Industry links
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
www.abpi.org.uk
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is the trade association for more than 75 companies in the UK producing prescription medicines. Its member companies research, develop, manufacture and supply more than 80 per cent of the medicines prescribed through the National Health Service (NHS).
The ABPI also represents companies engaged in the research and/or development of medicines for human use. In addition, its general affiliate membership is for all other organisations with an interest in the pharmaceutical industry.
Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK
The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK is the professional and representative organisation for pharmacy technicians working in the UK.
British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers
The BAPW represents full line pharmaceutical distributors who between them provide 90% of the nation’s medicines, covering all of the UK’s population. They provide a forum for discussion across the industries involved in the provision of pharmaceuticals to Britain’s health services.
British National Formulary
The BNF provides UK healthcare professionals with authoritative and practical information on the selection and clinical use of medicines in a clear, concise and accessible manner.
Community Pharmacy Medicines Management
www.medicinesmanagement.org.uk
Community Pharmacists are experts on medicines. This expertise is being put to good use in nine areas across the country where they are taking part in the Community Pharmacy Medicines Management Project.
Working with doctors and other health care professionals community pharmacists are helping NHS patients to get the most from their medicines so that they suffer fewer symptoms, experience less side effects and understand their treatment better - All things that make for happier healthier patients.
Department of Health
The Department of Health (DH) is Government organisation, responsible for carrying out the decisions of ministers who represent the public as democratically elected MPs. The aim of the Department of Health (DH) is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England.
The main office of the Department is in Whitehall and there are currently 2,245 staff based in offices in London and Leeds.
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.
Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is an independent body that protects the health and well-being of the population. The Agency plays a critical role in protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur.
They also prepare for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strain of disease.
Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.
NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:
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public health - guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector
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health technologies - guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS
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clinical practice - guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS
National Patient Safety Agency
The National Patient Safety Agency is a Special Health Authority created in July 2001 to co-ordinate the efforts of all those involved in healthcare with the aim that all adverse event and near miss information can be collated, reported on and fed back into practice, service organisation and delivery so as to avoid similar events in the future.
National Pharmacy Association
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of community pharmacy owners. To reflect the changes in the pharmacy environment the NPA now extend membership and its associated benefits to all members of the community pharmacy infrastructure.
Pharmacy is dynamic and the NPA has been with community pharmacy throughout these changes. Often referred to as the ‘voice of community pharmacy’, the NPA of the 21st century is one of the strongest trade associations.
Net Doctor
NetDoctor.co.uk is a collaboration between committed doctors, health care professionals, information specialists and patients who believe that medical practice should be based on quality-assessed information and, wherever possible, on the principles of evidence-based medicine. It aims to break down the "medical language barrier" between the doctor and the patient as ultimately, it is the patient who must make critical health choices.
Over 250 of the UK's and Europe's leading doctors and health professionals write, edit and update the contents of NetDoctor.co.uk. and respond to users questions and general health concerns.
National Prescribing Centre
The National Prescribing Centre is a health service organisation, formed in April 1996 by the Department of Health. Its aim is to promote and support high quality, cost-effective prescribing and medicines management across the NHS, to help improve patient care and service delivery.
NHS
The NHS was set up in 1948 and is now the largest organisation in Europe. Although recognised as one of the best health services in the world by the World Health Organisation there is need for improvement to cope with the demands of the 21st century. This need led to the publication of the NHS Plan in July 2000 which promoted a full-scale modernisation program designed to totally transform the NHS and the way it cares for patients.
Although the NHS Plan marks a radical move towards a patient-centred health service, at its core lies a continuing commitment to the founding principles of the NHS - The provision of quality care that:
- meets the needs of everyone
- is based on a patient's clinical need
- is free at the point of need
This website details all the NHS departments and services and provides links to the NHS in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have separate independent health service structures: Isle of Man Government, States of Guernsey Government and States of Jersey Government.
NHS Direct
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
This site provides patient advice about their ailment or condition and how to access their local healthcare services or treat themselves effectively.
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) is recognised by the Secretary of State for Health as representative of community pharmacy on NHS matters. PSNC’s main objective is to secure the best possible remuneration, terms and conditions for NHS pharmacy contractors in England and Wales. Much of the PSNC’s work involves discussions and negotiations with the Department of Health.
PSNC also operate the National Prescription Research Centre (NPRC) based in North London. A percentage of all prescriptions sent to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) Prescription Pricing Division are checked and any errors in pricing are corrected.
Prescription Pricing Authority
This site contains information about the PPD and our processing and information services to the NHS. The Prescription Pricing Division processes over two million prescription items per working day, determining reimbursement and remuneration levels through to payment. Annual payments to contractors made on behalf of the NHS now total around £7 billion. These payment services centre on the direct reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors in England, the provision of payment schedules covering dispensing doctors and personal administration by GPs in England and schedules for Jersey and Guernsey.
Proprietary Association of Great Britain
PAGB is the UK trade association for manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines and food supplements. Established in 1919, the Association consists of manufacturing companies and marketing companies (full members) and associate members who are the PR, advertising and related companies that work with PAGB members. The Association is based at offices in Holborn, Central London.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. It also regulates pharmacy technicians on a voluntary basis, which is expected to become statutory under anticipated legislation. The primary objectives of the Society are to lead, regulate, develop and represent the profession of pharmacy.
Young Pharmacists Group
The Young Pharmacists' Group is an organisation dedicated to promoting fresh ideas in pharmacy. Pharmacists of all ages work with them to ensure that the profession remains youthful in outlook and optimism. They do not accept that things must be the way they always have been, but believe that through enlightenment and perseverance pharmacists can achieve their aim of ensuring that the healthcare they provide is of absolute quality, safety and efficacy.
Yellow Card reporting scheme
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=287
The MHRA and the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) run the UK's spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting scheme - called the Yellow Card Scheme. This receives reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from healthcare professionals. More recently the scheme was extended to included direct reporting by patients.