Why are the UK public avoiding their GP?

Over half of the UK say that Covid-19 has made them more likely to try and diagnose their own symptoms instead of consulting a healthcare professional, a YouGov study conducted on behalf of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, has found. The new analysis, based on a survey of more that 2,000 UK residents, shows that many [...]

By |2020-10-14T10:45:34+00:00October 14th, 2020|PL News, Regional News|Comments Off on Why are the UK public avoiding their GP?

Eczema Twitter Chat Hailed a Huge Success

On Friday 13th September, talkhealth, an online community supporting over 250,00 people with chronic conditions (many of these experiencing skin conditions like eczema), hosted an Eczema Twitter Chat to mark World Atopic Eczema Day (14th September) and the start of National Eczema Week (15th-to-22nd September). The chat involved 20 people, including charities such as British [...]

By |2019-09-17T14:59:16+00:00September 17th, 2019|PL News|Comments Off on Eczema Twitter Chat Hailed a Huge Success

Computer Kidney Could Provide Safer Tests for New Medications

A University of Waterloo researcher has spearheaded the development of the first computational model of the human kidney. The new model will allow scientists to gain better insights into how new drugs that target the kidney, such as diabetes medication, may work. It will also enable researchers to better learn about the functions of the [...]

By |2019-03-12T16:30:34+00:00March 13th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on Computer Kidney Could Provide Safer Tests for New Medications

New Trial Raises Hope for First Drug to Restore Hearing

University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCH) researchers have begun to test whether a new drug can improve hearing in patients with hearing loss, after completing a study on the safety and tolerability of the drug in 15 patients. There are currently no drugs available that treat hearing loss. [...]

By |2019-03-12T16:29:36+00:00March 13th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on New Trial Raises Hope for First Drug to Restore Hearing

Thousands Set to Benefit from Blood Pressure Treatment

NICE has published its draft updated guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) for public consultation. In the biggest change to NICE’s previous guidance published in 2011, the level of a person’s cardiovascular disease risk at which treatment for high blood pressure can be started has been reduced. The draft guideline [...]

By |2019-03-12T16:28:24+00:00March 13th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on Thousands Set to Benefit from Blood Pressure Treatment

Fears Over Life-Saving Drug Unfounded, Finds Review

Fears over a drug that can be used to treat alcohol addiction are unfounded, according to its first ever systematic review, led by academics at The University of Manchester. Though the study found no evidence of any serious side-effects linked to Naltrexone, many doctors hold back from prescribing the drug, often citing liver toxicity as [...]

By |2019-01-16T12:34:19+00:00January 16th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on Fears Over Life-Saving Drug Unfounded, Finds Review

New Migraine Drug Not Cost-Effective NICE Says in Draft Guidance

NICE has said that a new drug for preventing migraine is not a cost-effective use of NHS resources, in recently-published draft guidance. The guidance looks at Erenumab (also called Aimovig and made by Novartis) for preventing chronic and episodic migraine in adults who have four episodes or more of migraine every month, and where at [...]

By |2019-01-16T12:33:04+00:00January 16th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on New Migraine Drug Not Cost-Effective NICE Says in Draft Guidance

Agenda Announced for 2019 Northern Ireland Pharmacy Conference

As preparation for the 2019 Northern Ireland Pharmacy Conference forges ahead, ensure that you remain firmly in the know by checking out the recently-released itinerary. Taking place on 28th February 2019 at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, the Northern Ireland Pharmacy Conference will consider how all sectors of pharmacy might come together to use their current [...]

By |2019-01-16T12:32:01+00:00January 16th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on Agenda Announced for 2019 Northern Ireland Pharmacy Conference

New Treatment for Adult Patients with Rare, Life-Threatening Blood Disease

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ultomiris (ravulizumab) injection for the treatment of adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare and life-threatening blood disease. ‘The approval of Ultomiris will change the way that patients with PNH are treated,’ explained Richard Pazdur, MD, Director of the FDA’s Oncology Centre of Excellence, [...]

By |2019-01-09T15:45:56+00:00January 9th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on New Treatment for Adult Patients with Rare, Life-Threatening Blood Disease

National Pharmacy Association Says Closer to Home NHS is Common Sense

Responding to the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan, National Pharmacy Association Chief Executive, Mark Lyonette, has said, ‘People access NHS care in community pharmacies more frequently than they do any other part of the health service. So it is right that the plan states an aim to make more use of community pharmacies to [...]

By |2019-01-09T15:44:51+00:00January 9th, 2019|Regional News|Comments Off on National Pharmacy Association Says Closer to Home NHS is Common Sense