NEWS IN BRIEF: Cuts Petition; A&E Waiting Times; Pharmacy Conversion; Boots Pensioner Death; Depression
Harrogate pharmacy urges customers to sign petition against cuts
A Harrogate pharmacy has urged customers to sign a petition against Government cuts which could force up to 3,000 pharmacies to close across the country, the Harrogate Advertiser reports.
James Springell, manager of Kings Road Pharmacy, said that even if the £170 million reduction in funding doesn’t force pharmacies to close, many local chemists could have to make job cuts which would result in some services being scrapped.
Mr Springell, who has been a pharmacist for 17 years, also fears that smaller branches, particularly those in more rural locations, will be among those hit the hardest by the cuts.
He said: “The Government is expecting between 1,000 and 3,000 pharmacies will close and obviously every pharmacy will take a financial hit from this. Each business will deal with that in different ways, including cutting hours for staff or losing services.”
@DoctorChristian #lovemypharmacy #pharmacycuts seriously going to destroy Network of Community Pharmacy. Please help https://t.co/MDUqlpWp90
— Raj R Patel (@Raj_R_Patel) March 11, 2016
A&E waiting times reach record high
The NHS has recorded its worst monthly performance for accident and emergency waiting times, The Times reports.
Related Article: Updated NHS App to help patients manage prescriptions
Frontline services are failing to cope with demand for A&E care, the latest figures show.
Some 1.9, patients competed for emergency treatments, beds and ambulances in January.
NHS England’s statistics show that 212,136 patients waited more than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged from hospital A&E units – the highest number recorded.
Waiting times in hospital A&E units at record levels after winter crisishttps://t.co/pNCblK2Hmx pic.twitter.com/xaVtZSSe2g
— Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) March 10, 2016
Former pharmacy to be a restaurant?
A former pharmacy could be converted into a restaurant with an occasional takeaway facility in Pocklington, the Pocklington Post reports.
A planning application has been submitted to East Riding Council to change the use of the building, on Pavement, which used to be a Boots pharmacy but has been vacant for some months.
In the design and access statement submitted with the plans, the applicant, Maz, says the proposal is for change of use with no external alteration to the building apart from the construction of an extract duct from the existing kitchen to the rear and the removal of the shop front signage.
Former pharmacy in #Pocklington could be converted into a restaurant #pocknewshttps://t.co/VbD1Y2O9GJ pic.twitter.com/RRbxrqmvPb
— Pocklington Post (@PockPost) March 10, 2016
Boots 'sorry' for death of pensioner after staff give prescription meant for another patient
The family of an OAP who died after being given the wrong tablets from a pharmacy received an "unreserved" public apology yesterday, the Daily Record reports.
Related Article: Pharmacy First proves popular with public but supply issues cause concern
Boots' deputy superintendent pharmacist Dr Josie Moss said "sorry" on the third day of a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Margaret Forrest, 86, of Kingussie, Inverness-shire.
She was given tablets which should have been handed to another woman suffering from diabetes.
Margaret died two days after falling into a coma in November 2013.
Boots apologise for the death of a pensioner after giving out another patient's medication:https://t.co/WO4i3oPufl
— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) March 10, 2016
Number of kids on depression drugs has risen by 54% in the UK
The number of British kids on drugs for depression has risen by half, a study claims, The Sun reports.
Between 2005 and 2012 doctors dished out happy pills to 54 per cent more.
The US had a rise of 26 per cent and Holland 17 per cent. But usage rose 60 per cent in Denmark and 49 per cent in Germany.
Related Article: Community pharmacies can provide HPV vaccination from 2026
The study has prompted a warning from the World Health Organisation over the widespread use of drugs to treat depressed youngsters.
Number of kids on depression drugs has risen by 54% in the UK https://t.co/n3Fgtx2tVl pic.twitter.com/84efdBelhX
— The Sun Newsdesk (@SunNewsdesk) March 10, 2016
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