Community Pharmacy Wales has estimated that community pharmacies in Wales could save the NHS £95 million a year if services such as a national minor aliments scheme were rolled out effectively. It urged the Welsh Assembly Government to make the commitment needed to deliver the changes.  Savings could come from 4 key areas: better medicine […]

The GPHC has urged pharmacists to respond to their consultation on CPD, with just a few weeks to go before the closing date (7th February). The consultation includes the proposal to set a pass mark for CPD standard at 50% and to require one third of CPD entries to start the ‘reflection stage’. It is […]

A leading dental practice is using acupuncture to calm nerves and relieve pain. Receiving acupuncture prior to dental treatments is the latest combined offering to be introduced by the practice pioneering in advances in dentistry. Recent studies in Sheffield and Denmark concluded that acupuncture has a ‘beneficial effect on the levels of unease in patients […]

The British Dental Practice Managers’ Association (BDPMA) is seeking to attract registered managers to become members. CQC registration requires managers of dental practices to have suitable experience and training. The BDPMA has negotiated discounts with many training providers with annual membership costing just £85. Membership is open to all members of dental teams as well […]

After comments from the Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail regarding pharmacists turning away parents who wanted their children vaccinated, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have defended accused pharmacists, stressing the need for extra training. The NPA said that pharmacists were naturally reluctant to turn people away but had […]

This week Flame Health have launched the first phase of their new look website. The new layout will allow better functionality and enhanced searching options across the site. Specialising within Optometry, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Private Healthcare , Healthcare Sales and Cosmetic Surgery sectors; Flame Health place a high priority on emerging technologies that streamline our business, […]

Recruitment has begun for the first UK trial of a bionic eye which can restore sight to blind people. The microchip implant has been tested in Germany, where it allowed patients to read letters and recognise objects. The chip fits under the retina and works like a digital film camera. A 3mm sq array of […]

1,500 pharmacists miss the GPHC Registration Deadline Almost 1,500 pharmacists will leave the register in January after failing to renew their membership with the GPHC. 42,612 pharmacists had re registered by the November 30th deadline (around 97%). This means over 3% are set to leave the register. pharmacists who did not renew by the deadline will […]

The GPHC has stated that almost 98% of pharmacists have met or exceeded the expected standards when submitting their CPD for review. The Council said that of the 8,000 records reviewed in the first year of the process, 82% achieved an ‘excellent’ score, and a further 16% were rated as ‘good’. 65% of registrants removed […]

Plans to mark the first steps towards a significant NHS White Paper commitment to introduce a new dental contract that will improve the quality of patient care and increase access to NHS dental services, with an additional focus on improving the oral health of school children has been published by the Department of Health. The […]

The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has stated that community pharmacists in Europe should be granted access to electronic health records. The group has said that while there is wide acceptance of pharmacists’ involvement in e -prescribing systems, the same cannot be said for sharing information contained in patients’ electronic records. The group believes […]

The Report on Jobs published on 8th December by the REC and KPMG has shown stronger rises in both permanent and temp billings during November. In both cases, rates of expansion were at 3 month highs. Recruitment consultancies have indicated further rises in both permanent and temp staff pay. However the rates of inflation remained […]

With the cold snap of weather around the UK, pharmacists have been battling the snow and ice to stay open. Alliance Healthcare admitted some disruption to services but praised staff and their commitments to delivering medicines and prescriptions. Some pharmacists were reported walking several miles to work, as well as making deliveries on foot. Flame […]

Dentists are being urged to join a British Dental Association (BDA) campaign, calling on the Government to address concerns about the registration of dental practices with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The BDA is sending all members a postcard emphasising the increasing burden of red tape encircling practitioners and the effect it has on patient […]

The General Dental Council (GDC) has begun a review of its Standards Guidance and Scope of Practice. The aim of the review is to go back to square one. This will take place in 2011 and will include consultations, focus groups, a working group and GDC staff attending events across the UK, to hear directly […]