Helping you deliver patient-centred care with the latest news and essential information about key products and developments in store.
Palliative Care Service
Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist for Boots UK, discusses the new Palliative Care Service in this month's interview. The delivery of this service will ensure those with cancer have quick access to supplies of medicine, support and advice. It will also signpost to Macmillan for any further care required. To find out more about the service, how it works and how you can prepare your pharmacy team, click on the interview below.
Pneumonia Vaccination Service
Pneumonia sees a peak around the autumn and winter months, so now is the time to think about how you can engage customers with the Pneumonia Vaccination Service. Click on Pneumonia Vaccination Service below to refresh your knowledge of the service and find out how to open conversations with customers.
Click the boxes below for product updates and news.
FEATURED BRANDS
Chloralieve (P)
Item code: 11-66-646
Sore throat lozenges to numb pain and fight the infection.
- Dual action: fights infection and numbs pain
- Pharmacy-only formula
- Antibiotic-free
- NSAID free
- Suitable for adults and children over 12 years.
Directions for use: One lozenge every two to three hours. Advise customers to read the leaflet before use.
2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol
Ultra Chloraseptic (GSL)
Item code: 30-17-362
Anaesthetic throat spray that numbs sore throat pain fast.
- Fast-acting anaesthetic to numb the pain in seconds
- Directly targets the source of pain using the spray nozzle
- Gentle spray that can be used day or night
- Available in menthol or blackcurrant flavours
- Suitable for adults and children over six years.
Directions for use: Activate the pump (see leaflet), hold breath, spray to the back of the throat and repeat every two to three hours if required. Adults and children over 13 years: three sprays (3 mg) per dose. Children over six years: one spray (1 mg) per dose.
See below for product information
Boots Adjustable Intensity Massager
Item code: 25-17-531
Uses percussive massage to relax and loosen muscles in the neck, back and legs.
- Powerful and rhythmic tapping movements penetrate the deeper layers of muscle
- Optional heat function provides even greater relaxation
- Non-slip, with a long handle for easy reach and use
- Comes with three interchangeable massage heads.
Advise customers to read the product leaflet for directions for use.
Boots Wireless Digital Pain Relief
Item code: 27-97-577
A revolutionary bluetooth® enabled TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit, which is completely wireless. It can be controlled by iPhones or Android devices, making it perfect for use on the go.
- Personalised relief for joint, muscle and arthritic pain
- Safely intercepts pain signals before they reach the brain
- Discreet, portable and perfect for on-the-go use
- 24-hours use per charge.
Advise customers to read the product leaflet for directions for use.
Name of product and active ingredients: Chloralieve Honey & Lemon Flavour Lozenges; 2mg Lidocaine / 0.6mg Amylmetacresol/ 1.2mg 2,4-Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol. Classification: P. Indications: Relief of symptoms of sore throat in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age. MAH: Prestige Brands (UK) Ltd, 5-7 London Road, St. Albans, AL1 1LA, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 1727 515 310. Information about this product, including adverse reactions, precautions, contraindications and method of use can be found at: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Medicinesinformation/SPCandPILs/index.htm or from Prestige Brands (UK) Ltd.
Name of product and active ingredients: Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray; Benzocaine 0.71% w/v (1mg per spray) Classification: GSL. Indications: For the symptomatic relief of sore throat pain. MAH: Prestige Brands (UK) Ltd, 5-7 London Road, St. Albans, AL1 1LA, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 1727 515 310. Information about this product, including adverse reactions, precautions, contraindications and method of use can be found at: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Medicinesinformation/SPCandPILs/index.htm or from Prestige Brands (UK) Ltd.
PNEUMONIA VACCINATION SERVICE
Pneumonia is a severe chest infection that can affect anyone. The Boots private vaccination service costs £70 and is a simple way to protect the body against 13 of the most common strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that can cause pneumonia.*
The Pneumonia Vaccination Service is available all year round, but there is a peak in pneumonia incidences in autumn and winter, which results in a demand peak for vaccinations. During your Winter Flu Jab appointments, remember to open conversations with customers about the benefits of the pneumonia vaccination too.
People aged over 65 years are eligible for the NHS pneumonia vaccination. The NHS vaccination is a different type of vaccination from the one used in the Boots private service. Customers may want to consider having both to help protect them even more against pneumonia. The Boots private service does not replace the need for the NHS vaccination; customers can talk to their GP to find out more about NHS vaccinations.
Earlier this year, the Pneumonia Vaccination Service moved onto our Digital Pharmacy Services (DPS) platform. This move means customers who book a Pneumonia Vaccination Service appointment online (including corporate customers) will complete an online consultation and pay for their vaccination online before attending their appointment.
If your store offers the Pneumonia Vaccination Service, remember to complete the DPS Pneumonia actions on BootsLive if you have not already done so.
Key actions
- Start conversations with flu jab customers about the benefits of a pneumonia vaccination
- If your store offers the service, complete the DPS Pneumonia actions on BootsLive (if you have not yet done so)
- Signpost customers to Boots.com/pneumonia for more information.
* At most Boots pharmacies. Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria apply.
INTERVIEW - MARC DONOVAN
Providing cancer care
Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist, talks us through the new Boots Palliative Care service and how pharmacy teams can prepare for the delivery of this service.
What is the new service?
The Boots Palliative Care Service is a new service that will be in place in all Boots UK pharmacies with an NHS contract by November. It has been set up in conjunction with Macmillan Cancer Support and is designed to help practically in providing advice and the supply of end-of-life (or palliative) medicines to patients in a coordinated and consistent way.
How will the service work?
All of our pharmacists are expected to complete the Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist (BMIP) training, including a module on Palliative Care. Each pharmacy will have a list (or formulary) of medicines that they should keep in stock in the pharmacy - these are medicines that are commonly prescribed for a patient to provide the end-of-life care they need.
How will the service make a difference to people living with cancer?
Completion of the BMIP training, and ensuring that the list of medicines is stocked in the pharmacy, will allow people affected by cancer have timely access to supplies of medicines for palliative care. This will also ensure that a pharmacist is available to give support, advice and signpost to Macmillan for any further support required. Our Columbus Patient Medication Record (PMR) system also has a stock checker facility, which will allow pharmacy team members and the public to check the availability of medicines.
What should pharmacy teams do to prepare for the service?
The initial stock of the required medicines will be supplied to each store automatically; to ensure this supply is accurate, it is necessary for pharmacy team members to carry out exception counts on all medicines on the formulary. So that there is sufficient space within the controlled drugs (CD) cabinet for the items, it's important to make sure that the usual destruction of date-expired CDs is up to date (following the CD SOPs). To support the ongoing delivery of the service, a formulary and operational guidance laminate was sent to each store with the September 2021 edition of The Professional Standard; this laminate should be attached to the inside of the CD cabinet.
In addition, for the service to be effective, it's vital that pharmacy team members communicate the services to primary care prescribers, out-of-hours services, district nurses and palliative care nurses in their area.
Thank you for your support in the setup of this service and for its ongoing delivery
Anything else you'd like to share with teams about the service?
Thank you for your support in the setup of this service and for its ongoing delivery to ensure that the required stock of medicines is maintained. This will help make sure patients have timely access to supplies of medicines for palliative care, as well as support and advice.