I’ve been contacted by the PSNC this morning. Apparently locum pharmacy technicians are unable to use their NHS smartcard in any other pharmacy than their “base” store. Pharmacist locums don’t have the same problem as their cards contain additional code that enables them to be used in any terminal.
As we move towards electronic prescription this will clearly become a major problem for locum pharmacy technicians and the PSNC are trying to get the DOH to add the additional code to locum technician’s cards beforehand.
If you have had problem like this please give me a ring as the PSNC would like a real “live” example of the problems caused by the lack of code so they can take these to the DOH.
PLease use the number at the top of the homepage to call
Shaun Hockey – Managing Director PL-UK
Really interesting article on PJ Online about the lack of communications causing a 200% increase in medication errors. I couldn’t agree more as I mentioned in a previous post http://www.pluk.co.uk/2010/pharmacist-access-to-medical-information/
Pharmacists need access to medical information to fulfil their potential as the healthcare providers on the high street and could make a masssive impact in terms of drug costs and effectiveness. To me it’s a no-brainer but until the government start contracting with professionals i.e. individual pharmacists and not shops it’ll never happen because GP’s don’t want supermarkets and multi-nationals to have access to their patient’s medical records
Link to PJ Online article below
A community pharmacy screening pilot for intravenous drug misusers identified 68 per cent of patients who had unknowingly been exposed to hepatitis C.
The scheme, set up by the British Liver Trust, illustrates how community pharmacies that already offer needle exchange and methadone services for drug misusers can help identify undiagnosed liver disease.
Link to full article on PJ Online
http://www.pjonline.com/news/liver_trust_trials_pharmacy_as_hepatitis_screening_venue
Next Development – a pharmacist conducting the test as part of the research team? Hope so.
Interesting article about how parents are increasingly bypassing their GP.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13500502
The RPS have announced the launch of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Awards.
Text from RPS Press Release
“Pharmacists from across all sectors of the profession are invited to enter the inaugural Royal Pharmaceutical Society Awards.
There are seven award categories, designed to recognise pharmacists from all sectors of the profession and throughout all stages of their pharmacy careers.
The awards are an opportunity to highlight the achievements and recognise the successes of individuals or groups over the last year.
Those short-listed will be invited to attend an awards dinner to be held on 11 September at the Commonwealth Club in London as part of the RPS annual conference.
The seven RPS categories are: clinical pharmacist of the year; public health pharmacist of the year; leadership in pharmacy award; lifetime achievement award; academy of pharmaceutical science award; British Pharmaceutical Student Association student of the year; and preregistration pharmacist of the year.
An entry form can be downloaded from www.rpharms.com/rpsawards . The deadline for entries is 5pm 29th July 2011. Successful applicants will be informed on 17 August 2011 if they have been shortlisted to attend the evening awards dinner”
Agency Workers Regulations – how does it effect me?
The simple answer is it doesn’t. …. in most cases. For more expert guidance than I can supply as a pharmacist rather than a legal bod please click on the link below. http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/documents/01109%20PCG%20A4%2020PP%20BROCHURE%20SINGLE%20PAGES.pdf
One in a lifetime opportunity – pharmacist required in Tonga
We have been approached by a not for profit pharmacy in the Kingdom of Tonga asking us to recruit a pharmacist to work at one of the health centres in the Kingdom. This opportunity will definately not come up again for if you fancy a complete change of scene and an opportunity to live on [...]
Just a quick post to remind all pharmacist that they need to renew their GPhC registration by the 31st October. So you still have a month to pay but if you are anything like me, if you don’t do it now, there’s a chance you’ll forget!
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