Trinity Public Relations

Trust your gut instinct

By Dr Kathryn O’Sullivan, Nutrition Scientist

Focusing on the gut may support our return to normality in more ways than expected.

Scientists think that the bacteria in our gut could be a major weapon in fighting COVID 19.

Hippocrates famously said that all diseases begin in the gut. Fast forward to today and evidence is accumulating that the gut is the cornerstone of the immune system hosting 70-80% of the immune tissue.

We are more bacteria than human

We have more bacterial than human cells in our bodies and the majority are found in the gut. In fact, it is estimated that our gut hosts more than 100 trillion microorganisms, ten times the number of human cells!

The collective genetic material of bacteria in the gut is known as the microbiome.

A diverse microbiome contains a unique assortment of bacteria, each playing their part in immunity, and the ratio between “good” and “bad” bacteria is strongly influenced by diet, although age, general health and genetics also affect the composition. The gut microbiome exists in a delicate balance, which is key in maintaining a healthy immune system, whereas an abnormal gut microbiome, or imbalance, called dysbiosis can result in the gut microbiome lacking the right bacterial mix and leading to a dysfunctional immune response to infection. Dysbiosis is more common in old age, obesity, people in poorer health and more recently has been described in severe cases of COVID 19. We know poor health and older age are risk factors for COVID 19. There is a developing view amongst scientists that people at increased risk of COVID 19 may have an altered gut microbiome (1).

Talking Cells

Human and bacterial cells have co-evolved to work symbiotically to regulate the immune system. Scientists use the expression cross-talk to describe the communication between gut microbiomes and immune cells, which ensures that the immune system doesn’t go into overdrive and cause unnecessary damage to the body. In fact, doctors are beginning to think that uncontrolled inflammatory immune responses, rather than the corona virus itself, may be causing the adverse effects of COVID 19 infection on the body.

It seems that like the immune system, gut microbiome and the lungs cross-talk too. This is called the gut-lung axis. Gut bacteria elicit immune responses to infections not only in the gut but also the respiratory system, meaning they play a role in protecting the lung from respiratory infections. Studies show that the gut microbiome can affect the incidence and severity of flu symptoms and also the effectiveness of flu vaccination may be improved by a healthy gut microbiome. (2)

Could altered gut-lung cross-talk play a role in COVID 19?

Early on in the pandemic, researchers from Hong Kong reported significantly altered gut microbiome composition in patients with severe COVID 19 and also in recovered patients who experienced what is now being called Long COVID (3)).

A scientific review from Korea University suggested altered gut microbiota made it easier for coronavirus to infect cells (4), while scientists in Portugal think dysbiosis could be a predictor of increased susceptibility to severe COVID 19. Like the Hong Kong scientists they think that the microbiome composition is linked to the susceptibility of some patients to progress to severe stages of the disease (5).

Research is now concentrating on trying to identify if there is a specific bacterial pattern in the gut microbiome that might predict the clinical outcomes of COVID 19 which could then help doctors to prioritise patients at risk for developing severe disease. Others research is focusing on potential treatments linked to the microbiome. For example, faecal microbiome transplants and dietary changes to beneficially influence the microbiome (4).

Some scientists have even wondered if western countries such as the UK and USA with good medical infrastructures may have been harder hit by coronavirus because habitual diets tend to be deficient in fibre which may be a reason for altered gut microbiomes and greater risk of dysbiosis (4)? This is of course emerging science and much further and deeper research is required to understand this complex relationship and draw meaningful conclusions.

You are eating for 2…species

The good news is that certain foods can quickly modify the gut microbiome to optimise the immune system (6)).

The best way to increase microbiome diversity is to eat a wide range of plant foods. The American Gut Project found eating 30 or more types of plants a week results in a healthier microbiome than eating 10 or fewer. Prebiotic and probiotic foods can also help.

Probiotic foods contain live bacteria. Fermented foods like kombucha (fermented tea) , Korean kimchi, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh and cultured dairy foods such as yoghurts and kefir (fermented milk) can help restore the composition by reintroducing “good” bacteria into the gut.

Many plant foods contain prebiotics which are types of carbohydrates that only gut bacteria can feed upon. They selectively stimulate the colonisation of the “good” bacteria in the gut microbiome. In some respects, prebiotics feed probiotics! Artichokes, chickpeas, asparagus, edamame beans, bananas, berries, tomatoes, garlic, onions, legumes, green vegetables and wholegrain cereals and fermented and pickled foods have prebiotic properties. Cooking grains like rice and pasta and then allowing them to cool increases the level of resistant starch which is a prebiotic. While pre and probiotics can be found in foods, supplements are also available

When it comes to eating out opt for going Asian. A study comparing typical American and Korean diets on gut microbiomes found that four weeks on the Korean diet dramatically and beneficially changed the gut microbiome probably owing to it being more plant based with a greater consumption of fermented foods like kimchi compared to a typically lower in fibre more animal based American diet (7).

Eating less sugar and overly processed foods as well are avoiding taking antibiotics unnecessarily, exercising regularly and making sure you get enough sleep will also help improve the gut microbiome and enhance overall health.

Gut to know yourself

Home tests are now readily available to measure gut microbiomes. Using bacterial DNA sequencing tests like INTEST.pro offer the opportunity to tailor our diets to ensure our gut bacteria mix is at its most advantageous. The gut microbiome is adaptable and while dietary changes can beneficially alter it, changes in composition may be only temporary if we change our diet again. Home tests can be useful in providing baseline readings which can then be used as a monitor to maintain or tweak the diet to a healthy and diverse microbiome. While dietary advice to improve gut health, certainly will benefit us all, home tests can offer reassurance that it is working !

Key takeaway messages

Human and bacterial cells have co-evolved to work symbiotically to regulate the immune system

In dysbiosis, when the gut bacteria are out of balance, cross-talk between the bacteria and immune cells is affected resulting in reduced immunity and illness.

A gut friendly diet encourages the good bacteria to dominate and therefore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut.

Gut dysbiosis has been identified in patients with severe COVID and while there is currently no treatment for COVID 19, promoting dietary changes to beneficially influence the gut microbiome could be a non-medical way of supporting the recovery of severe and long COVID 19.

As the old saying goes, you are what you eat!

swap one staple food for a gut helpful alternative.

Coleslaw with kimchi or sauerkraut
Hot pasta with cold pasta salad
Hot pasta with cold noodle salad
boiled rice with sushi or sticky rice
White bread with sour dough or wholegrain
Pasta bolognaise with vegetable pasta
soda drinks with kombucha
ice cream with probiotic yoghurt and fruit
milk with kefir
crisps with roasted chickpeas, nuts or seeds
cheese and biscuits with veg sticks and hummus or guacamole
cheddar with blue cheese
sugar breakfast cereals with high fibre or muesli varieties
chocolate with whole nut chocolate
Adapt a flexitarian approach and split your week into meat and meat free days
Load up with vegetables and fruit at every opportunity, in pastas, pizzas, stir fry, sandwiches, deserts
Think diversity and plants
Invest in probiotic or prebiotic supplements

References

(3). https://gut.bmj.com/content/70/4/698

(4). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7845625/

(5). https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/53/htm

(6). https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12820

(7). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835328/

Interoperability is the key to transforming the healthcare service

Ed Platt, UK Sales Director for Omnicell UK&I

“Interoperability allows different computer systems or software solutions to share information creating productive interactions. This opens up endless possibilities for efficient and smart technology in a wide range of sectors. When it comes to healthcare, interoperability is the integration of systems simplifying the communication and delivery of clinical information across a hospital. This allows for improved collaboration and clinical workflows, crucial time savings and financial savings, together with a reduction in errors, all with the aim of driving better patient outcomes.

Many hospitals are rightly cautious when it comes to introducing automation with the capacity for interoperability. It is a big investment requiring interruption of existing workflows and subsequent change management and there is often an underlying concern that the technology would soon become redundant.

As a leading medication management solution provider, Omnicell is already paving the way for interoperable technology to become as widespread in the healthcare landscape as it is in other sectors. In the last year alone Omnicell Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) have been integrated with several prominent electronic prescribing (EPMA) providers and electronic health records (E.HR) systems to drive better patient outcomes, financial and time savings and better workflows for staff in hospitals. These working interfaces are with Better, Cerner, EPIC, AllScript, SystmOne, WellSky and MedChart. Furthermore, Omnicell platforms can integrate with medication wholesalers, finance systems and many more. Interoperability with these partners helps ‘closes the loop’ in the medication management process because, not only does it enable optimisation of medication administration, it also provides a full access to patient data records allowing for full visibility and accountability. In addition, integration with these systems enables additional features and shared data with Omnicell pharmacy technology automation and intelligence solutions to drive inventory optimisation, diversion management, medication usage analytics, compliance and population health services.

Omnicell prides itself on being a long-term partner to hospitals. Our industry experts spend time on site understanding different workflows in various departments and provide expert guidance on how technology can best be used to make significant time and cost savings very quickly. Simultaneously, this team of experts, comprised of highly skilled and experienced individuals with a range of clinical and IT credentials, help to ensure the solution is interoperable and works for individual wards, departments, the hospital as a whole, as well as at Trust and Integrated Care System level.

We continue to work with customers to drive adoption and success so they can achieve return on investment and realise all the benefits to be gained from technology in the shortest possible timeframe. For example, interoperability between Omnicell ADCs and EPMA providers leverages vital data and insights which in turn can lead to proactive steps to improve patient care. This integration can provide real time risk alerts and opportunity identification, as well as recognising likely medicine shortages and providing visibility of medicine with expected use. This data can ensure that right medication for a patient is available in the right place, to be administered at the right time, helping to reduce drug errors, reduce delayed doses, speed up the time to a first dose and reduce incidents of missed doses.

Integration between Omnicell’s medication dispensing system and the EHR/electronic patient record (EPR) also removes redundant steps from workflows across hospitals, optimising the multiple processes involved in medication and supplies management. Clinicians can pre-select medications, view availability and document waste from these combined systems rather than having to perform these duties at the medication dispensing cabinet, therefore saving valuable time and reducing staff fatigue from administrative tasks. All of these features help clinicians to drive better patient safety and outcomes, whilst also helping to tackle soaring healthcare costs. Furthermore, combining the advanced analytics from these integrated smart technologies means that constant analysis of workflow efficiency can take place often leading to recommended workflow changes to further improve and enhance patient outcomes.

Interoperability solutions are a great opportunity for the healthcare sector and could be a crucial factor in realising the future of our much-loved national health service by presenting the sector with cost, safety and efficiency opportunities. With the right partners, Omnicell’s solutions can transform medication management and create synergies across healthcare enterprises. This forward-thinking interoperable technology and solutions led approach can ensure long term efficiency and success across the healthcare landscape.”

New stats reveal grave impact of Covid-19 on hair health and mental health

Trinity PR is proud to be working with the Institute of Trichology on such an important story; trichology services should always be considered essential medical treatment for all those suffering from hair and scalp conditions in the UK.

A new poll among members of the Institute of Trichologists (IOT) has revealed concerning insight into the prevalence of so-called post-COVID hair loss and the negative impact on mental health that existing patients are experiencing due to the interruption of their treatment programmes. The UK trichology industry must now wait until 12^th April to recommence face-to-face appointments, but a whopping 94% of expert trichologists surveyed said they believe trichology clinics should have been allowed to stay open under lockdown restrictions.

One in two adults in the UK suffer with some form of hair or scalp concern – a shocking statistic – and yet trichologists have been prohibited from practising (with the exception of online consultations) across the pandemic. Unlike other allied health professionals – such as physiotherapists and opticians – who are still allowed to operate, trichology is not currently considered an essential medical service. Trichology is the branch of scientific study and practice concerning the hair and scalp, yet its role can sometimes be misunderstood as an extension of aesthetic services such as hairdressing. Members of the IOT are required to undertake training in biology, anatomy and physiology as well as the immune and endocrine systems. Although not medically registered they are highly educated and knowledgeable about all things related to the hair and scalp, often working with GPs and Dermatologists to ensure the best outcome for every patient. Many patients are simply unaware of the potential benefits of seeking such professional and expert help. The stress and strain that the NHS has been under due to COVID would benefit from more collaborative working with Trichologists who can diagnose and treat so many conditions, only involving GPs or Dermatologists where necessary, thus freeing up resources to deal with other conditions.

Many trichologists have reported feedback from patients who are suffering not only from their hair or scalp condition but also the negative impact of their condition on their mental health due to the closure of clinics. Nearly 70% of trichologists have seen an impact on patients’ mental health while 66% have seen a deterioration in patients’ conditions. Furthermore, 67% have indicated widespread interruption of treatment programmes while 50% report patients developing serious self-esteem issues as a result.

In light of these shocking results, the Institute of Trichologists is now campaigning for greater and official recognition of the medical credibility of trichology to avoid any future long-term closure of services. Mental health strains as a result of many elements of the pandemic have been widely documented over the past year, but the UK trichology industry is frustrated that the struggles faced by many of their patients have not formed part of this narrative.

“Though hair and scalp conditions may not be life limiting, they can certainly be quality of life limiting,” says Eva Proudman, Consultant Trichologist & Chair of the Institute. “There is a danger in assuming that hair and scalp problems are only cosmetic concerns when the impact of conditions such as pattern hair loss, alopecia and scalp psoriasis can be deeply traumatising and upsetting for patients. Without access to physical consultations and the ‘hands on’ assessment which is so important for diagnosis and successful treatment, we are seeing a severe and rapid deterioration in patients’ mental health during this latest lockdown, which in turn could worsen their conditions.”

The poll also indicates just how large the spike in ‘Long Covid’ and stress related hair and scalp issues is, with 79% trichologists reporting seeing cases of post-COVID hair loss since March 2020. A key symptom of this condition is excessive hair shedding (telogen effluvium) which can be very traumatic for patients, especially since they cannot currently visit a trichologist in person. In the poll, trichologists report seeing anywhere between 1 and 35 patients presenting with this condition over the past year, showing just how common this frightening side effect of COVID-19 is.

Trichologists are frustrated at the continued closure of clinics not only because trichology is not recognised as an essential medical service but also because their stringent hygiene and safety policies would allow for COVID-safe appointments. Richard Spencer MIT, Clinical Trichologist at The Spencer Clinic, London and a registered member of the Institute of Trichologists is confident that trichology clinics can reopen safely during the pandemic. “Since the start of the outbreak, we have worked hard on a robust Covid-19 policy in order to protect both trichologists and patients. This includes a series of questions on arrival and during an appointment, regularly taking the temperature of staff and patients, providing hand sanitising stations and wearing masks at all times. For appointments lasting up to an hour, patients will be able to undergo a lateral flow test. For even longer sessions, patients will receive an official COVID-19 test. We take health and safety very seriously and are confident that with this policy, we can safely reopen and begin treating patients once again.”

The results of this important poll indicate that there is little doubt that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on trichology services. The closure of Trichology clinics means many patients are currently suffering alone, with difficult and distressing hair and scalp conditions left untreated, often leading to poor mental health. The Institute of Trichologists is therefore committed to campaigning for registered practitioners to be given recognition as an essential medical service. The Institute looks forward to the imminent reopening of clinics so its practitioners can resume operations safely and responsibly in order to help alleviate the anxiety felt by many patients at these uncertain times.

Young people lose out on ‘lifesaving’ heart screenings due to lockdown

25,000 appointments cancelled due to COVID restrictions leaving people age 14-35 at risk of hidden heart conditions

A leading heart charity – which would usually provide free heart checks for over 32,000 young people every year in the UK – has warned of the potential impact of having to halt its specialist services over the past 8 months.

The campaign is backed by a family from Surrey whose 14-year-old son was diagnosed with a dangerous and potentially life-threatening heart condition (Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome) at a CRY screening session shortly before lockdown and the suspension of the service. Due to his swift diagnosis – despite displaying no worrying signs or symptoms – he has now been successfully (surgically) treated and back living a normal, safe, and active life.

But the outcome could have been so different…

Powerful feature articles focussing on the recent experience of Finn Mason – and fronted by his mum, Niki, who has become a key advocate of the campaign, have been published across the Surrey and SW London media, as well as full-page articles in the national press, including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and Daily Record, helping to generate incredible awareness for CRY and its work.

Young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) claims the lives of at least 12 seemingly fit and healthy young people every week in the UK. In around 80% of cases of these arrhythmias and heart muscle conditions (cardiomyopathies) there will have been no signs or symptoms – but the vast majority of the underlying and ‘hidden’ issues that cause such fatal cardiac arrests can be identified using a simple ECG test, which is assessed by a specially trained cardiologist.

Dr Steven Cox, CEO of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which was established 25 years ago to support families affected by YSCD and to help prevent these devastating young deaths, explains;

“CRY stopped screening on March 16th, 2020, as part of the UK’s initial national lockdown measures. This was around the same time that NHS Breast and Cervical screening services were temporarily stopped – although these are now coming back into practice – and understandably there were immediate concerns about ‘footfall’ (we test around 100 people a day at a CRY testing session) and PPE health and safety needs of our medical staff.

“However, now, 8 months on, we have had to cancel over 21,000 screening appointments and we remain uncertain as to when and how we will be able to resume our internationally acclaimed screening service.

“CRY research and international statistics suggest this current hiatus may have already resulted in more than 70 young people NOT receiving a diagnosis of a potentially life-threating condition and the treatment, lifestyle advice or surgery that would reduce their risk of suffering a cardiac arrest. Worryingly, our waiting list of young people who have registered an interest in screening now stands at just under 40,000.

“Every subsequent month that screening events are cancelled or postponed will result in the loss of a further 3,000 appointments and another 10 people being left to live with an undiagnosed cardiac condition that could cause them cardiac arrest and sudden death. It is important to note these figures do not include the 100s of young people who are identified with cardiac conditions through screening which may not be immediately life-threatening, but will lead to serious problems in their fourth or fifth decade of life if they are not identified, monitored and treated.”

“We cannot allow these young people to become part of the devastating “12 a week” statistic.

Dr Cox continues; “We’ve worked really hard to ensure our screening team is appropriately prepared [in terms of PPE], with revised protocols in place [in terms of social distancing and enhanced cleaning] and are ready to get back on the road.

“But what we desperately need – once this second lockdown is eventually eased – is access to suitably large venues. CRY’s families and fundraisers would usually be able to secure the use of schools, sports clubs, 6th form colleges, universities, community centres and church halls etc. at no charge. Understandably, these types of venues cannot currently invite any additional people to come onto the premises.

“We are doing all we can to resume CRY’s screening programme safely, rebooking events and working through our ‘backlog’ – and to ensure that awareness of the importance of cardiac screening in young people does not diminish.”

The majority of CRY’s community screenings are funded by bereaved families, who have been affected by a young sudden cardiac death, so there is no charge to the individual when CRY’s mobile cardiac screening service comes to a local venue. In normal times, CRY-funded screening clinics are also held twice a month at St George’s Hospital, South West London, home to CRY’s pioneering Centre for Inherited Cardiac Conditions and Sports Cardiology.

The CRY screening programme uses a very simple, effective and non-invasive way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities. It is a quick, painless and affordable procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG). If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also conduct an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) on the same day. To date, over 220,000 young people have been screened by CRY – and many young lives saved.

In Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 89%. This is because sport – whilst it does not actually cause sudden cardiac death – can significantly increase a young person’s risk if they have an underlying condition.

Professor Sanjay Sharma (St George’s, University of London) is CRY’s Consultant Cardiologist and oversees the screening programme. He concludes;

“Although cancellation of these clinics is completely understandable to minimise the spread of the viral infection, there will be a number of young people who will not receive a diagnosis and treatment of a potentially serious, and probably silent, cardiac abnormality. I therefore really hope these individuals will still be motivated to sign up to be tested again in the future, as soon as we able to resume our services.

For more information or any press inquiries about CRY, please contact; jo.hudson@trinitypr.co.uk

Dina Gohil x Footner & CCS YouTube Project

Have you heard? Footner Exfoliating Socks have become a social media hit thanks to their ability to ‘shed your skin like a lizard’, revealing ‘baby-smooth feet beneath’, according to MailOnline. People are obsessed with how effective it is, with reviewers calling it ‘a revelation’ and noting that after use ‘it’s like having a new set of feet’.

So, in light of this, Footner – and sister brand CCS – decided to collaborate on an exciting and original YouTube project with podiatrist and influencer Dina Gohil.

Dina has over 80K YouTube subscribers, many of whom had requested an ‘ASMR’ video. This is a distinct YouTube trend in which creators amplify certain sounds in their videos, such as a whispering voice, to create a feeling of physical wellbeing for the viewer. Paired with her other videos showing podiatry procedures such as corn removals – popular for their ‘morbidly satisfying’ element – we thought that combining ASMR with Footner’s peeling process could result in some highly original and unique content.

The video has now been live for two weeks and has already received over 27,000 views. Dina’s whispering voice effectively explains how Footner Exfoliating Socks work while she applies them to a client’s feet. Other sounds like putting on rubber gloves and opening the packaging are emphasised as part of the ASMR theme. The video then fast-forwards to the peel, which takes place within 7-10 days of using the product. Here we see Dina gently peeling away the loose skin from the client’s feet. The sound is amplified, and the visuals provide the effect of morbid satisfaction.

Once the client’s rejuvenated, smooth layer of skin beneath has been revealed, Dina massages CCS Foot Care Cream to their feet. Once again, the sounds surrounding this are elevated in keeping with ASMR traits.

The video ends with before and after shots of the client’s feet, highlighting how Footner and CCS have made major improvements to the skin’s appearance and texture.

You can watch the video here.

New integration between care home systems will drive safety within the care and medication administration process

Care home residents regularly don’t receive the correct support with medicines in line with what is documented in their care plan according to the latest CQC ‘Medicines in Health and Adult Social Care report’¹. Omnicell UK, the market leader in medication and supplies automation, and Nourish Care, a leading electronic care planning provider, have come together to provide a new integration that gives care staff greater visibility of a patient’s medication regime as part of their overall care plan.

Managing and monitoring resident’s medication regimes effectively can significantly impact the delivery and quality of care. Historically care planning and medication administration systems have been managed completely separately. This can potentially contribute to failings in support of residents’ care. The new integration means that Omnicell eMAR can now share data related to medication with the Nourish Care system, giving greater insight and driving best practice into the safety and individual care of each resident in the home. This provides care givers with the following:

Sight of the latest prescribed medications, supporting carers in assessments and reviews without having to switch between two separate technology systems
Information on when new medication has been prescribed to residents, so it is possible to monitor or adjust care plans accordingly
A summary of the medication, dose and time administered to better understand the medical history and individual pathway of a resident
Ability to correlate the data for medication administered with other information such as falls, accidents and additional incidents

Omnicell eMAR automates the entire medication management and administration process ensuring each resident receives the correct medicine dose at the correct time. The system gathers information, provides prompts and accurate instructions for staff and managers in real time at the touch of a button. Each individual medication is identified through a barcode applied in pharmacy, which can then be tracked at all stages from check in at the care home through to administration to a resident. It provides an invaluable medicines history for each patient and includes a simple alert and verification system to minimise the risk of medication errors in the home.

Residents in care homes take an average of 7.2 medicines per day. With each additional medicine comes an increased risk of errors in prescription, monitoring, dispensing or administration, adverse drug reactions, impaired medicines adherence which can lead to compromised quality of life for patients. CQC’s annual state of care report found that safety was the biggest concern with one of the main contributing factors being poor medicines management.

Nourish’s customisable and easy-to-use software supports recording at the point of care, saving time and allowing for more accurate notes. Access to information ensures that care teams are kept up-to-date and can make informed decisions for better care. With records that are secure, accurate and compliant, evidencing care becomes more manageable and care management more organised. Now with the latest integration with Omnicell, Nourish empowers care teams further with contextual medication history and usage helping to ensure better care decisions are made both at moments of care and when planning care needs.

Cyrus Hodivala, Medicines Adherence Sales Director at Omnicell UK & Ireland, comments; “Whilst the care sector has undoubtedly made great strides to ensure the safer use of medicines across its services, there are still areas for improvement. A disconnect between care planning and medication management could be contributing to the problem of poor support of residents with their medication regimes highlighted in the CQC ‘Medicines in Health and Adult Social Care report’. As leaders in innovation within the sector we have developed an answer to this problem. The newly enhanced eMAR system for care homes links to and works in conjunction with individual care plans providing the care giver with crucial data and insight. We’re anticipating this will help to drive much needed efficiencies and drive patient safety within the care sector and hope that it eventually becomes the gold standard when managing medication administration within care planning.”

Nuno Almeida founder of Nourish Care says, “Our mission is to support care teams to provide high quality care and we have worked on a number of integrations and projects to deliver this. This latest collaboration with Omnicell is entirely consistent with our mission and provides care teams the choice of having an eMAR system with evidence of quality. We are also looking forward to working with the combination of the care planning and medicines management data as part of our Nourish Analytics.”

How automating the medication management process can support hospitals during the COVID-19 second wave

Sara Dalmasso is General Manager and Vice President at Omnicell International. Here she reflects how automating the medication management process can support hospitals during the COVID-19 second wave.

We are seeing a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases with rapidly rising hospital admissions across the whole of Europe. Governments are taking drastic action to try and prevent the spread of the virus with many countries recently implementing new lockdown measures to protect patients and healthcare systems, many of which are already over stretched. This latest increase in admissions is placing an additional burden on hospitals as they enter a traditionally busy winter period.

As cases surge, its crucial healthcare suppliers do all we can to support front line staff and patients in this latest battle against the virus. Now more than ever people need to come together and work in partnership to protect our valued healthcare services.

One of the ways we know we can support at Omnicell is to provide hospitals with real time visibility of stock levels across the hospital so staff can quickly establish what medication needs to be ordered at any time. Using automated medication management solutions negates the need for manual stock checks by pharmacy or nursing staff which means their time can be better spent on face to face clinical care.

Following the first wave of COVID-19 we know from our hospital customer feedback how the virus brought about:

An increased critical need for specific medications to be readily available
A change in the demand for the range and type of medications driven by COVID-19
Risks from medication shortages due to increased demand
An increased need for security and accountability around all highly demanded medications
The need to prevent cross contamination during the medication management process
A required adjustment to processes to reduce staff exposure and risk as well as the overuse of PPE.

Many hospitals took advantage of our Rapid Response initiative which saw Omnicell remove the barriers to ordering, shipping and installation of its XT Automated Dispensing Solutions, allowing hospitals to ‘scale-up’ additional medication management needs as soon as required. As hospitals mobilized to meet the needs of this new emergency, as their healthcare technology and service partner we did the same with pre-configured cabinets available on site in as little as 14 days with the option to remote install.

It is important that we share best practice approaches during these challenging times so healthcare settings can implement new ways of working which will support both staff and the patients they are caring for in this difficult climate. Here are five ways automating the medication management process can help hospitals during the Covid-19 second wave.

Automated inventory management process

Track real time stock levels of critical medications across the whole hospital including identification and focused tracking of highly needed COVID-19 specific medications across all high-risk areas. By automating your process, you can identify at an early stage increases in key COVID-19 medicines and this can be highlighted to pharmacy to ensure they have ample time to react before the demand hits them. In addition, this approach automatically identifies items that need to be re-ordered without staff exposure to high risk areas. The data intelligence from the Omnicell COVID-19 forecast report allows hospitals to predict demand and prevent unnecessary stock-outs through reorder and critical low alerts based on real time inventory.

Improved workflows

Electronic messaging around inventory and patient transactions for medication usage allows for remote monitoring and decreases the need for access to “hot areas” in terms of a physical presence. This reduces the risk of staff exposure and the requirement to provide valuable stocks of PPE to support functions. Equally Omnicell’s controlled management process removes the need for paper-based recording systems, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Ability to respond rapidly for new COVID-19 management wards

The automation means you can define in advance required standard stock levels for COVID-19 specific treatment areas. You can even have established automated dispensing cabinets with defined COVID-19 specific stock set up and quarantined ready to rapidly roll into new areas as and when needed. Such solutions provide a secure and accountable medication management system in high demand areas. There is the option to provide a mix of pharmacy and supply items in one single system allowing for a single source for all inventory which can be ready to be moved to overflow areas as required.

Improved Infection Control

Required medication kept in a closed cabinet environment reduces exposure to the virus of all stocked items. Locking lid bins reduce the risk of exposure further as they only allow access to the medication required. The easy one touch log-in is available through use of Bio-ID so no need to hand keys between staff. There is also the option to use a password as alternative to Bio-ID. Detailed cleaning and disinfection details are available for Omnicell cabinets.

Restocking

You can use the electronic reorder function to identify restock needs even in high demand areas. There is the potential to adjust stock levels in high risk areas so exposure through restocking frequency can be reduced. As data can be seen remotely there is a reduced need for pharmacy staff to be in high risk COVID-19 areas specifically for stock management and monitoring purposes.

Freeing staff time for clinical care

By automating your medication management process, you free up nursing time for clinical care which is critically important during this pandemic. Stock counts can be done remotely by pharmacy staff as opposed to nurses on the front line. Equally better visibility and management of stock means having the right medicine in the right location at the right time, so nurses spend less time looking for medication or drug cupboard keys and more time caring for patients.

The COVID-19 virus has demonstrated how crucial it is for industry experts to work hand in hand with healthcare organizations to automate administrative process and improve efficiencies. This will ensure that front line staff are spending their time on clinical duties and patient care rather than logistical process. When we unite and work together in this way, we can transform the way we deliver healthcare to patients, even in the most difficult circumstances.

For more information visit www.omnicell.co.uk www.omnicell.de www.omnicell.fr

Omnicell secures new partnership with state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Range of in-patient systems will support Iman Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital to lead the way in Kingdom’s healthcare infrastructure transformation

Omnicell Inc (NASDAQ:OMCL), a leading provider of supply and medication management solutions and adherence tools for healthcare systems and pharmacies and its partner Gulf Medical, has announced a new partnership with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Omnicell solutions are set to manage Inpatient Pharmacy Automation throughout the facility. This will support the hospital’s drive to embrace world-class healthcare digitization in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, while further extending Omnicell’s provision of medication management expertise in the region.

Iman Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital, a new 500-bed education healthcare facility, is due to open in early 2021. As part of its integrated strategy to set new standards in healthcare services, the hospital will incorporate the following portfolio of automation solutions from Omnicell:

Automated Dispensing Cabinets – to enable smarter and safer medication management
Controlled Substance Dispenser – to increase control and security of controlled substances, high-risk and high-value medications
Anaesthesia Workstation – to enable anaesthesia providers instant access to medications and tighter control in the operating room
Anywhere RN Software – a mobile medication station which allows nurses remote access to medication management
Unity Platform – a comprehensive inventory management system for the supply and dispensing of medication via a single, shared database

These solutions will support pharmacists by automating and scheduling tasks related to medication preparation and distribution. It will reduce the burden on wider healthcare teams by ensuring they provide the right medication, of the right dose, at the right time.

Dr Abdul Salam Al-Asseri, associate professor and chief of pharmaceutical care services at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital, says: “With the dynamic advances in pharmacy practice, and with the shift in focus to patient-centred care, automation has become integral in the workplace as it will spare more time for pharmacists to spend on counselling and other patient services. It is always my priority to ensure optimum patient outcomes in an efficient manner. As such partnering with Omnicell will provide a large scale of automated solutions which can help our pharmacists to focus more on patient care and to be deeply involved with the clinicians on the floor. My administration and I look forward to investing in this partnership as the hospital prepares to open its doors for the first time early next year.”

Ivor Matthews, Omnicell Sales Director International – Indirect Markets, adds: “Our solutions significantly reduce the potential for errors and minimise the administrative burden on healthcare professionals, freeing them up to spend more time on face-to-face patient care. Both Omnicell and our partner Gulf Medical are thrilled to join forces with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital and support its commitment to healthcare digitization, as set out in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

A spokesman from Gulf Medical commented: “Since Gulf Medical Company started in 1983, the main vision was to bring the most innovative and state-of-the-art medical technology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Today, after more than three decades, that vision not only lives on but also continues to gain momentum. Thanks to our partner Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital and Omnicell who contributed with precision and excellence to enrich this vision.”

Omnicell technology has been supporting healthcare providers in the Middle East for 17 years, including King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KSA), National Guard Health Affairs (KSA) and Dubai Health Authority (UAE). Its proven and streamlined range of products and services aim to reduce medication dispensing errors, improve patient safety, drive efficiency and allow healthcare professionals to spend more time on face-to-face patient care.

Omnicell will begin to set-up and implement its systems within Iman Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Hospital over the next few months, supported by a comprehensive program of staff training, ready for the hospital’s opening in early 2021.

The unforeseen side effects of COVID-19: Understanding hair shedding in the pandemic

Expert from the Institute of Trichologists explains the reasons behind this concerning condition which is reportedly affecting an increasing number of patients who had felt they were on the road to recovery…

Fatigue, persistent cough, muscle weakness and even memory loss. These are just some of the debilitating long-term outcomes that some patients are facing in the aftermath of COVID. However, in recent weeks, a number of celebrity testimonials (such as American actress Alyssa Milano and British actress and TV personality Linda Lusardi) have brought to the fore the relatively new, yet particularly distressing side-effect of post-COVID hair shedding.

Clinical Trichologist Eva Proudman helps shed some light as to why many people who have suffered from COVID-19 are now also experiencing dramatic hair shedding (telogen effluvium) months after their initial coronavirus diagnosis.

“It’s well known that telogen effluvium – to give excess hair shedding its clinical name- can be stimulated by acute illness and high fever which explains why numerous COVID-19 patients who suffered at the critical level back in March or April may now be experiencing hair shedding. Stress, shock or trauma can also bring on telogen effluvium – emotions and experiences that many COVID-19 patients have felt during these worrying few months. Increased hair shedding will most probably be a temporary issue and, reassuringly, it is unlikely that you will permanently lose any hair. However, I do completely understand that it can be very frightening to experience and very stressful to look in the mirror and see the impact of hair shedding.

“So, if you are worried, I do urge post-COVID patients to seek medical advice – first via your GP, who should refer you to a dermatologist or recommend a specialist trichology consultation – to confirm the condition and to ensure that you are doing all you can to manage and maintain your hair to bring it back to its normal, healthy state.

“There has also been some interesting global research into the link between COVID-19 and telogen effluvium. For example, a research team at the School of Medicine at Indiana University found that almost 1/3 of 1,500 people surveyed reported hair shedding as a longer-term effect of COVID-19 symptoms. Furthermore, the School of Medicine at Uşak University in Turkey reported around a 33% increase in patients being diagnosed with alopecia in recent months compared to before the pandemic.

Eva continues; “Of course, it is not only those who have suffered with COVID-19 that are experiencing hair shedding. As I mentioned, lockdown has been a stressful and traumatic time for many of us and these emotions alone can trigger telogen effluvium. I have also seen a marked increase in cases of Alopecia Areata (patchy hair loss) across my trichology clinics due to increased stress and anxiety during this time.

Furthermore, in lockdown we have all had to adapt to spending a lot more time indoors which can restrict our access to sunlight and vitamin D.

“Hair follicles have vitamin D receptors which in simple terms stimulate hair growth, so if your vitamin D level is low or deficient then your hair is at risk of shedding excessively. Now that we have been allowed significantly more freedom to roam – and the weather has largely been so good across the UK – I strongly recommend regular outdoor activity and exercise, firstly to help lift your mood and ease your stress levels, and secondly to allow that all important access to sunlight. This can be really effective in preventing and coping with hair shedding.

“Understandably, telogen effluvium in any context can be scary for those experiencing it, and its occurrence as a post-recovery symptom of COVID-19 is just the latest unforeseen symptom to be documented after breathlessness, muscle degeneration and fatigue.

Omnicell announces progressive new software partnership with West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts

Delivering a regional, collaborative approach to improving supply chain and reducing patient harm.

Omnicell Inc (NASDAQ:OMCL), a leading provider of supply and medication management solutions and adherence tools for healthcare systems and pharmacies has announced an exciting new software partnership with the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT). The partnership will transform inventory management across six NHS trusts thanks to Omnicell’s innovative solution, SupplyX.

WYAAT is an innovative collaboration bringing together six NHS trusts which deliver acute hospital services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. WYAAT is made up of:

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

By working in partnership with each other, these local hospitals are giving patients access to the very best NHS facilities and expert staff.

This project with Omnicell is the latest step in WYAAT’s Scan4Safety programme to support improved patient safety whilst reducing the cost of care. WYAAT is home to one of the most visionary Scan4Safety programmes in the UK. It has chosen Omnicell as its sole Inventory Management Solution (IMS) across the region to help deliver consistency of practice and openly shared data.

Omnicell is fast becoming the go-to provider for gold standard inventory management software. Its range of products and services aim to:

support patient safety
drive efficiencies
cut unnecessary and costly wastage
allow healthcare professionals to direct their time into face-to-face patient care.

SupplyX: How it works

Launched in 2017, Omnicell’s software solution SupplyX is a web based, real-time stock level information dashboard and reporting suite. It links to a hospital’s reporting system to control and report on open and closed stores for both top-up and perpetual inventory management. It is coupled with a handheld scanner for remote stock management and patient data capture.

The system helps to improve the traceability of all medical supplies moving through hospitals and provides trusts with real-time data at the touch of a button via a device such as a smartphone. It reduces unforeseen stock outs through re-orders based on current stock levels rather than weekly or monthly orders. Expiry tracking and automated supplier expiry alerts flag stock to be rotated, reducing out-of-date waste.

Using the system will give trusts a clearer picture of what is happening at each hospital site, helping them to make more informed financial decisions. The software allows trusts to track and cost everything at a patient, procedure and consultant level, providing an understanding of cross-department spending and allowing for the most economic and efficient care pathways to be identified and adopted.

As well as improving patient safety in the event of any product recall, Omnicell’s SupplyX technology also reduces manual time spent on managing and ordering stock so staff time can be redirected back into face-to-face patient care.

The WYAAT & Omnicell vision

Omnicell is proud to be a part of the WYAAT vision to create a region-wide efficient and sustainable healthcare system that embraces new approaches to consistently deliver the highest quality of care and best possible outcomes for patients. As the current COVID-19 pandemic has shown, accurate and efficient supply management across NHS trusts is more important than ever.

Within WYAAT, Omnicell’s SupplyX software will be used as a regional supply chain solution with NEP, GHX and inventory functionality. It will meet the needs of clinical, supply chain and operational staff by providing a shared view of product usage and the ability to reduce clinical variation through shared reporting on practices. The data created by SupplyX will allow WYAAT staff to drive efficiency, reduce waste and improve outcomes.

Leeds is already seen as leading the way in the supply chain process. In using Omnicell’s ground-breaking technology as its sole Inventory Management System, WYAAT will achieve the same level of capability across the West Yorkshire region, bringing all six Trusts to a consistent high standard. This is because SupplyX will allow the Trusts to freely share data and products between sites. The outcome will be increased clinical efficiency and a reduction in unwarranted costs. The sharing of clinical variance regionally will also allow for improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency across the Integrated Care System.

Omnicell is delighted to be working together with WYAAT to improve supply chain and reduce patient harm in order to positively impact the West Yorkshire population of over 4 million, including 44,000 WYAAT staff.

The installation of SupplyX will start to be rolled out across WYAAT in summer 2020.

Stuart MacMillan, Scan4Safety Lead at WYAAT, comments:

“We are really excited about the relationship with Omnicell and the implementation of a regional solution for managing the supply chain processes. The solution will allow for the first time a shared, collaborative view of all stock being used in each Trust in real time, opening up the ability to share products, reduce the costs of loan kits and most importantly, improve patient outcomes. Omnicell have proven to be a true partner in this endeavour and we’re looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

David Berridge, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (LTHT) & WYAAT Programme Sponsor, comments;

“I’m passionate about improving patient outcomes across the WYAAT region and pleased to be partnering with Omnicell to achieve our ambitious aims. Throughout the process so far, Omnicell have proven to be a reliable partner who truly share our ambitions to deliver on the key aims of Scan4Safety, namely the Right Patient, Right Place, Right Product, Right Process. We look forward to the huge benefits this will bring to the patients receiving care across WYAAT.”

Ed Platt, Automation Director for Omnicell UK, comments: “I’m hugely excited for Omnicell to have this opportunity to work with WYAAT and deliver world class inventory management systems with a likeminded partner who wants to reshape how such systems are viewed in NHS. We share a goal of improving healthcare and patient safety and I’m looking forward to working with WYAAT on this visionary journey.”

Sow the seeds of gardening greatness this summer: How to be prepped for horticulture at home

It’s fair to say that gardens have become like gold dust during this particularly tropical lockdown period. Although we have now been allowed slightly more freedom to roam outside, the garden remains for many a safe haven of fresh air and relaxation. The links between positive mental health and spending time in the garden are firmly established, and gardening in particular is known to be very therapeutic for many. In fact, 45% of us are coping with lockdown by gardening.[1]

Keen gardeners have probably relished this time at home, or in their allotments, to really get the hours in perfecting their masterpieces. But a lot of newbies just getting into horticulture during lockdown, might be feeling lost about where to begin. This handy guide will help you dodge some of the unexpected pitfalls you might encounter when getting down to gardening.

Plan your plot

All the tools and no clue what to do? Before embarking on any gardening work, it’s important to work out what type of horticulture you want to pursue, whether it be vegetables, herbs, flowers or all three. Once you’ve made your decision, it’s important to scope out the right area of your garden to dedicate to planting. However, before buying any seeds or bulbs, it’s essential to clear the ground and improve the soil to make it as fertile as possible to aid great growing. Once you’re all set, make sure to select plants that are appropriate for the season to avoid disappointment. If you don’t have a garden – don’t worry! Make use of your windowsills, terraces and porches to grow either fragrant florals or low-fuss veg like cress or cherry tomatoes.

Beware of bites and stings

Unfortunately for us, insects love our gardens as much as we do – particularly in the summer months. Whether you’re at the ground-clearing stage or already beginning to water your budding plants, you’ll likely be in close contact with bugs like mosquitoes, bees, wasps, hornets and horseflies. So, it’s important to have help on hand immediately if you happen to get stung or bitten. To soothe any itching, pain or swellings caused by insect bites and stings try bite away®– it’s a completely chemical-free treatment, clinically proven[2]to relieve symptoms in just two minutes! The concentrated heat technology triggers a response in the body when applied directly to the skin, providing effective relief from the first application. Pocket-sized and boasting a long battery life, it’s easy to keep bite away® with you at all times while gardening.

Don’t give your body a battering

You might scoff at the thought of gardening being as strenuous as a sporting activity, but this really can be the case, especially if you’re a rookie. As with any sport, you should get into a routine of stretching before and after a session in the garden to warm up and cool down your muscles. Common gardening injuries include lower back pain, ligament and joint strain, and excess pressure on the knees and shoulders. To avoid this, don’t try to complete all your gardening tasks in one day – build up your time in the garden gradually and take regular breaks every 30-60 minutes. Use a knee pad or cushion when kneeling and make sure to use tools that are lightweight and sharp. It’s also important to vary your tasks throughout the day in order to avoid hours of repetitive movement. This will keep you in ship shape for all your gardening glory.

Stay sun savvy

When you’re in the thick of weeding, planting or pruning on a hot summer’s day, you’re an easy target for sunburn and heatstroke. Suffering from either of these will make gardening the next day very painful indeed, but keeping safe in the sun is simple. Apply SPF30+ sunscreen generously every few hours when out in the garden. Additionally, you should wear a cap or sunhat to protect your face and head from the sun’s glare. It’s also crucial to take regular breaks in the shade and to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Don’t become the rose in between two thorns

Depending on what you’re planting, you could be at risk of nasty cuts from thorns, prickles and spikes. Invest in a pair of high-quality gardening gloves to protect your hands and lower arms and try to wear long sleeves and trousers where possible. Bare feet are also a no no – gardening shoes will shield your feet from any unwelcome cuts or splinters. If you do happen to cut yourself, make sure you have a first aid kit on hand containing antiseptic cream and plasters to start the healing process quickly.

[1]https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/lockdown-love-wifes-allotment-hideaway/

[2]Study by Müller et al. 2011

Heads up! The Institute of Trichologists has launched its new press office

Thousands of people in the UK suffer with hair and scalp conditions such as hair loss, alopecia, psoriasis and dermatitis. These are not only physical or aesthetic problems, but they can have a serious a psychological impact too.

Whether a person has noticed that; their hair is becoming thinner, they’re losing a lot of hair, a hairline is receding, they can see worrying changes to their scalp or they’ve developed small but significant “bald” patches – it might be time to consider reaching out and consulting a Trichologist.

When you get to the root of it, trichologists are the only professional practitioners who specialise in conditions affecting the hair and scalp. Unfortunately, a GP is unlikely to specialise in these areas and as such, may misdiagnose or dismiss a condition that could respond very well to the right treatment. Trichologists pride themselves on working closely with both GPs and dermatologists in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis and relevant treatment plan – as well as having a genuine and compassionate understanding of the emotional and often debilitating effects on patients suffering with a problem of the hair or scalp.

Trichologists are trained to provide individual and personalised advice and targeted referrals, always taking into consideration possible causes such as diabetes, menopause, eating disorders, PCOS and stress.

Trinity PR is therefore delighted to announce that its now working with The Institute of Trichologists as part of a wider marketing strategy, which is aiming to secure greater regulation and standardisation across the industry.

The Institute’s team of experts can provide media comments on a range of topics relating to hair and scalp health and wellbeing. So, if you’re writing news and features about any problems affecting the hair and scalp, as well as broader industry issues (such as the current ‘return to clinic’ post-lockdown) and require expert opinion from a trichologist, please do get in touch!

And, just to “re-cap”, trichology and hairdressing are very different disciplines. Hairdressing of course, is cosmetic, closely linked to fashion and grooming whereas clinical trichology is diagnostic and therapeutic, based on medical and scientific knowledge. Some trichologists may originally come from a hairdressing background, but many do not. However, both sets of professionals certainly agree that our hair and scalp can define us. Whilst perhaps not always considered essential to general health, it can be extremely important to a person’s self-esteem and overall wellbeing.

So, if you’re looking for swift expert opinion or media case studies, please contact The Institute of Trichologists press office at Trinity PR on 020 7112 4905 / info@trinitypr.co.uk

“Eating disorders love it when you’re alone”

Trinity PR has been working with experts at the Priory Group to help raise awareness and understanding of the issues faced by those struggling with an eating disorder during this period of ‘lockdown’.

A feature in the Guardian today (18 May) by Nicola Kelly, includes insight from Priory psychotherapist, Steve Clarke, Hospital Director at Arthur House (a specialist eating disorder service based in Wimbledon which provides a space for individuals to maintain a healthy relationship with food as they return to everyday life) and Priory nutritionist, Rebecca Jennings.

Across the board, experts and eating disorder charities are warning that the pressures of the pandemic may lead to an increase in disordered eating among those already struggling

The changes to normal daily life can be particularly challenging for someone with an eating disorder or those already on the way to recovery. Routine and structure are vital, and with familiarity disrupted during the COVID-19 crisis, experts from the Priory – the largest independent provider of mental health services in the UK – are issuing advice on how people can manage anxious thoughts and distance themselves from unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Rebecca Jennings says; “It is so important for people recovering from an eating disorder at home during the coronavirus pandemic to set up a new daily routine, including elements of their previous schedule that they can still carry out.

“You may not be attending school or work, activities and social events will be on pause, and appointments may not be happening as they usually do. Be proactive and empower yourself to look after your recovery – you deserve to stay well. Write out a daily structure, setting activities hour by hour.

“We understand implicitly that what you are going through is incredibly difficult, so it is important you are compassionate with yourselves.”

Stick to the traffic light system of food shopping

Navigating food shopping during this time may also be unsettling or difficult, particularly as some supermarkets have been running low on certain items, and the options on the shelves may be not as varied as we are used to. Queuing and self-distancing regulations are also making a trip to the shops a longer and generally more frustrating experience – for everyone.

So, if you have an eating disorder or are recovering from an eating disorder, you may feel understandably nervous about whether you will be able to get your ‘safe foods’. Therefore, it may help to you to follow the so-called traffic light system. Before you go food shopping, break foods down into the following categories:

Green – safe foods
Amber – possible or manageable foods
Red – very challenging foods

If you are able to follow this when you go food shopping, you will be more prepared if something is out of stock. Where possible, take your time and work through the green items and move onto the amber foods if you need to.

Once you get home from shopping, create a meal plan based on what you have been able to buy, which is the other way round to how you will have usually done things.

Access eating disorder support

If you are receiving treatment or therapy, this may now be happening over the phone or over a video call. Try to treat these sessions as you would a face-to-face meeting, giving it your undivided attention and engaging fully in the session.

Use the time to talk about any concerns that you have related to your eating, shape and weight, and also any coronavirus-related worries, so that you can work with your doctor or therapist to address them.

You may also want to join BEAT’s “The Sanctuary”, an online group that has been set up in response to the coronavirus outbreak. This is a safe space where you can talk through your concerns and get access to peer support.

Always take the time to eat

Schedule your usual time for meals and snacks into your new daily routine. If you are a key worker, make sure that you take the time to eat during the day and evening – it is a priority.

Stopping yourself from becoming hungry can reduce the likelihood of you wanting to binge (and purge) if you suffer from bulimia or binge eating disorder (BED).

Organise time to socialise virtually

Eating disordersthrive on isolation, so don’t give it that opportunity. Give someone a daily call, as hearing a human voice can be so much more comforting than reading words on a screen. Also, set up messaging groups with your friends or family if you haven’t done so already. You may want to set up a group video call once a week, or book in a daily meal & and chat for some support.

Remember that your family and friends care about you and want to support you – this is so important to your recovery, so don’t stay silent – reach out and speak out.

Enjoy self-care and relaxation

Take the time to really look after yourself. Do things that you enjoy, which may be watching a movie, listening to a podcast, reading a book, writing in your journal or watching your favourite TV show. Try to stick to your usual self-care routine, so make sure that you get showered, get dressed, and clean your teeth. This can really help you to get in a good mind-set for the day.

Schedule in moderate exercise

You may be anxious about your lack of movement brought on by self-isolation. Remember, don’t let this affect what you eat – you don’t need to restrict your food to compensate.

Also, if you are feeling a huge amount of pressure to be fit or stay fit, it is important to be kind to yourself. Movement should be used to feel good and help our mental health, rather than to control the emotions we have around uncertain circumstances. You may want to go for a short walk, spend time in the garden, or sit by an open window to get some fresh air.

There are also many excellent yoga or meditation apps and videos online.

CRY’s 2020 Virtual Challenge

Trinity PR has always been proud and privileged to work alongside the team at Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and since 2003, has managed the charity’s busy press office and highly proactive programme of media relations and awareness raising.

2020 was always going to be a big year for CRY. A bumper year of fundraising was in place, due to the hard work and forward planning of CRY’s events team and its incredible network of volunteers and fundraisers across the UK.
And of course, 2020 also marks CRY’s 25th anniversary!

But, despite the unprecedented and potentially challenging times we currently find ourselves in (as is the case for any charity in the UK right now) #TeamCRY still believes it’s vitally important to celebrate their achievements, acknowledge how far they have come in the past 25 years and everything they have done in helping to prevent the tragedy of young sudden cardiac death.

In response to these changing times, this week CRY has launched a new “fundraising hub” which can be found on its website; www.c-r-.y.org.uk, outlining upcoming events later this year; helping to keep CRY fundraisers engaged and part of the CRY-family as well as encouraging supporters to submit Event ‘write-ups’ which will hopefully inspire other fundraisers to start planning and even ‘set the wheels in motion’ for their next fundraiser….as soon as it safe to do so.

Afterall, plans can still be made in isolation. Who knows, perhaps the most innovative, ingenious and inventive fundraiser will be dreamt up during what has become a period of enforced downtime for most of us?
Perhaps the most exciting element of CRY’s new fundraising platform is the introduction of the new 2020 Virtual Challenge.

From this month, CRY is encouraging its supporters to get involved with raising awareness of CRY, and funds (if they wish to) by taking part in the 2020 CRY Virtual Challenge.

Participants can choose any of the listed challenges (or set their own!) to complete within 20 days or by completing 20 repetitions of something all in one day.

As ever, it would be fantastic if photos and updates from the attempted challenges could be shared on social media using CRY hashtag #2020CRYChallenge.

Photos and/or videos can also be sent to CRY’s fundraising team to receive a medal for completing this challenge (events@c-r-y.org.uk). Medals will be sent as soon as it is possible to do so.

Supporters of all ages and abilities can get involved – why not choose a challenge that the whole household could take part in together?

Good luck and thank you for supporting CRY.

#staysafe #staywell #stayhome

2020 CRY Challenge

Self-isolation: The ultimate guide to looking good & staying in

It’s Spring 2020 and we Brits are currently in the midst of some uncertain and unprecedented times. 9-5 routines are being turned upside down, salons are temporarily closing their doors and we are all spending large amounts of time at home. Whether self-isolating or working at home as a precaution, we are all suddenly faced with lots of free time, and some of us are struggling to fill it.

We might only be stuck at home, but the sun and the Summer are still approaching! Who says we have to let our beauty routines go when we’ve got ample time for summer prep pampering? Our back gardens are calling, and in these uncertain times, it is nice to indulge in a bit of fun and frivolous self-care to keep ourselves positive and pass the time while we stay in and do our bit.

Luckily, we’ve compiled the ultimate head to toe guide for how to maintain your beauty routine while passing the time at home:

1. Hair hydration

Relax! For once you don’t have to make do with a hasty 10-minute shower before rushing off to work in the morning. Why not take this time at home to replenish and re-hydrate your hair with a luxurious deep conditioning hair mask? After just one application, hair masks can visibly improve the appearance of your hair and over time can banish frizz, dullness and lacklustre tresses. After your shower, towel dry your hair before applying the mask root to tip. Leave on for a few minutes while you set up your home working station, before rinsing well. This will leave you with gorgeously saturated hair without the salon price.

2. Keep coloured and carry on

Now your hair is fully hydrated, many of you will be panicking about keeping those greys at bay. Welcome to the world of at-home hair dye, which can be just as effective (and kinder on your purse) as going to the salon. In this modern age of innovation, keeping your roots in check is hardly a hassle. Root touch ups are all the rage, and it’s not hard to see why. Applied with a quick and easy brush, sponge or spritz, these handy products will keep you calm and confident about your hair for the foreseeable future.

3. Brows on fleek

It might be time to say TTFN to our monthly eyebrow wax or threading, but don’t fret – you can keep those brows just as fleeky at home. Girls, it’s time to embrace the tweezers. The precision of the pluck can help you achieve the perfect arch, and as you’re pulling from the root, the hairs take longer to grow back. If you’re used to having your brows tinted, there’s plenty you can do at home to achieve the same look. Try an eyebrow pomade for a stunning colour which you can apply lightly for a natural look or build up for some serious brow-factor.

4. Skin salvation

Self-isolation or not, good skincare is essential at all times. Why not use this time to bulk up your usual routine? As well as the regular cleanse, tone and moisturise, be extra kind to your skin. Think hot cloth cleansers and face masks galore – who needs the spa when the spa can come to you? Hot cloth cleansers are fab on two fronts: the hot cloth gently exfoliates the skin while the hot water opens your pores to eradicate excess oil. Face masks have a multitude of benefits including increased hydration, evening out the skin tone, and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.

5. Get the glow

You can still achieve that sun kissed golden glow you’ve been dreaming about since December with easy use self-tan products. If you’re after a natural look, try a gradual tan moisturiser and watch it develop steadily over a week or two. If you’re a real sun junkie and want a more intense bronze, we recommend a self-apply express fake tan product. They’re easy and convenient to use, and your tan will develop over approximately 8 hours for a striking bronze glow. This will give you the confidence to lay out in your back garden in your best bikini as if you were lounging by the pool on holiday.

6. Be sweet to your feet

Worried about foregoing your regular pedicure? Don’t worry – products like Footner Exfoliating Socks bring the experience and the results of a pedicure to your home. Pop the socks on for 60 minutes while you get on with some work or watch some Netflix, and within 7-10 days any hard, dead skin will actually peel off your feet, revealing a layer of soft, smooth and rejuvenated skin underneath. As we’ve all got some spare time, this is the perfect time to show your feet some love. You can still rock your favourite sandals in the garden or round the house as we head into summer.

Who’s caring for our carers?

Trinity PR is honoured to be doing some PR work on a pro bono basis for new charity HEROES, which supports NHS staff on the frontline of the Coronavirus crisis. #ThankYouNHS

New UK-wide appeal – HEORES – mobilises within days to bring support to NHS staff serving on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis

Trinity PR is so proud to be supporting the family and friends of London-based NHS doctor, Dr Dominic Pimenta, who have inspired the launch of new fund which aims to deliver vital support to all NHS workers who are currently working to treat affected patients as well as helping to curb the spread of COVID-19.

HEROES: Help them Help Us; has almost over £125,000 (of an initial target of £1,000,000) within the first few days of going live, immediately winning the support and endorsement of former Premiership footballer, Joe Cole, who has already stepped up as an official Ambassador of the appeal.

He says; “This is a fantastic new initiative set up to support the frontline NHS workers, the men and women ‘digging in’ for us in very difficult circumstances. We, the British public can help with this. It is a call of our generation to stick together.”

The new platform will support our frontline NHS workers in three ways:

• by facilitating the delivery of food via existing delivery infrastructure (restaurants, commercial kitchens and food service businesses)
• by obtaining PPE (certified personal protective equipment) including masks, gloves, gowns, and protective eyewear and working closely with Government and the NHSE to ensure targeted delivery
• by providing vital human health and well-being services, such as accredited counselling, emergency childcare, and transport and food drops where needed

Rebecca Pimenta, part of the team behind the pioneering project explains; “Never have we been more called to pause our own dreams and ‘day jobs’ for a different kind of calling. Our NHS staff have become our frontline soldiers in this fight against COVID19. Now is the time to set aside our own agendas for a greater cause, turning our skills into ways that can support. To help them, help us.”

The appeal was officially launched earlier this week (Tues 24 March) with the projection of an emotive, short film onto the iconic White Cliffs of Dover to represent the national support for the NHS and the unfaltering efforts of its staff – from cleaners to Consultants – as they pull together to “go to into battle” on behalf of every citizen of the UK.
But the campaign isn’t about symbolism, it’s about very real and tangible aid that can be delivered swiftly and without unnecessary bureaucracy to those in need via small grants and immediate actions.

As well as much needed food drops to NHS staff (before, during and after shifts,) the international cosmetics company, Estee Lauder has announced its donation of 500 FFP3 masks, to be distributed in partnership with Central Government to second line healthcare workers, in particular GPs and minor injury units in London.

And, as the campaign gains momentum (with live interviews already featured on BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain and range of national publications) these offers are just the first of many. They are flooding in…

Dr Dominic Pimenta, who helped to inspire the launch of HEROES concludes; “We are dedicated to a single ideal, ‘anything that makes an NHS workers life better’. NHS workers are on the frontline of a war, and they aren’t soldiers. There’s so much goodwill and support for the NHS right now, we just want to make sure their energy gets where it needs to go.

He adds; “This crisis will see many of my colleagues face the most challenging time of their lives. The government and management are swamped already, so we set up HEROES to support the frontline workers for now and far into the future. We must do all we can to protect and defend it at this difficult time.
“I am constantly inspired by the goodwill and support of the people we speak to. It’s a difficult time but we can get through this, together.”

To join the effort or to sign up as a partner, visit www.helpthemhelpus.co.uk

To donate instantly to the appeal, please click here: gofundme

The HEROES* launch film (which was also projected onto the iconic White Cliffs as a sign of unity can be found and shared on Instagram: helpthemhelpus

*Healthcare; Extraordinary; Response; Organisation; Education; Support

Better than ever range of low and no alcohol alternatives drives new decade’s mindful drinking movement

• 44% of people in the UK have pledged to drink more mindfully this year
• Temptation Friday is here – where most Brits “fall off the wagon”
• New pub guide highlights the best places to access low & no alcohol – near you

This weekend is the last of January 2020, and for many people who have taken on challenges like Dry January, temptation can get in the way of the best laid plans for moderation.

However, 2020 marks the start of a new decade in which it is easier than ever to continue on the path of more mindful drinking as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle. In fact, new research has revealed that 44% of adults in the UK have pledged to drink more mindfully this year, with this number rising to 71% among the younger generation (18-34). These statistics reflect the remarkable growth of the ‘low and no alcohol’ drink category in the UK in recent years. Volumes of low and no alcohol beer alone has grown by a huge 232% in just five years (2013-2018) and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Responding to increasing consumer demands, there is now a vast and diverse range of high-quality low and no alcohol beers available in pubs, restaurants and in supermarkets. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) reports that there were 57 million pints of low and no alcohol beer sold in 2018. If growth continues at the same rate as for the previous three years, the BBPA expects sales for 2019 to be as high as 75 million pints when volumes are reported later this year.

For those struggling to stick to Dry January or for those considering healthy lifestyle options, these low and no options make it possible to still take part in social activities – such as going to the pub for a drink with your friends – while maintaining mindful drinking habits. Furthermore, a lack of high-quality non-alcoholic drink options has previously made moderating your alcohol intake for reasons including health, driving, and cultural outlook more difficult. This can also result in people missing out on opportunities to meet and socialise with friends, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Research by the Campaign for Real Ale supports this belief and finds that those that who have access to a local pub feel happier and more engaged with their local community.

However, a new survey carried out last week shows that people are embracing mindful drinking socially; in fact, 45% of people saying they would feel comfortable choosing a low or no alcohol option down their local pub. While this is good news, there are still some social situations, such as a wedding (38%), stag do (29%) or first date (33%), which prove more of a challenge when openly ordering a low and no alcohol drink. Interestingly, the survey revealed that more men (49%) than women (41%) are planning on moderating their drinking in the year ahead. Despite this, men are less comfortable than women to order a low and no alcohol drink at the bar (37% vs. 51%).

The survey also threw up some interesting regional variations:

– Londoners are the most likely to be moderating their drinking in the year ahead (67%) with the Welsh the least likely to be adopting this trend (29%).

– The region with the second lowest percentage of people planning to moderate their drinking in the year ahead is Yorkshire and Humber (36%), while the second highest is North East England (52%).

So, with the abundance of low and no alcohol options now available in pubs, there are even more reasons to spend time with your friends at these important convivial hubs. The mindful drinking movement Club Soda has even compiled a comprehensive ‘Pub Guide’, detailing all the all the best hotspots across the UK for low and no alcohol options.

Commenting on the expanding diversity and availability of low and no alcohol beers, Technical Operations Policy & Membership Lead at the BBPA and Beer Sommelier Steve Livens says, “The current range of low and no alcohol beers are the best they have ever been in the UK, with brewers increasingly bringing new, innovative and high-quality products to market.. Deciding to drink more mindfully has never been easier, with more and more pubs in the UK stocking low and no versions of beer whether on draught or in bottle. Consumers can now confidently head to their local to order their new favourite ‘low and no’ beer.”

Some great-tasting alternative beers to look out for in the year ahead include:

– Heineken 0.0, Alcohol Free
– Peroni Libera, Alcohol Free
– St Peters Without Elderberry & Raspberry, Alcohol Free
– Harviestoun Brewery Wheesht, Alcohol Free
– Innis & Gunn’s Innis & None, Alcohol Free

Laura Willoughby, Co-Founder and Director at Club Soda comments, “Pubs and bars have really raised their game over the last few years. The number of venues scoring 5 on clubsodaguide.com has rocketed and the mindful drinkers are consciously nominating venues they think care about their experience. It is all about choice and no and low drink options give customers flexibility. Nobody wants to stop going out just because they are cutting back and the industry is working hard to make sure people are not staying at home!”

For more information visit https://beer-and-health.co.uk/ and https://joinclubsoda.com/

The Loneliest Cancer: Charity calls for greater awareness and clarity to tackle the tragedies of rare cancer

New report exposes the unwarranted obstacles faced by sarcoma patients today

A comprehensive new report launched today (Tuesday 26th November 2019) and commissioned by the charity Sarcoma UK reveals how this little-known and commonly misunderstood cancer has a devastating impact on its patients and their families, from diagnosis through to treatment. And yet, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the charity, 75% of people “do not know what sarcoma is”.

Sarcomas are tumours that develop in the cells of either the body’s soft tissue or bones and they can appear in almost any part of the body. Over 5,300 people are diagnosed with sarcoma in the UK every year. This is a tenth of those found with breast cancer, meaning that those diagnosed with sarcoma might never meet someone who shares the same type as them; in many ways, sarcoma is the loneliest cancer.

The report explores this rare, easily misdiagnosed cancer that only has a limited number of treatment options available and reveals how it can make the patient journey isolating, frightening and traumatic for many.
The report has found that a lack of awareness of sarcoma among the general public and healthcare professionals – as well as silent symptoms – can lead to late or misdiagnosis, often with heart-breaking consequences. Indeed, only 55% sarcoma patients survive for five or more years after diagnosis. Expert opinion in the report finds that confusion, anxiety and anger are prevalent among people diagnosed with sarcoma; they are often bewildered and crushed by the news because for most of them, ‘it’s a cancer they have never even heard of’.

Sarcoma is so rare, even doctors can sometimes struggle to identify it. According to Claire Kelleher, Sarcoma UK’s Director of Information and Support, “Sarcoma presents unique challenges for healthcare professionals not faced when dealing with other cancers, and the consequences of this can make patients feel helpless and alone. It’s so uncommon that a GP might only ever see one in their whole career”. In fact, by the time most people are diagnosed, their sarcoma is approximately the size of a large tin of baked beans (10cm).

At present there are 16 specialist sarcoma centres in the UK, and Sarcoma UK runs its own support helpline (which has taken 5,500 calls and 1,500 emails since it was set up in 2016). Over the past two years, the charity has led the work towards collating and improving the quality of the data available around sarcoma incidence in the UK. Unfortunately, the report has underlined that this is proving difficult because it is believed only 37% of NHS data on sarcoma patients’ stage is complete. The charity believes that opaque, inaccurate figures on sarcoma can be a catastrophic barrier to improving treatment options. The NHS Long Term Plan, highlighted earlier this year, is calling for 75% of all cancers to be diagnosed at stages I and II in the next ten years. Although a welcome ambition, with only one third of sarcoma patients having their stage of sarcoma recorded, this again highlights how important it is to vastly improve the quality of sarcoma data recording.

As the report underlines, there are over 100 sub-types of sarcoma – there is no one size fits all treatment. Numbers of those diagnosed with each sub-type are relatively small so investment into research is low and recruitment to clinical trials is poor. Due to the nature of this cancer, aggressive surgery (particularly amputation) is often the first line of treatment alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Usually serious or life-altering, surgery can have a long-term traumatic impact on patients. Even for those who do not need an amputation, surgery can leave their body badly disfigured. The scars from such surgeries are not only physical but can cause long-term if not life-long emotional issues, such as not wanting to socialise or not feeling able to carry on working.

Additional findings from the report include:

• Little progress has been made in recent years in developing successful sarcoma-specific treatments. Often, non-specific cancer drugs are used, and new medications trialled such as olaratumab have been withdrawn due to a lack of discernible clinical benefit.

• However, there is some cause to be optimistic about the future. Larotrectinib, a new ‘tumour-agnostic’ drug, was given European approval this autumn and could be a game-changer in terms of improving sarcoma prognosis. A decision on approval for a second drug designed to target changes in cancer cells called entrectinib is also imminent.

• Next year, the UK’s second Proton Beam Therapy centre is due to open at University College London Hospital. Alongside The Christie in Manchester, experts are due to see 750 sarcoma patients every year. Its precise high intensity beams make it a particularly viable treatment for children and patients with head and neck tumours.

• Innovative new projects are being funded by Sarcoma UK every year, including research by lead investigator Dr Richard Martin, Deputy Director, Aston Institute of Materials Research at Aston University, Birmingham into bioactive glass (a potentially cancer-killing bone replacement) and a project led by Matthew Allen, Professor of Small Animal Surgery in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge which could help improve our understanding of the disease in dogs (in whom sarcoma is ten times more likely) and in humans.

Richard Davidson, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK comments, “Appallingly, this destructive cancer has maintained a low profile until now even though lives are still being lost or devastated by amputations and invasive treatments. 15 people each day in the UK receive the shattering news that they have sarcoma. Sadly, bone cancers are more common in children and young adults with about 670 cases a year. With greater general awareness, diagnosis could be quicker. Currently, treatments are basic and decades old, and could be more effective. With increased funding for pioneering research survival rates could be improved and the suffering caused by this rare and often cruel cancer would diminish.”

The full report can be found at https://sarcoma.org.uk/loneliest-cancer-report

Sarcoma UK Support Line Specialists are here for every person affected by sarcoma. Monday to Friday, 10am – 3pm. Phone: 0808 801 0401 or email supportline@sarcoma.org.u

“Imagine being diagnosed with a cancer that no-one has heard of”… Letter to Editor from Paralympian and Sarcoma UK patron Richard Whitehead MBE

Dear Editor,

Imagine being diagnosed with a cancer that no-one has heard of, that even your doctor might never have seen before. This is the case for over 5,300 people in the UK diagnosed with sarcoma every year. This is a tenth of those found with breast cancer, meaning that those diagnosed with sarcoma might never meet someone who shares the same type as them; in many ways, sarcoma is the loneliest cancer.
Sarcomas are tumours that develop in the body’s soft tissue or bones and they can appear in almost any part of the body.

I am all too aware of the devastating impact of sarcoma as my close friend and mentor Simon Mellows tragically died of the disease. He was a constant inspiration to me and was instrumental in my journey from running my first marathon to becoming the world record-holder for leg amputees and 200m Paralympic champion.
As patron of Sarcoma UK, I am supporting the launch of a new report which I hope goes some way to raising awareness among the general public and healthcare professionals of the condition and silent symptoms which can lead to late or misdiagnosis, often with heart-breaking consequences. Indeed, only 55% sarcoma patients survive for five or more years after diagnosis.

With greater general awareness, diagnosis could be quicker, treatment could be more effective and funding for pioneering research could be increased. Lives in the UK could genuinely be saved and at the very least cut the suffering caused by this rare, aggressive and often cruel cancer.

If you want more information on our new report or symptoms of sarcoma visit: sarcoma.org.uk.

Richard Whitehead MBE
Paralympian & Patron of Sarcoma UK

New trade association launches to drive the charge for regulation in the CBD industry

Members sign up to Charter for a legal, safe and regulated cannabinoid industry

Following an extensive 6-month consultation with key stakeholders since the release of a landmark report “CBD in the UK”, a new trade association is being launched today (Friday 8th November) at a ground-breaking CBD Summit. The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis’ conference sees the launch of the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), a platform which brings together leading businesses and experts committed to fostering a legally compliant, socially responsible and innovative CBD industry, which puts customers’ safety first.

The ACI has far-reaching plans towards creating a legal and safe, regulated industry in the UK including a new Quality Charter. Signatories will commit to a framework of legal compliance and quality controls, primarily based on a recent decision by the European Commission to classify all extracts of hemp and derived products containing cannabinoids (including CBD) as Novel Foods. To guide companies through the complex legal compliance pathway for authorisation as a Novel Food via the Food Standards Authority (FSA), the ACI has entered into a partnership with award winning regulatory consultants Global Regulatory Services (GRS).

Ultimately, the ACI aims to introduce a first-of-its-kind kitemark which will appear on products which meet its standards and assurances on product quality, efficacy and safety to retailers stocking and distributing CBD products and to increase customer trust.

The CBD Summit marks the publication of the foundation of this new association – the first draft Quality Charter which is comprised of 7 pillars:
1. Legal Frameworks
2. Testing
3. Labelling
4. Manufacturing
5. Controlled drugs
6. Marketing ethics
7. Sustainability and social impact

Shomi Malik, Development Director, CMC, comments, “In what is fast becoming a moment of reckoning for this industry, our unequivocal commitment is to provide the required stewardship to support the development of a legal and safe, regulated cannabinoid industry in the UK. Today’s announcements represent another key milestone on this path.”

Dr Andy Yates, CMC Pharmacy Lead comments, “There is no ambiguity in what the regulators want – they want fully legally compliant products on the market. As we have long advocated, the doors have closed for the current approach used by some manufacturers by claiming that the rules are somehow different for the cannabis industry. This new initiative exists to ensure that our members are fully compliant to an agreed set of terms with the relevant regularly bodies, ensuring consumer can continue to access legal, safe and quality CBD products. Those who sign up to the ACI Charter will need to put their products under intense, but necessary scrutiny, analysing manufacturing process, assessing claims and using where required toxicology studies to prove a product is safe.”

In the coming months, the focus of the organisation will be on further building its resources to maintain the integrity of these new industry standards and conduct the first round of audits of members to ensure they are collectively delivering on them. Throughout this process the ACI will continue to consult and engage intelligently with policy makers, regulators and other relevant stakeholders to steer members through a challenging and often complex regulatory environment.

Dr Parveen Bhatarah, Regulatory and Compliance Lead, CMC adds, “It’s imperative that this industry has a robust, standard analytical testing method to measure cannabinoid content within different CBD-based products. Any company in this space will no doubt have faced a number of problems when analysing cannabis products. If there is no standardisation, there is no recourse for companies or customers to question test results. The lack of standardisation is hurting the industry’s ability to present cogent arguments on key matters such as defining ‘zero-detectable THC’; the CMC’s efforts in addressing this broad-ranging subject is significant for the industry to move forward.”

Sarah Gaunt, Global Regulatory Services comments, “We want to encourage companies to apply for authorisation via a package of robust data that meets all the safety standards for a novel food. Supporting ACI members to do this is crucial – it’s a complex, lengthy, but absolutely vital process to ensure we have an industry based on high quality products. This new ACI Charter is the first step towards a legally compliant CBD industry which could become the gold standard for the rest of the world.”

Cannabidiol, known more commonly as CBD, has seen a notable rise in consumer demand in recent years, leading to an influx of products available largely online, in high street health food stores and pharmacies. According to a study by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC), the UK CBD market was shown to be worth £300m currently, and its double-digit growth each year has led to market value expectations of almost £1bn by 2025.

The ACI is an initiative led by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis. Over the course of the past six months the CMC have, with its members’ support, been undertaking a wide-ranging review of the UK CBD sector. This has included commissioning the most comprehensive market sizing exercise, a product testing review with The Times and the first ever opinion poll to establish public attitudes to the CBD market and its products.

To read the ACI charter in full and watch the accompanying explanatory video visit the new website https://www.theaci.co.uk/