Chemist+druggist / C+d Podcasts

What advice should you provide to patients who are interested in taking probiotics? Is a liquid or solid dosage form superior? Is there evidence behind the use of probiotics? Should you stock them in your pharmacy? C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Professor Simon Gaisford from University College London's school of pharmacy, to find out more about the appropriate use of probiotics, what advice you can provide patients and his latest research into probiotic therapy.

Whether it’s filling in as a delivery driver or fixing the pharmacy’s broken air conditioning unit, dispenser Victoria Bull has shown her worth time and again. Find out what it took to win the coveted Pharmacy Staff Member of the Year trophy. If you know someone who deserves to win a C+D Award visit chemistanddruggist.co.uk/awards.

Whether you want to learn or network, many pharmacists are benefiting from the online opportunities available on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram. C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Babir Malik, community pharmacist, teacher practitioner and social media guru, to find out his advice experiences for navigating the benefits and potential pitfalls of online networking.

Alpana Mair, head of effective prescribing and therapeutics at the Scottish government, spoke to C+D about what polypharmacy is and how the community pharmacy teams can help reduce the medicines burden for their patients. Find out more at www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/update-plus-detail

What made Helen Pinney move from community pharmacy to GP practice, and what does her new role involve? C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Helen Pinney, senior pharmacy technician for the Argyle Health Group, to find out more about her current role, her professional journey and her advice for other technicians considering a similar career move.

There are plenty of emerging technologies and mobile apps in the pharmacy market, but could they help influence medicines adherence in your patients? C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Sheila Ryder, associate professor in pharmacy practice at Trinity College Dublin, to discuss how pharmacists can make the most of technology to help aid medicines adherence. From this podcast you will hear: - How some new adherence technologies work - What evidence of effectiveness exists for different adherence apps - Why feedback from adherence tools can help provide a focus for a consultation - The importance of a personal connection when helping improve adherence - What adherence tools might look like in the future.

With a plethora of roles available to pharmacists, many are taking the time to consider their career options. C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Aamer Safdar, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) English pharmacy board member and principal pharmacist lead for education and development at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, to find out how pharmacists can make the most of their current role and what those considering making a move should consider. In this podcast we discuss: • How you can make the most of your current role • Why some people might consider a career change • What you need to consider before making a move • How you can get experience in different roles • What to do if you were unsuccessful in a job application • How the “100-day rule” can help you decide if a new role is right for you.

After this year's cohort of pre-regs received their GPhC exam results, C+D asks how those who passed should go about preparing for life as a pharmacist. C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Simon Harris, head of education and training at Green Light Campus – the training arm of Green Light Pharmacy – to discuss what steps pre-registration or newly qualified pharmacists should be taking now that they were successful in their GPhC exam. From this podcast you will find out about: - The steps to take if you are considering working in a different pharmacy sector - What pre-regs need to do to get appropriate indemnity insurance - The training and accreditation they need to deliver advanced pharmacy services - How newly qualified pharmacists can cope with the change of becoming the responsible pharmacist - The role of the tutor now that their pre-reg has qualified - How the Royal Pharmaceutical Society can help newly qualified pharmacists develop.

As pre-registration trainees receive their GPhC exam results today, C+D asks how those who failed can prepare for their next exam. C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Simon Harris, head of education and training at Green Light Campus – the training arm of Green Light Pharmacy – to discuss what steps pre-registration pharmacists should take now that they have been unsuccessful in the registration exam. From this podcast you will find out about: • How you can come back from a setback • What feedback will be provided from the GPhC regarding the exam • How to decide on when to sit the exam again and how you should prepare for it • What you should do if you have lined up work as a pharmacist • How to talk about your exam result with your tutor • What you can do if you do not feel fit to sit the next exam. You can listen to the podcast in full below. Alternatively, subscribe to all of C+D's podcasts on iTunes by clicking here or by searching 'Chemist+Druggist podcast' on your preferred android podcas

What can pharmacy teams do to improve the care they provide for patients living with dementia? With approximately 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, it is important for pharmacy teams to consider their role in supporting those affected by this progressive condition. C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart spoke to Emma Bould, the programme partnership project manager at the Alzheimer’s society, to discuss what pharmacists and their teams can do to support patients and their carers manage this neurological disorder. In this 'dementia friends' podcast you will find out about: -The benefits to your patients and the pharmacy in undertaking the ‘dementia friends’ initiative -How the initiative is funded through the contractual framework and what level of training is needed to qualify for payments -The appropriate ways to discuss the condition with patients and their carers -What to do if you suspect someone you know is showing signs that may indicate a form of dementia -The impact of the ‘dementia f

C+D gathered leading female community pharmacy figures for an in-depth discussion on equal pay, the gender pay gap and gender equality in the sector

Listen to the podcast on GPhC pre-reg exam to find out about: -The different pre-reg exam questions you are likely to encounter -What to expect from the ‘new look’ GPhC assessment -What should per-regs be doing now to prepare for the pre-registration assessment -How to use the resources allocated during the exam -The importance of utilising and sticking to a revision timetable -Options available for those pre-regs that are not feeling ready for the exam -How you can best avoid revision exhaustion. Simon Harris, head of Education and Training at Green Light Healthcare discusses with C+D clinical editor Kristoffer Stewart how pre-reg pharmacists can prepare for the upcoming pre-registration assessment. For all the latest pre-reg news and analysis visit https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/results/article-tags/pre-reg

C+D hosted a roundtable debate in November, bringing together both a past and present member of the DH programme board which discussed the controversial pharmacy supervision plans – former Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) president Martin Astbury, and Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) president Tess Fenn. They were joined by Dorset contractor and member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) boards, Mike Hewitson, and managing director of Numark, John D’Arcy.

C+D hosted a roundtable to discuss the impact proposed cuts to the OTC items available on prescriptions could have on patients.

C+D’s deputy news editor Annabelle Collins interviewed Andrea James, who led the NPA’s legal team, and Ian Strachan, NPA chair, in the aftermath of the final High Court judgment on the pharmacy funding cuts.

In this podcast, C+D examines the lesser known world of aesthetics in pharmacy. Amar Suchde, founder of Pharm Aesthetics UK, a company that teaches pharmacists to become effective aesthetic practitioners, explains the practical applications and motivations for pharmacists to undertake the course, while ocum pharmacist Vishul Shah explains why he is undertaking the aesthetics training.

The pharmacy owner turned MP who's fighting the pharmacy funding cuts

Fultium: the role of vitamin D by Chemist + Druggist

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association's (PDA) ex-director shares his memories from his time in charge

For this podcast, consultant paediatrician Dr Ishaq Abu-Arafeh explains that pharmacists have an important role to play in helping parents "manage" children's pain, but also in getting the relevant information out of a child, to ensure appropriate treatment. Listen to this clinical podcast to find out more about: How to speaking the same language as children when it comes to pain The "red flags" to look out for when diagnosing a child with a headache The common triggers of headaches in children Identifying the symptoms that would warrant referral to a GP. This podcast was sponsored by Nurofen