Introduction
Class One Recall of Zyprexa
New blog for mental health
Parallel Trade poses rick to British medicines
Organisations unite to warn of dangers of complementary therapies
Ban of Co-proxamol reveals Government ignorance
Government
publishes its response to the Scrutiny Committee’s
report on the Draft Mental Health Bill.
'Health cuts are destroying lives' voices from the front line Steve Sweeney member of Cambridge Health Unison
Introduction
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Class One recall of Zyprexa
The Centre for Mental He alth is alerting patients that the MHRA has issued a class One recall of Zyprexa 10mg (28 dose packs). The batches affected are:
These batch numbers may be prefixed by 1/ 2/
Any patient affected should return the medicine to their pharmacist at the earliest opportunity. The pharmacist will be aware of the recall. NHS Direct can provide out of hours medical advice on 0845 46 47.
It appears the medicines were imported in French packaging and may have been over-labelled or repackaged.
The Centre has long campaigned on our belief that the (presently legal) free movement of medicines in Europe is a potential weakspot in the supply chain and an open invitation to criminal counterfeiters who prey on vulnerable patients. It is well known that medicines counterfeiting is a source of funds to organised crime and international terrorism
Our stance on this has not been popular with regulators and those involved in the trade but our committment to protecting patients has led us and a number of partners to form the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM).
Jim Thomson Chair of the EAASM and CEO of the Centre for Mental Health says: " We are continually assured that the free movement of medicines is safe and regulated and whilst we applaud the MHRA's action in issuing a Class One recall it is unfortunate that counterfeit medicines have again reached those patients who rely on them . At least 2 of the se 3 batches have reached patients who have precious little else to rely on in today's national health service. "
Notes to Editors
- Zyprexa is commonly prescribe for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- A factsheet on counterfeit medicine in Europe can be found here
- The Centre for Mental Heath is a collaboration of all who share our values, bringing together and galvanising interested individuals, mental health organisations and leaders, patient groups, the media, corporate sector partners, and statutory agencies. It is designed to provide a beehive for policy and service development, giving everyone in mental health a voice.
For further information please contact Jim Thomson on 07901 800 608
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New blog for mental health
The Centre for Mental Health's CEO has begun a new blog. Seditious, witty and uncomprimisingly honest, you can read it by clicking here.
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Parallel Trade poses risk to British medicines
Leading figures in the campaign for patient safety have been given the opportunity to speak out. Read the Daily Maily article by clicking here.
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Organisations unite to warn of dangers of complementary therapies
The Centre for Mental Health has joined forces with DA CYmru to call for better regulation of herbal medicines like St John's Wort. Click here to be taken to our press release or click here to read out Guardian commentary piece.
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Ban of Co-proxamol reveals Government ignorance
The mental health Czar, Professor Louis Appleby, heralds the MHRA ban on Co-proxamol as a key factor in the falling suicide rate in England . This is to stretch the truth to the point that a tune could be played upon it . . . Click here to read more.
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Government
publishes its response to the Scrutiny Committee’s
report on the Draft Mental Health Bill.
The Government has released its response
to the scrutiny committee’s report on the
Draft Mental Health Bill. Although the Scrutiny
Committ provide a well-supported report It has
largely chosen to ignore the 2000+ submissions
from a variety of concerned organisations.
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'Health cuts are destroying lives' voices from the front line Steve Sweeney member of Cambridge Health Unison
Frontline services at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership Trust are to be cut in order to balance the books.
Measures include the closure of rehabilitation wards, stopping admissions and transfers, halting planned investment in child and adolescent services and a review of all vacancies and recruitment.
The trust says that it could end up with a deficit of £1.5 to £2 million unless cuts are made.
Pressure is being put on staff to run wards with fewer staff. Unison members have been quick in organising a campaign against the cuts, organising a lobby of the trust board.
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