Welcome to your May issue of Irish Pharmacist, which we hope you will find to be informative, thought- provoking and entertaining.
Your contributors write about some important topics, such as Áine Mac Grory’s take on MOSS — Medicine Optimisation Support Service — and how it could affect your working day, if implemented properly.
Dr Des Corrigan looks into what substances, medicinal or otherwise, we pass through our kidneys into our sewage system, and Terry Maguire gives the take from ‘Up North’ and reports on some interesting pilot projects that may lead to a more client-centered approach to managing codeine misuse/abuse.
In a feature, Niamh Cahill reports on how important it will be to have good processes in place with the advent of the CCS.
Another of your faithful columnists, Fintan Moore, will definitely catch your eye with his column that covers AI in pharmacy, benzodiazepines, and a whimsical take on which animal might be best suited for pharmacy.
Fintan’s pick — the majestic octopus — is a good choice due to each of their eight limbs containing a separate ‘brain’. This has obvious advantages, but also got me thinking about other candidates.
For example, empathy is a vital component when dealing with patients, so Bonobo apes might also be a good candidate, as they have shown empathic traits in tests. Or perhaps the noble elephant, capable of grief, empathy, and even compassion for other species. You also don’t want to get on their wrong side.
Or maybe the Honey Badger would make the ultimate pharmacist — highly intelligent but despite its size, recognised as Africa’s most fearless and tenacious animal, known to take on creatures much bigger and more dangerous. Surely a useful tool in the armament of the modern Irish pharmacist (or pharmacy body).
Our closest relative, the chimpanzee, is also highly intelligent and possesses good problem-solving skills, as well as having the ability for complex social behaviour.
They can also recognise themselves in mirrors, which is key for abstract thinking. The ability to throw excrement at shoplifters could also make for a powerful deterrent. Or perhaps you have a better suggestion — drop us a line with your chosen ‘pharmacy spirit animal’.
Also in this issue, as usual we feature clinical content written by pharmacists, for pharmacists. This month, you can earn 2 CPD points with our module on Parkinson’s disease, as well as brushing-up on Kidney Disorders, Migraine, and Psychosomatic Illness.
And as always, feel free to get in touch or write a letter to the Editor if you have something to get off your chest.
Pat Kelly, pat@greenx.ie
