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Pharmacists need better technology (3)

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:01:51 GMT

clipped by: hanumana

Pharmacists need better technology

'Seriously over worked'

Pharmacists in England and Wales offer a medicine use review service where a pharmacist will have a private consultation with a patient about their medicines.

It is valued by patients who have received it; pharmacists find it professionally satisfying and it improves patient's treatment.

A number of pharmacies also offer screening services such as cholesterol monitoring, help to stop smoking and flu vaccination.

The problem is that pharmacists are trying to do all of this on top of rising dispensing volumes.

The number of prescriptions has increased by two-thirds in the past 10 years with little or no change in staffing numbers over the same period.

Pharmacists are saying that they are seriously over worked with some working 10-hour shifts with no breaks during the shift - a situation which everyone recognises cannot be allowed to continue.

Pharmacists need to free up time from dispensing while maintaining accuracy.

Pharmacists need better technology (2)

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:00:38 GMT

clipped by: hanumana

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Pharmacists need better technology

Pharmacists are experts in medicines and have more in-depth knowledge about them than any other healthcare profession.

The problem that the NHS faces is that the increased complexity of medicines and the huge potential for medicines to interact with each other makes prescribing more difficult.

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of NICE, the NHS advisory body, drew attention to what he called "a serious problem in British medicine—poor prescribing".

It is estimated that 5% of all hospital admissions are the result of adverse effects of medicines.

All of this means that doctors need support from pharmacists to help them improve prescribing and patients need support to better understand and benefit from their medicines.

In hospitals, pharmacists are already an integral part of the clinical team and advise on complex medicine regimes.

Pharmacists need better technology

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:59:10 GMT

clipped by: hanumana

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Pharmacists need better technology

VIEWPOINT
David Pruce
Policy Director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Pharmacists have been shouldering an increasing number of challenges without any increase in staffing over the past decade.

In this week's Scrubbing Up, David Pruce, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, argues that it is time to give them some help.

Opinion polls consistently show that pharmacists are one of the most trusted professionals - coming second only to fire fighters in a poll for the Readers Digest.

So you would expect pharmacists to be a pretty contented lot.

Earl Howe, Conservative shadow health minister, said that "pharmacists represent our most under-utilised national resource in the delivery of services to NHS patients", echoing views across the political divide.

Not so - many feel frustrated that their skills are under used and politicians agree.

Diabetes gene link treatment hope

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:03 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Diabetes gene link treatment hope

Scientists have found that diabetics with a certain gene variant respond better to a particular treatment than those without it.

They discovered that a group of drugs, known as sulphonylureas, were more than three times as effective in Type 2 diabetes sufferers with the variant.

Sulphonylureas are used to correct blood glucose levels and can help with complications like heart disease.

The study assessed 1,073 people in Tayside with diabetes over 18 months.

The findings, carried out by the Diabetes Research Group at the University of Dundee, could help doctors to decide what drugs to prescribe in future.

According to the research, six people in every 100 with two variants of the gene CYP2C9, were 3.4 times more likely to achieve their blood glucose target of less than 7% compared to people who did not have those variants.

Alpecin Liquid Hair Energizer 200ml

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:35:03 GMT

clipped by: hanumana

Clip Source: merseybankpharmacy.co.uk

Alpecin Liquid Hair Energizer 200ml

Combat hereditary hair loss with Alpecin Liquid. The caffeine based active ingredient combination keeps hair production going for longer helping to prolong hair growth phases in people with hereditary hair loss.

£6.99

Alpecin Liquid Hair Energizer 200ml

Counteract premature hair loss, increase hair root productivity and enhance the speed of your hair growth. Alpecin Liquid has a pantented formula that helps keep hair roots active for a lifetime, maintaining vigorous hair growth.

For optimal results use the Alpecin Active Shampoo, suitable for your hair type before using this liquid as it contains a patented scalp protecting ingredient.

The dangers of internet drugs?

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:29:09 GMT

clipped by: hanumana
clipper's remarks: It is very important to buy from a registered Pharmacy website.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The dangers of internet drugs?

VIEWPOINT
Professor Steve Field
Chairman of the Royal College of GPs

It is estimated that two million Britons are currently buying drugs over the internet and doctors are increasingly having to treat them for bad side effects.

In this week's Scrubbing Up, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Steve Field, says the only way for anyone to safely buy drugs this way is to talk to their GP or pharmacist first.

GPs have always known that medication bought from the internet is a potential minefield and recent studies are showing just how risky it is.

A shocking survey has confirmed this is a major problem.

A poll in GP magazine found that one in four GPs have treated patients for adverse reactions to medicines they have brought online.

In addition, 85% of doctors surveyed believe there needs to be more regulation.

Does brain training really work?

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:05:50 GMT

clipped by: hanumana
clipper's remarks: I will test this

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Does brain training really work?

By Dr Adrian Owen
Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

Brain training is a billion dollar industry, but does it actually work? The BBC is launching Britain's biggest ever brain training experiment to find out.

Millions of copies of console and computer-based "brain trainers" are sold worldwide every year, claiming to make peoples' brains younger, better, faster or bigger.

The theory seems to make sense: regularly exercising the brain with tests and puzzles can improve brain skills and help people become better at everyday thinking tasks.

But recent research suggests scientific evidence is lacking.

The BBC's Brain Test Britain experiment wants to find out if brain training really works, and is aiming to get thousands of members of the public to train for 10 minutes a day, three times a week, for at least six weeks.

This is depressing

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:51:01 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Depression looms as global crisis

The World Health Organization predicts that within 20 years more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem.

According to the WHO, depression will be the biggest health burden on society both economically and sociologically.

Yet, it says most developing countries spend less than 2% of their national budgets on mental healthcare.

The warning comes as the first Global Mental Health Summit starts in Athens, Greece.

WHO figures reveal that currently, over 450 million people are directly affected by mental disorders or disabilities, most of whom live in developing countries.

"WHO figures clearly show that the burden because of depression is likely to increase - so much so that in 2030 this will be the single biggest cause for burden out of all health conditions," Dr Shekhar Saxena of the Department of Mental Health at the WHO, told the BBC World Service.

Prison food 'beats NHS hospitals'

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:20:47 GMT

clipped by: hanumana
clipper's remarks: Do you like hospital food?

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Prison food 'beats NHS hospitals'

Researchers have claimed the food provided in prisons is better than in NHS hospitals.

Experts from Bournemouth University examined the quality of food offered to prisoners and NHS patients.

They say people in hospital are losing out on nutrition because they are not being helped with eating or having their diet monitored.

A Department of Health spokesman said most patients were "satisfied with the food they receive in hospitals".

Professor John Edwards said about 40% of patients entering hospital were already malnourished, and this did not tend to improve during their stay.

"If you are in prison then the diet you get is extremely good in terms of nutritional content," he said.

"The food that is provided is actually better than most civilians have.

"There's a focus on carbohydrates. Then there's the way they prepare the food; it's very healthy. They don't add salt and there's relatively little frying of food - if you have a burger then it goes in the oven.

GPs 'struggle with child obesity

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:18:51 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

GPs 'struggle with child obesity'

Front-line NHS staff are unlikely to have an impact on tackling childhood obesity, say UK researchers.

GPs and practice nurses told a University of Bristol team there were limits on what they could do to solve what is effectively a social problem.

Time pressures, a lack of treatment options, and parental reluctance to address weight problems prevented them having any effect, said staff.

The government said no one group could solve obesity on its own.

In the UK, around 27% of children are now overweight.

Writing in the British Journal of General Practice, the researchers said there had been moves to involve primary care staff in spotting and treating overweight children.

This includes 2006 guidelines from both the Department of Health and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.

Obesity drug fears investigated

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:36:11 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Obesity drug fears investigated

US authorities are investigating concerns an anti-obesity drug widely available over the counter at chemists may cause liver damage.

Orlistat went on sale under the brand name Alli without the need for a prescription in the UK in April.

The US Food and Drug Administration has received more than 30 reports linking the drug to serious liver injury.

However, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said there was no evidence the drug caused liver damage.

In six of the cases reported to the FDA patients went on to develop organ failure.

The pill, which works by blocking the absorption of fat in the body, is aimed at adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28 or more. It is also available on prescription as Xenical.

Clinical trials suggest adding orlistat to a reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet, can help people lose 50% more weight than dieting alone.

Big sales

Since going on sale at UK pharmacies around 200,000 people have bought the drug.

Hopes raised for MS treatment

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:55:36 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Hopes raised for MS treatment

Scientists in Bristol claim results from a research project into multiple sclerosis (MS) could lead to treatment to reduce the severity of the disease.

The team carried out tests on mice and found those with higher levels of galanin, a protein within brain nerve cells, were resistant to MS.

Professor David Wraith at the University of Bristol said the results were "extremely promising".

The team said it could be at least 10 years before a drug is developed.

Professor David Wynick, who works on the function of galanin, set up the project with a group of other scientists working on the development of a vaccine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

He said: "It has been known for some time that galanin plays a protective role in both the central and peripheral nerve systems - when a nerve is injured levels of galanin increase dramatically in an attempt to limit cell death."

Low-carb diets 'damage arteries'

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:53:24 GMT

clipped by: hanumana
clipper's remarks: My arteries are bad

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Low-carb diets 'damage arteries'

Low-carb slimming diets may clog arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a study suggests.

Diets based on eating lots of meat, fish and cheese, while restricting carbohydrates have grown in popularity in recent years.

But the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the US found such habits caused artery damage in tests on mice.

The researchers and independent experts both agreed a balanced diet was the best option.

Low-carb diets have attracted a lot of attention and controversy after a surge in interest in them in the 1990s.

The researchers at the Beth Israel institute, which is part of Harvard Medical School, decided to investigate their impact on the cardiovascular system after hearing of reports of people on the diets suffering heart attacks.

'Simple' endometriosis test hope

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:41:58 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

'Simple' endometriosis test hope

Scientists have developed a quick and simple way to diagnose endometriosis, without requiring surgery.

All that is needed is a small sample of womb lining, taken in a similar way to a smear test, that can be checked for the presence of nerve fibres.

According to the Human Reproduction journal, this can predict with nearly 100% accuracy the condition's presence.

Endometriosis is a common problem where cells that usually line the womb are found elsewhere in the body.

It affects about two million women in the UK, most of whom are diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 40.

As well as causing pain and discomfort, it can also lead to infertility.

Conventionally, doctors use laparoscopy to diagnose endometriosis.

This involves the woman being booked into hospital for the invasive "keyhole" surgical procedure carried out under general anaesthetic.

Laparoscopy itself can be associated with complications and can harm a woman's fertility.

Urine test 'predicts' best drugs

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:45:33 GMT

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Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Urine test 'predicts' best drugs

A urine test could help doctors decide which drugs will be most effective for their patients, scientists have shown.

In trials the test predicted how well men would respond to paracetamol.

It works by analysing levels of different by-products of metabolism - the chemical reactions the body uses to make energy.

The experts from Imperial College London and the drug giant Pfizer report their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers say this kind of "metabolic profiling" could ultimately allow doctors to work out perfect drug matches for individuals, with no risk of side effects.

They trialled a prototype of the urine test in 99 men taking one dose of the commonly used painkiller paracetamol.