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

MLAs Recruited To Fight Inequalities

Written by Laure James - Editor Pharmacy in Focus
Thursday, 17 February 2011 09:29
Local politicians have been enlisted to help combat the growth in social inequalities, said to be one of the biggest health challenges in Northern Ireland. Launching their Manifesto at Stormont, the Ulster Cancer Foundation called on public health programmes to be targeted to individuals and groups who are at greatest risk. The charity highlighted measures including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient care which, if adopted, will help to reduce the extent and impact of cancer and improve the overall health and well-being of people in Northern Ireland. “The stark reality is that social deprivation is linked to an increased risk of cancer and poorer survival rates,” explained charity chief executive Roisin Foster. “Smoking kills 7 local people every day – five times more people than alcohol, illegal drugs and road accidents combined – and causes over 30 per cent of all cancers. Yet the number of smokers amongst male, unskilled, manual workers in socially deprived areas is 44 per cent, almost double the Northern Ireland average of 24 per cent and staggeringly nearly five times the rate of smoking found in professional men which is 9 per cent.” Roisin added that UCF research, carried out by the University of Ulster in 2006, found that people with lower socio-economic status and those with lower educational attainment were less likely to know and understand cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms and preventative behaviours. “In addition women who suffer deprivation seem less likely to attend breast screening services which they are entitled to,” she added. “This is likely to translate into later diagnosis and ultimately poorer survival rates. As cancer patients are voters too we want to encourage our politicians to support public health initiatives such as the strategies for tobacco, obesity, skin cancer, physical activity and the Cancer Services Framework whilst developing innovative methods to engage with those groups at greatest risk.” The charity maintains that this will have a profound effect on reducing cancer incidence rates, improving quality of life and well-being as well as lowering mortality.