One Size FIts All

Among baggage reclaim carousels across the globe, passengers are reuniting themselves with exactly the same luggage in one country as they so trustingly parted from in another.

The Direct Approach

In a bid to raise awareness about the breadth, variety and indeed complexity of services offered throughout community pharmacies in Northern Ireland, pharmacy contractors Lee Dearn and James McKay joined David McCrea in Dundela Pharmacy to welcome the Health Minister.

The Right Formula

First the Albert Clock was treated to a reinvigorating cleanse, then the Merchant Hotel opened one of Belfast's premier jazz bars but the redevelopment of High Street doesnít stop there. Formula Healthís face-lift has turned heads of customers, commercial businesses and the Lord Mayor alike.

News in Brief

Cost Of A Pint

The 'shocking' cost of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland was highlighted by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey in June after estimates that its cost to society equates to £679.8million with a range of £500million to £884million. "This research shows that the cost to the Health Service alone may be as high as around £160million each year with a further cost of £82million to Social Services,î the Minister said. ìThese figures are particularly pertinent in the context of my Departmentís very challenging financial situation because this is money that could be spent providing key frontline services."

Heart In Hands

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland is appealing to fundraisers to help it reach its target of £80,000 by August. The campaign is to recruit more heart nurses to support patients throughout the province and to reduce secondary care admissions.

Haiti Fundraising

Staff at Holly Villa in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital have raised over £320 for a group who are travelling to Haiti in October to build houses following the earthquake. The Tyrone Haiti Build is a project in conjunction with the Haven Partnership to support those affected by the disaster.

Secondary Care Supported

A new hospital in Omaghs fight for funding has been supported by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. Speaking at a meeting with the Omagh joint liaison group, the Minister said: "I am fully committed to the development of the new Omagh hospital and will continue to press for the essential funding needed to make this a reality."

Commissioning Together

Pharmacists and GPs must work together to define the gaps in commissioning data, review how they can be filled and to determine the correct level of care provision for a particular area, according to Stephen Foster, the head of the new Healthcare Professionals Commissioning Network. The network is open to any health or social care professional who would like to engage in commissioning. tinyurl.com/HCPnetwork

Kick The Habit

Written by Laure James - Editor Pharmacy in Focus

Thursday, 17 September 2009 14:55

Local charity find more ways to quit with pharmacy.

Encouraging findings from the Ulster Cancer Foundation have suggested that the majority of smokers not only want to quit, but are turning to more varied and comprehensive ways of kicking the habit than ever before. The charity’s Stop Smoking Clinics have stepped up their service provision to better meet the increasing demand for smoking cessation and pharmacy’s input has been instrumental in supporting this.

Gerry McElwee, the charity’s head of cancer prevention added that pharmacy expertise is core to the success of these services. “Stop smoking support is offered by a range of professionals including the dedicated Regional Pharmacy Scheme which offers twelve weeks support to the smoker; GP practices, Trust staff and community facilitators across a range of venues,” he told NIPinF. “All of these services offer specialist provision with pharmacotherapy which will help smokers to quit. The support is available in many local communities and this range offers great choice for any smoker who wishes to quit.”

Research by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency shows that while 24% of local people smoke, three quarters of them would like to give up and UCF services are well placed to help meet this demand.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, 743 people attended UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinics with a 53.4 per cent quit rate at 4 weeks – well above the NICE recommended 35 per cent quit rate guidelines. For more information about your community’s nearest clinic or to signpost patients to the UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinics, contact Bernie Neeson at UCF on 028 9066 3281 or log onto www.ulstercancer.org.