National Pharmacy Association

Pharmacy Voice welcomes medicines supply guidance as a useful first step

Thu, Feb 03, 2011 14:37 CET

Pharmacy Voice today welcomed best practice guidance developed by the Department of Health supply chain working group, describing the statement that ‘pharmacies should receive medicines within 24 hours’ from their suppliers as “a useful first step”.The National Pharmacy Association, a member of Pharmacy Voice, has been an active participant in the working group since it was set up in 2010 following a Ministerial summit. Ian Facer, chairman of Pharmacy Voice and the NPA said: “This guidance establishes for the first time the principle that pharmacies should receive medicines within 24

Health Bill: GPs can’t deliver reform programme by themselves, says Pharmacy Voice

Wed, Jan 19, 2011 18:17 CET

The focus on GP led commissioning risks overlooking the contribution of other healthcare professionals, says Pharmacy Voice, the organisation representing pharmacy owners, upon the launch of the Health Bill today.Pharmacy Voice chief executive, Rob Darracott, said: “The NHS is about more than doctors, and GP commissioning has to be about more than GPs. The Health Secretary acknowledges that pharmacists have an important and expanding role in supporting better health, but we now need to see his words backed by action. Pharmacists see more people, more often, even than GPs do. “There

Don’t blame the worried well, says Pharmacy Voice

Tue, Jan 11, 2011 13:37 CET

Pharmacy Voice today responded to comments by Dr Clare Gerada that so-called ‘worried well’ people who get vaccinated for flu are partly responsible for a shortage of flu vaccines within the NHS.Rob Darracott, Pharmacy Voice Chief Executive, said: "People who are taking responsibility for their own health by getting vaccinated outside of the NHS are not to blame for NHS vaccine supply difficulties. In advance of the flu season, GPs in England ordered what they calculated was sufficient for the NHS programme based on expected demand. Private supply is entirely separate and does not

Pharmacy Voice encourages health professionals to work together to support vaccination of at risk groups

Thu, Jan 06, 2011 17:56 CET

Members of the public continue to enquire at pharmacies about the vaccine which protects against seasonal flu strains including the H1N1 swine flu virus. Pharmacy Voice, whose members are the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the Company Chemists’ Association, (CCA) and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp), has issued the following update today:The Department of Health has advised that there is no national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine. There may be local supply issues, but NHS organisations are working together to resolve these. Where local supply

Pharmacies and flu vaccinations

Tue, Jan 04, 2011 17:40 CET

Members of the public have been enquiring at pharmacies about flu vaccinations, and there have been questions in particular about the eligibility of children for the pharmacy based service. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has issued the following statement today:“The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) encourages the public to protect themselves against flu by observing good hand hygiene and considering the latest seasonal vaccine which protects against seasonal flu strains, including the H1N1 swine flu virus. You can get the vaccination for free from your GP if you are aged 65

Pharmacists on hand to offer advice and contraception over the festive season

Thu, Dec 23, 2010 17:59 CET

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is reminding the public that the free advice and supply of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) - also known as the morning after pill - is available at their local community pharmacy over the festive season.Women will be able to get the morning after pill from most community pharmacies on a walk-in basis without having to first book an appointment with their GP. If you are 16 or over, you can simply ask your pharmacist to provide you with emergency hormonal contraception. Many pharmacies have a private consultation area where you can ask for advice