it,’ says Will, 27. ‘I’ve been meaning to get the moles looked at but unfortunately hadn’t found the time to visit my GP. The Mole Screening Service is a great initiative, primarily because people like me who have busy schedules can easily get checked. I got my results directly from ScreenCancer quickly and have recommended the service to friends and GB teammates.’
Alphega’s service involves an image being taken of a mole on the patient’s body using innovative imaging technology provided by ScreenCancer, and this image is then transmitted to a qualifi ed ScreenCancer dermatologist
said Professor Aziz SheikhDirector, Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, ‘we fi nd almost 100,000 people are admitted to hospital and there are at least 1000 deaths from asthma each year in the UK. This is unacceptable for a condition that, for most people, can be managed
for analysis. The service is noninvasive, painless and quick.
‘Anyone who is worried about a mole should get it checked straight away,’ says Julie Tullett, Alphega Pharmacist at Wraysbury Village Pharmacy. ‘The ScreenCancer Mole Screening Service is a fantastic way for anyone to check a mole they are concerned about. With this service, if something is identifi ed as being suspicious, a ScreenCancer Dermatology Nurse contacts the customer with information about the image, provided by the dermatologist, and, if appropriate, gives the customer advice on the referral process, should further investigation be required.’
effectively with the right support from their GP. Greater focus on primary care is needed if we are to cut rates of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations and deaths.’
Of the £1.1bn cost of treating asthma in the UK, at least £666 million is spent on prescription costs each year. Other costs include £160m on GP consultations, £143m on
disability claims and £137m on hospital care.
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