February 2019

Doug Longmire, a locum pharmacist in Palmerston North, chats to Nerine Zoio about his love of collecting Japanese knives

Kia ora. Welcome. The year 2019 has been under way for only a month but already a lot is going on in the pharmacy sector. 

A new pharmacy role is being piloted at Palmerston North Hospital in an effort to reduce medicine-related harm and errors once a patient is discharged

One of the best things about having some time off over the break is that it gives you space to reflect and just think

From commissioning custom-made bags to reusing stock boxes, pharmacy staff are preparing ahead of the Government’s planned ban of plastic bags. 

Just the words lice, scabies and skin infections are enough to make most people want to scratch all over but give thought to the patient living with persistent prickling, potentially coupled with lumps, bumps and rashes.

Pharmacy staff are well versed in dealing with customers’ embarrassing issues, from ponging pits to bad breath and spotty skin. They are required to walk the line between tactful behaviour and getting to the heart of the matter. 

February brings calmer weather, quieter camping, weekends at the beach and some relief to parents as children return to school.

Chromium is an essential trace element, meaning that the human body needs it in very small amounts to continue functioning normally

Auckland School of Pharmacy researchers are on a mission to find out the real reasons why some pharmacists are looking at switching careers after finishing their pharmacy degree