Two robbers hold up Grays pharmacy with screwdriver

Two robbers held up a Grays pharmacy with a screwdriver on Saturday, the Thurrock Gazette reports.

The two men, who entered Vision Pharmacy in Crammavill Street at 6.50pm on Sunday January 17, stole a small amount of money from the till before fleeing into Whitmore Avenue.

One demanded money by threatening with the screwdriver, taking a small amount of money from the till and asking the victim to empty his pockets.

He handed over a small amount of cash and both suspects ran out of the shop and into Whitmore Avenue.

No-one was injured.

Fast-growing Quantum Pharma's results impacted by product pipeline delays

Full year results for the County Durham-based Quantum Pharma Plc are likely to be impacted by delays in the product pipeline within the Niche Pharmaceutical division, the Chronicle Live reports.

Related Article: Almost five million Pharmacy First consultations delivered in first year

In a trading update, the Burnopfield-headquartered firm said it now expected the adjusted EBITDA level for the group in the year ending January 31, 2016, to be around £12.7m, against market consensus of £13.4m.

More moderate double digit revenue and EBITDA growth would also be likely in the 2017 financial year.

Quantum Pharma is a growing service-led niche pharmaceutical manufacturer and developer, which supplies to the health and care sectors.

RPS membership renewal open

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Continue to be part of your professional body by renewing today.

Renew before 29 February to ensure you continue to receive all the great benefits membership offers, such as the Pharmaceutical Journal, and access to our member only resources and support team.

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Consultation for pharmacy in Orbiston

Bellshill residents are being invited to give their views on whether they feel they have adequate access to pharmacy services in the Orbiston area, the Motherwell Times reports

The exercise is part of a joint consultation between NHS Lanarkshire and Orbiston Pharmacy as it would like to apply to the health board to open a new pharmacy at 23 Lawmuir Road, which was formerly a hairdressers.

The new facility would offer a full range of NHS pharmaceutical services from 9am-6pm on week days and 9am-5pm on Saturdays.

Related Article: NPA 'decides against' collective action

Before an application can be made, regulations require that NHS Lanarkshire and Orbiston Pharmacy carry out a joint consultation to seek the views of local people.

Building work starts on new £10m Swindon Health Centre

Building work has started on a new £10m health centre in Swindon, the BBC reports.

The four-storey centre in Fleming Way is expected to be completed by spring 2017.

It will house two GP practices, a dentist, pharmacy, and a variety of community health services to replace the outdated health centre in Carfax Street.

The NHS-funded centre will serve an estimated 22,000 registered and 36,000 unregistered patients once complete.

Bob Sanderson, director of urgent care at Carfax Street Health Centre, said he was "delighted" work had started on the new centre.

Cocaine 'can cause brain to eat itself' say experts

Related Article: Government seeks pharmacists' views to underpin first-ever men’s health strategy

High doses of cocaine can cause the brain to eat itself, The Telegraph reports.

A mouse study found that the drug can trigger out-of-control ''autophagy'' - a process by which cells literally digest themselves.

When it is properly regulated, autophagy provides a valuable clean-up service - getting rid of unwanted debris that is dissolved away by enzymes within cell ''pockets''.