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News items on 'Prescribing'
Lethal danger of purchasing prescription drugs online
(The Scotsman 07/11/2009)
SCOTS are risking their health by buying prescription medicines on the internet, campaigners have warned. Research shows that 13 per cent of people in Scotland admitted to buying medication online without a prescription for themselves or someone else.But many could be putting themselves at risk by buying fake drugs, which can include harmful ingredients such as rat poison and lead paint [always check whether the pharmacy is registered by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society].
Scottish prescription bill soars through £1bn mark
(The Scotsman 30/09/2009)
THE cost of prescriptions to the NHS in Scotland has increased to £1.07 billion. From £598 million ten years ago, the new total equates to £196.20 for every person registered with a GP. The new annual figures published yesterday also reflect the volume of prescriptions, which grew by 4.3 per cent in the past year to 85.5 million items, and higher production costs. The Scottish Government is phasing out prescription charges, but opponents say the policy favours wealthier families.
Scots' medicine dispensing row
(BBC 16/09/2009)
A row has broken out between pharmacists and family doctors over who should dispense drugs in Scotland's rural villages. Pharmacists said GPs are campaigning against the opening of new pharmacies in order to protect lucrative contracts to dispense drugs themselves. GPs say extra payments for dispensing drugs support local services. The row may to come to a head when Leuchars residents hold a meeting about a plan to open a pharmacy in the town.
Scrubbing Up
(BBC 09/09/2009)
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. The danger of buying drugs from a non-professional source is obvious. Counterfeit medication is common, and you just do not know what is going to be in those little pills - it could be anything from sugar to rat poison [Check it is a RPS approved pharmacy].
Drug export warning to NHS trusts
(BBC 28/08/2009)
NHS hospital trusts in England have been warned against any attempt to cash in by exporting medicines intended for NHS patients. The Health Service Journal reports some trusts have considered taking advantage of the weak pound to make a profit. But the government's chief pharmaceutical offer Dr Keith Ridge has written to all NHS trusts, calling the practice irresponsible. Dr Ridge warned it could threaten the quality of patient care.
(The Scotsman 28/08/2009)
DRUG controls introduced after the case of killer doctor Harold Shipman came to light are working well, an independent regulator said yesterday. The Shipman inquiry found that ineffective monitoring allowed the doctor to obtain large quantities of drugs, which he used to kill at least 15 and possibly up to 200 patients. The Care Quality Commission's report into new regulations found healthcare workers were now better trained to deal with controlled drugs and to identify problems.
Chemist warning on drug shortages
(BBC 23/08/2009)
Pharmacists are warning that patients are suffering because of a shortage of some medicines. An attractive export market and quotas set by drug manufacturers are being blamed for ongoing stock problems with more than 50 branded medicines. A third of pharmacies polled by Chemist and Druggist magazine said shortages were now directly affecting patients, with one patient ending up in hospital. The government said it was "monitoring the situation closely".
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Care burden 'makes patients ill'
(BBC 12/08/2009)
Some chronically ill patients are so overburdened by treatment that it makes their health worse, according to a new study in the BMJ medical journal. The paper, by clinicians from Glasgow and Newcastle universities, says badly co-ordinated care leads to "wasted resources and poor outcomes". It calls for more "minimally disruptive medicine" that is tailored to the realities of patients daily lives.
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Urine test 'predicts' best drugs
(BBC 11/08/2009)
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.
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