Health Matters
1st April 2011 - Scotland abolishes Prescription Charges
Scotland is the latest region to scrap prescription charges joining Northern Ireland and Wales, leaving England as the only part of the UK to still charge for them.
From the 1st April everyone in Scotland will receive free prescriptions following the move by the SNP Government. In England on the same day, charges increased by 20p to an all time high of £7.40, but despite this, figures show that over 90% of items prescribed are dispensed free to children, those suffering from conditions such as cancer and those on low incomes and benefits.
The introduction of Free Prescriptions has been a contentious political issue with those opposed claiming the introduction was "politically irresponsible" Defending the policy Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said prescription charges were a tax on ill-health.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month
This April, to mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), national charity Bowel Cancer UK is encouraging men and women across the UK to be aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to act on their concerns, sooner rather than later.
Early diagnosis of bowel cancer in the UK is a problem because people either find it uncomfortable to discuss the symptoms of the disease or simply do not know what they are.
Survival rates in the UK are amongst the lowest in Europe, with 15% more patients being diagnosed at a later stage of the disease compared with most other European countries.
This is why Bowel Cancer UK's work ? to encourage people to recognise the symptoms of the disease and to act on their concerns so that they have the best chance of survival ? is so important.
The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can be:
- A change in your normal bowel habit lasting four weeks or more
- Bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in your stools (poo)
- Unexplained extreme tiredness and/or unexplained weight loss A pain or lump in your abdomen (tummy)
You might experience one, some, all of the above or no symptoms at all. Remember most symptoms will not be bowel cancer.
If you are worried about any symptoms that you think might be caused by bowel cancer, speak to our Pharmacist, make an appointment with your GP or call the Bowel Cancer UK Advisory Service on 0800 8 40 35 40 or email advisory@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
You can visit the Bowel Cancer UK website here - http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
National Heart Month 1 - 28th February
National Heart Month is the British Heart Foundation?s annual campaign to increase awareness of heart and circulatory disease. This year, BHF launched the BEAT, the first ever national heart health code and lifestyle check: BEAT stands for:
- Be Active
- Eat Healthily
- Avoid Smoking
- Take the lifestyle check
- BBC - Learning about life with diabetes
- WCBS TV - Empire State Building in Blue for World Diabetes Day
- Hindustan Times - Diabetes not a deadlock
- Boston Herald - Diabetes at our door
- Al Jazeera - Iranians raise diabetes awareness
- The Sydney Morning Herald - Govt. pushes to pass health agency bill
- The Times of India - World Diabetes Day: Weight gain & insulin therapy
The BEAT encourages people to take steps to improve their own heart health by taking a free online lifestyle check
There's lots you can do to keep your heart healthy - whatever your age.
Taking exercise, eating a healthy diet, encouraging children to be heart healthy and being aware of dangers such as smoking, drinking, high blood pressure and stress. Prevention really is better than cure.
Further help, support and advice can be obtained from Groves Chemists staff of from the Heart Disease pages within our Advice Centre
New Year New Start!
Whether you have resolved to quit smoking, get fit or lose weight, here at Groves Chemists we believe that a little encouragement can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals.
Both in store and online you will find information and support to increase your chances of keeping even the most challenging New Year's resolutions. Go to Services to find all you need to know about the professional assistance available in store, including advice on weight loss programmes or how to successfully stop smoking.
The website Advice centre gives you access to round the clock healthcare information with useful links and a growing library of healthcare tutorials. And don't forget to ask in store for advice about the wide range of products available from stop smoking aids or diet and weight loss products to an array of vitamins and nutrition products, to name a few.
Our staff will help you find the right product for your individual needs.
Groves Chemists wishes you good luck with your resolutions and have a Happy New Year!
National Diabetes Week
It is estimated that over 220 million people worldwide including 2.6 million people in the UK have diabetes and a further 750,000 more are believed to have it without realising they do. Diabetes is a disease affecting blood sugar levels. It occurs because the body can't use glucose properly, either owing to a lack of the hormone insulin, or because the insulin available doesn't work effectively. Diabetes has been a recognised condition for more than 3,500 years.
More than three-quarters of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and the remainder type 1 diabetes.
What's the difference?
• In type 1, the body is unable to produce any insulin. This usually starts in childhood or young adulthood. It's treated with diet control and insulin injections.• In type 2, not enough insulin is produced or the insulin that is made by the body doesn't work properly. This tends to affect people as they get older, and usually appears after the age of 40.
National Diabetes Week is an annual UK-wide awareness and fundraising week which aims to raise £50,000 to help improve the lives of people with diabetes, their families and friends.
Diabetes Week is 13 to 19 June 2010. There will be lots of activities taking place this year, and you'll find all the information you need about Diabetes Week as well as diabetes in general within the links below.
Free Prescriptions in Northern Ireland
The 1st April marks a milestone from which people in Northern Ireland no longer have to pay for their medical prescriptions and this has been welcomed by Politicians, the Public and organisations representing Pharmacies in Northern Ireland.
Ms Ann Bowen, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of N.Ireland stated:
"The advent of free prescriptions is tremendous news for all patients, and ensures nobody is financially dissuaded from taking the treatments they require".
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said it marked "the end of a tax on illness".
The move brings Northern Ireland into line with Wales and charging for prescriptions is gradually being phased out in Scotland. England has abolished charges for certain groups of patients.
It has been shown in a number of studies that substantial numbers of people skip or skimp on taking medication due to prescription charges and for many conditions this can have a serious and long lasting detriment effect on the patient's health and well being.
At Groves Chemists we welcome this step in the right direction and if you require any further information please ask one of our Pharmacy Team.
Trying to Stop Smoking? – There's an app for that!
In the UK the Department of Health launched a new iPhone app to help people stop smoking, coinciding with No Smoking Day on Wednesday 10th March.
The app, which provides a tracker of money saved and hints and tips on managing cravings, is available from www.smokefree.nhs.uk.
However don't worry if you don't have an iPhone, visit our Quit Smoking advice page for useful information or ask in store for further assistance.
Tougher anti smoking laws to be introduced in the UK
The UK government wants to reduce the number of smokers from 21% to 10% of the population by 2020. This could greatly reduce the current, shocking statistic of 80,000 deaths each year as a direct result of smoking.
The new strategy will build upon the "Smoking Kills" campaign, which was introduced in 1998. Since then around two million people have quit smoking in the UK.
Raising the age of sale for tobacco to 18, cracking down on cheap illicit cigarettes and preventing 200 million cigarettes entering the UK illegally every year are some of the key areas highlighted for particular focus in the strategy.
Other potential policies include the introduction of plain, unbranded cigarette packets, banning vending machines, and making homes and cars smoke free zones. An extension to the public smoking ban could also be implemented, meaning people will not be able to light up at entrances and walkways of public places.
The NHS will provide assistance to those wishing to quit through tailor-made, anti-smoking strategies and in some cases nicotine replacement therapy for an extended period of time could be made available. To help you successfully quit smoking, ask in store for full details of the support currently available in your local area.
Dispensing Prescriptions from Republic of Ireland
Pharmacies in Northern Ireland are seeing an increase in the number of prescriptions being presented from the Republic of Ireland for dispensing, particularly in border areas. Brendan Kerr, from the Pharmaceutical Society in Northern Ireland, stated that a change in the law had made it possible to fill prescriptions from people coming from outside Northern Ireland. He said, "It changed in November 2008, when it became legal to dispense scripts from European Union member states."
There can be however, a few problems, as there is a difference in the method of prescribing generic and branded drugs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. If the prescription lists a branded drug that is the only drug that can be dispensed, and it may not be available in the North. In addition only drugs with a marketing licence in the UK can also be dispensed, and these may not be the same as those in the Republic.
Full help and advice relating to the dispensing of prescriptions can be obtained by talking to your Groves pharmacist.
New rules regarding the Dispensing of Codeine
There has been a change in the regulations regarding the dispensing of Codeine to our customers at Groves Chemists.
These changes have been recommended by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines are effective and safe.
The MHRA are concerned that there is evidence that long term use of Codeine can become addictive and therefore not suitable for the long term treatment of pain.
How does this affect you?
You might notice a change in the conditions in which Codeine is issued. It will no longer be prescribed for ailments such as colds, flu, coughs, sore throats and minor pains.
Instead you will be prescribed an alternative form of pain relief such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin.
When you are prescribed Codeine it will normally be for a short term usually of less than 3 days.
You will, however still be able to purchase Codeine "over the counter" at Groves Chemists but this will be restricted to one pack of up to 32 tablets.
However water-soluble tablets will no longer be available unless on prescription.
Clear, impartial advice from Groves Chemists
Customers should be reassured that taken in the correct manner and for the right purposes, Codeine remains a very effective and safe medicine.
However being committed to the best of customer care, Groves Chemists fully welcome and embrace the new regulations and feel that they will be a major benefit to our customers in the long term.
Our experienced pharmacist staff are available to discuss, advise and assist with any concerns that our customers might have regarding the changing regulations of Codeine use.
Swine Flu rates decrease in Northern Ireland
The rate of people being diagnosed with swine flu in Northern Ireland is continuing to decline.
GP consultation rates during December for flu or flu-like symptoms decreased by 24%, while out-of-hours calls to doctors have fallen by 30%.
Out of nine people treated in hospital, five were children under five. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "This highlights the need to vaccinate these young children as soon as possible."
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said, "Our figures suggest that we have almost completed the initial priority groups and are now ready to move to phase two of the vaccination programme.
"Children aged from six months up to five years will now be offered the vaccine. "We know that they are more likely to be admitted to hospital and that many of them do not have underlying health conditions."
Don't hesitate to ask in store for further advice from Groves Chemists staff or contact one of the helplines below
Northern Ireland Swine Flu Helpline 0800 0514 142
Textphone users/Text Relay service 18001 0800 0514 142
UK Swine Flu Information Line 0800 1 513 513
Swine flu hospital admissions: 25% have asthma
Figures released by the Department of Health in England show that 25% of people hospitalised with swine flu have asthma.
The lead Asthma Nurse at Asthma UK said: 'This is a very concerning figure and highlights the need for people with asthma to have the swine flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available.
'We know that there is a risk for people with asthma that catching the virus could add to existing breathing difficulties they may have, which could then lead to a hospital admission.
'Our advice to help people with asthma protect themselves, as well as getting the vaccine, is to make sure that their condition is well-controlled. They can do this by using their preventer inhaler as prescribed and seeing their doctor or asthma nurse for an asthma review.'
(http://www.asthma.org.uk/news_media/news/swine_flu_hospital_a.html, 2nd October, 2009)
Don't hesitate to contact your GP surgery for help or ask in store for further advice from Groves Chemists staff.
Asthma UK website www.asthma.org.uk
Asthma UK advice line 0800 121 6244
World Diabetes Day - Understand Diabetes and Take Control
World Diabetes day 2009, was held on 14th November, and was once again hailed a success and has helped gained worldwide recognition for the illness. In a keynote speech, Governor of California and former Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a proclamation in support of World Diabetes Day. The proclamation states that "Prevention is key for the elimination of the world's diabetes epidemic and its associated costs. Fortunately, the impact of both type 2 diabetes and prediabetes can be reduced with simple lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, weight loss and physical fitness. The full proclamation can be read by clicking the following link - Read the proclamation. The media reporting for World Diabetes Day are starting to add up.
Here are a few examples of the media reports:
And finally, a full spectrum of images from around the world of the day can be found on the World Diabetes website - World Diabetes Day Virtual Museum