From 1st October 2010 some producers of healthcare related waste have been required to assess the composition of the waste they produce and inform their waste contractor, in order to assist in its safe collection and disposal.

The Environment Agency has prioritised the applicability of this requirement, based on risk, pharmacy contractors will be required to have completed their waste audit and submitted this to their waste contractor by 1st July 2013. Waste contractors will be unable to collect waste from a pharmacy until it has been satisfied that an audit has been carried out, to identify the waste streams and so that it can ensure appropriate disposal.

PSNC has developed a briefing and an audit toolkit, this was developed with the close involvement of the Environment Agency. Click on the link below to access the detail on the PSNC website.

The LPC would encourage you to look at this as soon as possible.


**** USEFUL UPDATE ****

If you have not completed your audit and you use  use SRCL for your medicine waste collections you may find SRCL's  audit website a useful way of completing the audit.

A local contractor has informed us that the  SRCL website and their support phone line were very helpful in assisting with registration and advising on the audit.  The whole process took her less than 30 mins. 

If anyone still has the audit to do and use SRCL this might be a useful option for you.

Many congratulations to Laura Brown of Edinburgh Road Pharmacy.  In this years ‘Chemist and Druggist’ awards Laura has won the category of both Pharmacist of the year and Manager of the year in double recognition of her achievements within community pharmacy.  Laura used her life support skills gained from her flu vaccine training to save the life of an elderly local resident.  Additionally, she continually provides outstanding health services within her community.  Dave Carter, Chairman of Gateshead and South Tyneside LPC has commented

“It is always fantastic to see Community Pharmacists excelling in their field of practise but it is particularly special when we see a local pharmacist from our immediate area providing such a exemplar service to the community.  Many congratulations on your achievements, Laura.”  To Find out more about the awards visit the Chemist and Duggist site.

We are delighted to announce that our own chairman Dave Carter has been elected to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as a board member. “It is fantastic news to know that someone with the breadth of expertise and experience as Dave will be representing us at National level,”  commented Mark Burdon the regional PSNC rep and LPC committee member.

To find out more about the RPS and the recent election results visit  the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Website.

A talk Cancer workshop is taking place on 
11 July 2013 and  28 August 2013  -  9am-4:30pm at 
Room 3, Gateshead Leisure Centre, Alexandra Road, Gateshead. 
The workshop is open to Gateshead Pharmacists and their staff and will equip and empower you to raise cancer awareness in the community.  Full details are can be downloaded here .   For further information or to book a place please contact Renuka Godawatta on 0191 433 3043 or  by  email 

The next EHC training course for pharmacies has just been confirmed as  Wednesday 3rd July
It will be held at the  MPH Media Centre, Stonehills, Shields Road, NE10 0HW. 

The training session will run from 7.00-9.00, however however refreshments and buffet will be available from 6pm.

The training session will provide information about the specifics of the local service, paperwork, PGD, contraception etc. Pharmacists attending the training will also need to complete and submit certificates for the following CPPE open learning packs: 

   -   Contraception, 
   -   Emergency Contraception 
   -   Safeguarding Children.   

If you complete these before the training event  please bring your certificates along for validation.  

To book a place on the training on the 3rd July, please contact Jody Nichols  viaEmail   or via phone. on 0191 561 7820