Lockdowns, social restrictions and vaccinations have not solved covid and customers are asking questions that can’t be answered, writes Ultan Molloy. As I write this,…
Hallucinogenic “Herbs of the gods” subject of food safety alert
Dr Des Corrgian looks at some of the take-home points from FSAI alerts and the traditional and modern use of Auahuasca The various alerts from…
The cost of everything; The value of nothing
There is a clear value from pharmacist involvement in supplying ehc but commissioners need to start paying properly for the service, writes Terry Maguire Accusations…
Ladies who lift
Fintan Moore puts hid reporter’s cap on and examines what attributes to become a successful career shoplifter People often worry nowadays that with the increased…
Making sense of Omicron
As I write this, we are on the verge of entering potentially more lockdowns due to the spread of the Omicron variant. As the cute…
Common ground
Ultan Molloy says goodbye to Facebook and reflects on the need to find common ground in relationships and cultures I was struggling to come up…
Science under threat
Science is seldom ever black and white and this is particularly true of the Blizzard of information around Covid-19, writes Terry Maguire. Back in October,…
The pharmacology of the Christmas wreath
From disinfectant properties to caffeine content, Dr Des Corrigan uncovers some lesser-known facts about the Christmas wreath/ Over the years, I have based my December…
“This is Not Soccer” – Nigel Owens
Comparing the IPU to the IMO in terms of what has been achieved is a complex matter with many nuances, writes Fintan Moore. The quote…
Crisis-to-Crisis
Fintan Moore offers some practical suggestions on how to improve the GMS scheme and easte the pressure on primary care I recently came across something…
Be of good cheer…
What a year. Of course, we were saying exactly the same thing in December 2020, but here we are again.But there are ‘reasons to be…
When the NHS proves bad for your health, think ‘Vive la France!’
Terry Maguire describes his healthcare journey after a recent heart attack and the transition from being a frustrated pharmacist to frustrated patient. Aconstant burning pain…
Crisis-to-Crisis
FINTAN MOORE OFFERS SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TOIMPROVE THE GMS SCHEME AND EASE THE PRESSURE ON PRIMARY CARE I recently came across something I…
Pharmacists are not indestructible
This issue features one of the most thought-provoking and impactful columns I’ve read in a long time. Some healthcare professionals choose to ‘journal’ their trajectory…
A Tale of Two Pharmacists
Terry Maguire considers the potential historical significance of Pharmacist Matthew McDonald to Irish pharmacy politics. It was the best of times, it was the worst…
Good News About Tobacco, But Alcohol Is Still our Main Problem Drug, says Household Survey
The latest National Drug and Alcohol Survey presents us with a mixed bag of results, writes Dr Des Corrigan. The recently-published bulletin on the 2019/2020…
Points Missing the Point?
Record highs in the leaving cert results led to a jump in the marks needed to do pharmacy, but the reality is more nuanced, writes…
Bracing ourselves for the flu season
Notwithstanding the tragic deaths caused by Covid-19, the crisis has brought into focus the potential for pharmacists’ contribution to public health. It didn’t happen soon…
A new behemoth in the pharmacy sector – coming soon to a patient near you?
It has been well known for some time that along with massive disruption to the way you have had to operate as a pharmacist, Covid-19…
‘We did nothing wrong’
Terry Maguire tries to establish where the blame lies for America’s devastating opioid epidemic With focus on Covid-19, the US opioid pandemic has largely been…
Hell is other people
Fintan Moore notes the impact of negative encounters in the pharmacy, but he tries to be philosophical about it… The phrase ‘Hell is other people’…
Confidence tricksters?
The person who presents at the interview as super-confident and competent may not in fact be the right one for the job, writes Ultan Molloy…
Household Drug Survey Throws Up Some Intriguing Findings
Dr Des Corrigan selects some of the headline findings from the latest national household survey on drug and alcohol use he fifth national household survey…
‘Not Happy!’
Terry Maguire recalls a text message-based explosion of frustration from an exhausted pharmacy sector. But was it merited? On the evening of the first Friday…
Another Bad News Story about Drugs from Afghanistan
Dr Des Corrigan analyses the changes occurring in Afghanistan that may flood Europe with cheap crystal meth It is somewhat ironic that the heroin that…
Days of Our Lives
Fintan Moore weighs-up the pros and cons of being a pharmacist compared to a life in other professions It’s a natural thing among all people…
Speed or haste for the 18-to-34 jab?
No doubt it has been a frantic July for you as 18-to-34 year-olds have been given the opportunity to avail of Covid-19 vaccines in their…
Player power: No Coke and a smile
As Fintan Moore touched on in his column of this issue, soccer star Ronaldo made a spontaneous and unexpected gesture at a press conference during…
Vaccination Nation
Fintan Moore ponders the ‘Expression of interest’ form and the myriad of potential responses to its questions After being a bit slow to get going,…