News

1998

The UKPPG Conference Fax number at Clatterbridge Hospital changes to 0151 482 7735 (+44 151 482 7735) from 4.1.99. (21.12.98)

The Medical Research Council and the DoH have called for joint initiatives in Primary health care research and have £6m available for research. Trial grant application forms can be obtained from Sam Balakrishnan, MRC Head Office, 20, Park rescent, London W1N 4Al (0171-636-5422 X6255). (22.12.98)

In the December Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, John Donoghue has just written the editorial, and even has a two page biography in the Journal (Acta Psych Scand 1998, 98, 509-150). Is this the first time a pharmacist has written the Guest Editorial in one of the major psychiatric journals? John tells me that his refereeing of the paper was so good they asked him to write the Editorial. (21.12.98)

The UKPPG Committee met for 3 hours on Tuesday 1st December. Items discussed included:

Activities survey is now virtually complete. There were 109 replies. It should be ready for circulation in early January.
After some recent contact with De Montfort University, the committee wished to restate that prior learning would be accredited with new Aston courses. The UKPPG had not at any time told regional tutors not to support the De Montfort course. All current students who started the Leicester course when the UKPPG was still supporting the course will still be supported.
15 people are starting the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy at Aston in January. Diploma level qualification is being set up for late 1999.
A community pharmacy training day is planned at RPSGB, on 14.5.99 (see diary). Aim is to work how to go forward. Pfizer had possibly agreed to sponsor.
Conference feedback forms were discussed. Diane Booth had ploughed through the lot and summarised them. The AV’s were disastrous, only one lecturer got a low score, Saturday morning over-ran by too much, the workshops were good but needed more time, and Sunday was excellent. The all-night party was a problem and Latimer House had apologised and refunded some monies.
Stephen Bazire had been invited to a RPSGB Mental Health Task Force. More info to follow.
Clinical Governance is a big issue, where Professional groups must police the activities of their own profession. UKPPG may have a role. A sub-committee was set up (first meeting 1st February).
Date of next meeting - Friday 12th February

(3.12.98)

Postgraduate education is developing well again. For the latest news, click here. (23.11.98)

Modernising health and social services: national priorities and guidance 1999/00 - 2001/02, has been published, with a significant mental health component e.g. implementing national service frameowrks by April 1999, reduced emergency psychiatric re-admission rate by 2%, developing child and adolescent health services and support for high and medium secure units. If you want to get in on the action, these are the current priorities, and applications for service developments along these lines will be more likely to be successful. (17.11.98)

Congratulations to Dr. Jennie Day, former committee member and dynamic researcher and speaker, who had a had a baby boy (Joseph Daniel) on 18th October, weighing 7lb 5oz. "He is a delight." she says. Jennie is not back at work yet but collects e-mail occasionally. (17.11.98)

"Changing Minds: every family in the land" is the Royal College of Psychiatrists five year campaign to reduce the stigma of mental disorders. It aims to cover six areas (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and dementia, eating disorders and substance abuse). Information on the campaign can be obtained from the College at 17, Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG, telephone 0171-235-2351. See also Pharmaceutical Journal 1998, 261, 658 (24th October) or possibly by visiting the Royal College of Psychiatrists home page. (31.10.98)

At the UKPPG AGM on 3rd October, Diane Booth (Cambridge) and Peter Pratt (Sheffield) were elected to the committee, and Celia Feetam, Morag Martin and Stephen Bazire re-elected.

The AGM also passed a motion that all future candidates for election to the UKPPG committee will be required to make a declaration of financial and other interests including:

details of employer
research grants
sources of honoraria or consultancy fees in the previous year if this is in excess of £2000pa from and single source

Once elected, members will also make an annual declaration.

Frank Dobson, Health Secretary, outlined his "Third Way" for mental health services at the end of July. The press release refers to better support for patients, including "...improved mental health training for GPs and others in primary care; extra counselling services in health centres; clear and authorative guidance from the National Institute for Clinical excellence on the most effective drugs and therapies; ..." All of these could include expanded roles for pharmacists, so get you thinking caps on and take advantage of these opportunities to make yourselves the recognised experts in drugs. He also announced on 30.9.98 around £300m for waiting list initiatives, including modernising the NHS. Golden opportunities for someone! get your plans ready NOW so you can be ready when the instructions come out. You'll need to be quick though. (30.9.98)

Association of European Psychiatrists: Six UKPPG members presented one of the parallel symposia at the Association of European Psychiatrists (AEP) in Copenhagen on 23.9.98. For pharmacists to be asked to run a session at AEP was a terrific honour, particularly as it is not common for non-Psychiatrists to do such things. The session was on optimising drug therapy. The session went well, with standing room only. Thanks must also go to Chris Sutton from Lundbeck (UK) who supported the venture, by facilitating our attendance, travel and accommodation (thanks Chris - we couldn't have done it without you!). Click here for photos. It even made the Pharmaceutical Journal! (29.9.98)

Lundbeck put the cat amongst the pigeons in early October by reducing the UK price of citalopram by 21%, to become the lowest price SSRI. Other SSRI manufacturers may respond soon. (1.10.98).

Postgraduate Courses - UKPPG Treasurer Celia Feetam took up post as Course Tutor at Aston University in July 1998 and is working for the University for two days a week. Aston also have a secretary in the office 5 mornings a week to man/woman the Helpline etc. and in his/her absence there will be an answerphone.

An exciting new twelve month part-time Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy by Distance Learning will be available in January 1999 from the School of Life and Health Sciences (Department of Pharmacy), Aston University. Enrolment is due to take place from September 1998. The cost will be a flat £1000 all in - please contact Celia for help with bursaries which may be available.

This Certificate programme will lead to a one year practice based Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy which is expected to be available from Aston in the Spring of 1999 for any suitably qualified pharmacists who wish to undertake it. Previously obtained qualifications from an equivalent course (i.e. de Montfort) WILL be applicable as qualification for the Aston courses.

It is planned that this Diploma programme will lead to a one year research based MSc. programme to be offered by another university with a major commitment to psychiatry.

These new courses have the full support and endorsement of the current UKPPG Committee.

For details, pelase contact Celia by phone or e-mail address c.l.feetam@aston.ac.uk
(SB 5.9.98)

The history: Urgent discussions had taken place with De Montfort University in Leicester about the future of the Diploma and MSc stages of the Postgraduate qualifications in Psychiatric Pharmacy. The following letter was sent out in early July to all UKPPG members outlining the situation as it was then:

Dear UKPPG member,

Re Postgraduate Qualifications in Psychiatric Pharmacy

You may have been aware of the concerns expressed recently by the UKPPG Committee about the Postgraduate Courses in Psychiatric Pharmacy offered by De Montfort University in Leicester. These concerns included the course leadership, support for students and the absence of anyone with current clinical psychiatric pharmacy experience on the staff at De Montfort.

In mid-May, David Taylor and I travelled to Leicester to meet members of the De Montfort staff to again express these concerns. We were unable to resolve these to our satisfaction and although De Montfort submitted a business plan to the UKPPG, it did not adequately answer our questions, did not allay our concerns, nor did the business plan outline how De Montfort planned to run the Diploma and MSc. The UKPPG committee thus unanimously agreed on 12.6.98 that it felt unable to continue to support any of the Postgraduate Courses in Psychiatric Pharmacy currently on offer from De Montfort.

At the recent Lilly Conference many Pharmacy managers were pressing for an early statement about the matter in order that they can plan and seek funding for their pharmacist's continuing education. The UKPPG committee is thus delighted to inform you of the success in securing an alternative set of courses from Aston University. The Senate of the University of Aston in Birmingham has approved the establishment of Postgraduate Certificate Course for launch in the autumn of 1998 and will later in the year receive the proposal for a Postgraduate Diploma Course for launch early in 1999. In addition, the course leader designate (Dr Sheila Handley) has achieved a significant University funding to assist the development of the courses. Discussions upon where the MSc component will be based are advancing. We can assure you that this change will not detract from any qualifications currently held or being studied for, all of which will be valid for entry to the new courses where necessary.

The Committee of the UKPPG will be giving these new courses its full support and will take an active involvement in their development. Bursaries to help with the payment of fees to Aston University will be available on successful application to the Committee through the Treasurer, Celia Feetam, who will also be happy to supply further information about these exciting developments. Please visit www.ukppg.co.uk/news.html throughout the next few months to be assured of the latest information.

Kind regards,
Stephen Bazire
Vice Chairman,
UK Psychiatric Pharmacy Group
(SRB 27.7.98)

Peter Pratt, former UKPPG Chairman and new committee member, has just had a chapter in a book published, editors being Charlie Brooker and someone else (Peter did say but I've forgotten). It's about drug treatment of schizophrenia. Doubtless he'll fill in the missing details in due course :-

Brett Hill - sad news that Brett Hill, former UKPPG committee member and clinical pharmacist in Cardiff, finally lost his battle with a severe form of diabetes and died in May 1998. He had won the Zeneca Travel Award in 1997 but was too ill to take up the offer. Tributes will flow in for this hard-working and innovative Pharmacist. He will be a great loss to the profession and our speciality in particular. (SRB, 2.6.98)

The UKPPG National Telephone Helpline continues to be busy and we are delighted to announce that Zeneca Pharma have extended the funding at least until the end of 1999, and with a provisional offer of funding for a further five years. (SRB, 16.6.98)

The "National Depression Campaign" was launched in April 1998, following on from the Defeat Depresion campaign. The campaign is an alliance of 11 mental health organisations. Contact National Depression Campaign, 35, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB (leaflets £1 per 10). See also Donoghue, Pharm J 1998, 260, 599-600. (SRB, 17.5.98)