The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - issues affecting you and your patients

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
– Volume 1, Issue 2 February 2009


EDITOR'S COMMENTS
	Within our reach

NEWS
	Half of adverse drug reactions are preventable
	Prescribers tend to ignore electronic medication alerts

NEWS FEATURE
	First chemotherapy robot in use in London Hospital Compounding of a range of chemotherapy products is now being carried out by the world’s first automatic compounder at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Ann Jacklin, chief pharmacist at the trust, explains how it works.

OPINION
	Three easy ways to save pharmacy (and patients) If pharmacy is to develop as a clinical profession it must follow the same rules as other healthcare professions. Paul Grassby explains what these are.

CLINICAL UPDATES
	New treatment for patients with chronic hand eczema Alitretinoin (Toctino) was launched for the treatment of severe hand eczema towards the end of last year. Christine Clark describes the evidence behind it and what pharmacists need to know about its use.
	Ranolazine launched as an adjunct for chronic angina Ranolazine, launched this month for chronic stable angina, has entered a therapeutic marketplace with stiff competition. Helen Williams describes its clinical evidence and likely place in practice.


THERAPEUTICS
	Drug treatment of patients co-infected with HIV and TB There is an increasing prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection. Co-infected patients are more likely to experience progression of latent TB to active disease and consequently develop AIDS. Jennifer Milne describes the therapeutic management of these patients and the important drug interactions.

HEAD TO HEAD
	Do risk-share schemes cause more problems than they solve?

PRESCRIBER'S CORNER
	Reviewing diclofenac use in a patient with CV risk factors Prescriber’s Corner describes examples of situations encountered by pharmacist prescribers and invites you to consider what action you would take. In this case, a patient with cardiovascular risk factors has been prescribed long-term diclofenac for chronic back pain.

SHARING PRACTICE
	Improving safety of injectables — a regional approach Improving the safety of injectable medicines is on the agenda of every acute hospital trust. One strategic health authority has developed a regional initiative to standardise the risk assessment of these products and increase purchasing power. Clare Crowley describes the benefits of collaborative working.

OPINION
	CPD structure must be based on advances in practice For pharmacy to evolve as a clinical profession, the CPD structure laid down by the new General Pharmaceutical Council must prepare pharmacists for periodic re-registration, says Philip Brown

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy is an editorially independent publication. Copyright of the The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. No reproduction in any format is allowed unless permission is granted by the publisher.