NEWS


Shop oWnEr conVIctED oVEr IllEgal SalES of prEScrIptIon mEDIcInES


a 43 year-old woman has been convicted at lisburn magistrates' court for the sale and supply of illegal prescription medicines.


Eduarda Verygiene, who was selling the medicines from her Eastern European convenience food store in lisburn, pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the possession and sale of unauthorised, prescription-only and pharmacy medicines.


the court was told that the Department of health's medicines regulatory group (mrg) enforcement officers visited ms Verygiene’s shop in tonagh Drive in September 2016 and seized more than 3,000 tablets in addition to a range of illegal medicines.


the medicines seized were of lithuanian and russian origin and included those for the treatment of infection, digestive disorders and for pain relief.


ms Verygiene was fined £750 plus court costs.


‘this kind of illegal activity poses a significant risk to public health,’ professor mike mawhinney, head of the medicines regulatory group, said following the conviction. ‘the Department will continue to be vigilant in the regulation of medicines and in maintaining public safety. to this end we will continue to conduct further inspections across northern Ireland and take action where necessary.’


4 - pharmacY In focUS


over 250 pharmacies across northern Ireland are coming together this month to help support vulnerable people on the streets of belfast.


the pharmacies, which include members of the Ulster chemists’ association as well as boots, have launched a month-long campaign of fundraising activities to raise money for SoS bus nI.


SoS bus nI is manned by 250 trained volunteers who offer up their free time to provide unconditional care, support and medical intervention to


vulnerable people on the streets of belfast every weekend until 3.30am.


the charity works in partnership with the pSnI, belfast city council, harbour police and event organisers to create a safer city for everyone during the busy night-time economy period.


‘We are very grateful for the support of the 250 pharmacies,’ said Joe hyland cEo of SoS n, ‘and the money raised will be spent directly on maintaining our presence on the streets of belfast. Youngsters from all


over the province converge on the city for a good time each weekend, but some of them find themselves in crisis and end up vulnerable. our incredible volunteers provide welfare and medical support for them during the late weekend nights, ensuring they get home safe, or when necessary, to hospital.’


throughout august the pharmacies will be implementing a range of fund raising activities from box collections, through to cake sales and raffles. It is hoped that the campaign will raise in excess of £10,000 for the charity.


pharmacISt ShortagE comES Into SpotlIght


Uca president, cliff mcElhinney, and operations manager, adrienne clugston, recently met with chief pharmaceutical officer, Dr mark timoney, to discuss community pharmacy workforce planning in light of the current serious shortage of pharmacists.


‘pharmacists practice in community, hospital or primary care (general practice) settings, working to ensure that patients get the optimal benefit from their medicines,’ Dr timoney said following the meeting.


‘pharmacists’ roles have evolved clinically and modern practice may


involve prescribing, medication reviews, advising medical and nursing staff and patients on the safe, appropriate use and supply of medicines. research has repeatedly demonstrated that these clinical activities can result in better patient outcomes and efficiencies to the health Service.


‘the medicines optimisation Quality framework describes how the strategic deployment of pharmacy teams should aim to deliver the most effective use of medicines.


‘Improved patient outcomes should be achieved through a multi-


disciplinary workforce trained and competent in medicines optimisation and include the involvement of pharmacists in all health care settings.


‘In order that the unique clinical and technical skills of the pharmacy team can best meet the challenges of medicines optimisation going forward, I have established a Workforce Development work stream, with input from pharmacy representative groups, to scope the required actions to complete a pharmacy workforce review.’


month-long fUnDraISIng campaIgn laUnchED


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