Scotland are the Hogmanay world champions

Scotland's world famous capital, Edinburgh, from Calton Hill

Scotland was, is and always will be, with the grace of God, the greatest nation in the world when it comes to bringing in the New Year. And you'd have to be very churlish to dispute with that.

While Edinburgh will understandably be top of the global league when it comes to ringing in the bells, lets not just not forget, but celebrate the contribution that every village, town and other city brings to Scotland's stunning success at this time of the year.

I've just come back from Scotland's newest city, Perth. The atmosphere in town was one of excitement. With the bagpipes dominating the city in combination with the Scottish sunshine and the inevitable soaking up of the beautiful and tranquil views of the crisp of Scotland's longest river, who couldn't feel a sense of excitement about tonight? You'd have to be a bitter and stubborn individual not to feel anything.

Scotland's newest city, Perth, earlier today

Hogmanay is Scots for the final day of the year. It is a time of happiness, hope and forward looking reflection to the future. And even if you aren't in Scotland tonight, regardless of who you are or where you are from, Scotland will never be far away from you. Auld Lang Syne, quite probably Robert Burns' most famous poem ever, will be recited in every last home, street and party. The poem is symbolic about everything that is good about New Year, Scotland and the Scottish people.

Tonight tens of thousands of people around the world will be firing up a stunning atmosphere in the Scottish capital and thousands more will be lining the streets of Glasgow and Aberdeen with more celebrations taking place all over the nation. And it would be very terrible of me not to mention the traditional and much loved fireball ceremony in Stonehaven.

I couldn't be ever more grateful for being Scottish. Its one of the most beautiful blessings in my life.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

Me reading Sky Sports News

I thought I'd share this with you. What do you think?

When did you last buy a pair of trainers?

My current pair of trainers, bought in September 2006

David Cameron and George Osborne would be very proud of me. I've been very much subscribed to austerity in recent times.

And its not even just now but I would argue even going back a long time. Especially when it comes to the use of my trainers. I've had my basketball Nike shoes as my only regular pair of trainers since...September 2006.

Six years and three months. That's right seventy five months since I last bought a pair of trainers. I'm proud.

I could attribute that to my past experience as a sports sales assistant where I learned the art of preserving shoes in a good condition at a once famous sports retailer. But accurately its been down to complete and total luck. I've only cleaned those shoes at least twice. And for the rest of time, I've put those poor pair of trainers through mud, rain, snow and sand.

Some people proudly declare their pride for their wardrobe of shoes, spending thousands upon thousands of pounds. Maintaining their collection of pairs and pairs of shoes in different shapes and sizes. Shoes of different colours. And shoes for different uses.

But whilst those people spend their income dazzling themselves with a new pair of shoes, I've only bought five pairs of shoes since buying my current trainers. One pair which I've just described. Another which I wear for special occasions. Another which I wore for a temporary period of time for work. Another which I also wear for work now but used to wear for special occasions. And another pair which I've only ever wore once in public. And that's it.

But this week I've come under pressure for keeping this one pair of trainers for such a long time. All week I've been telling them that my position remains stubborn. I'm not buying a pair. I don't want to. I don't feel I need to. I just don't have the enthusiasm to do so. I know they want the best for me but I think they are beginning to think that I'm just taking things a little too far by refusing to treat myself to a new pair of trainers.

And I'm beginning to review my stubbornness. Am I really needing to get a grip? To be honest, I'm going to give in somehow if they don't stop encouraging me to give up my current pair of trainers for a new pair. But, to be honest, I don't see the point when my current trainers are just fine.

When was the last time you bought a pair of trainers?

Are single people hated?

Image courtesy of graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In life, I think there are two different groups of people who are single.

A - those who don't mind it, or even love it.
B - those who do mind it and feel they haven't got much of a choice but to live as a single person.

Almost two months ago, BBC News published a thought provoking article titled "Why are couples so mean to single people?", written by James Friel, which explores being single.

Now, I would never like to think that I am some kind of advocate for negativity but on this occasion I cannot resist. And to those who love their single status or even to some people who are married or in a relationship, then I'm afraid to warn you that my viewpoint here is going to be very biased.

Many people fit into group B rather than group A. Many people don't like being single (some people I think pretend they don't mind but I can only suspect that they really do). And many people even feel ashamed, walking around like an abject failure thinking what they've done to deserve being forced getting stuck being single.

But these people are free of any blame. And they should never be blamed.

Because the last thing they deserve is to be looked down upon or even laughed at by other people, particularly those in a relationship, simply because they have nobody in their life. Its not funny. Its a tragedy frankly. I'm even going to go much further and condemn this kind of behaviour as an absolute and completely despicable obscenity.

Even being asked why on earth a single person is single can stretch the elastic band a little too far, however at the same time, I can really only guess that probably not everyone who is single resents being asked that. Some actually need someone to initiate a conversation in order to achieve an opportunity to express themselves over their desires for a healthy and happy love life. After all, its good to talk.

Sadly there are maybe too many couples where it seems they are largely unsympathetic and even arrogant. I pray for them. But many people have enough humility to wish the best for other human beings who are on the search for their perfect partner, especially when the going gets tough. I absolutely resent this intoxicating nonsense that people wish for the worst for other people - its so inhumane and immoral to think like that. And thankfully many people don't think like that at all, contrary to what others claim.

But as heartbreaking the issue is, thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things do happen for a reason after all.

It may be worth taking a few of these tips on board:

- Keep looking your best, always. Looks count and people will judge you by your appearance.
- Don't keep questioning yourself. Just be who you want to be. But don't be a negative individual.
- Do things that satisfy you. Like becoming a volunteer for a charity, taking up a sport or learning a language.
- Go and build yet sustain yourself a stable social circle and find some great friends.

For those people who genuinely love being single, their choice in life is very much respected and its good to see that they are enjoying life and their single status.

For everyone else however, there is bound to be someone for everyone in the future, even during the most pessimistic and dark of times. Surely?

The beauty of the Basket Brigade at Christmas!

Image courtesy of Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Christmas is not too far away now and many people will be waking up looking forward to the festivities of tomorrow, the presents underneath the tree, the juicy turkey and, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's speech on her Diamond Jubilee year.

But for many people, Christmas will be a bitter, difficult and lonely experience. With the global economic crisis taking its toll on individuals and families, many people cannot afford to fully take part in the celebrations. With the loss of loved ones, many older people will be alone this festive season. With the threat of re-possessions and the occurrence of other unfortunate circumstances, many people will be homeless. Such obscene injustice. Such inhumanity. Such sadness.

However, a group of heroic individuals across these islands and beyond have played their part to ensure that they can put a smile on those people's faces. During my time in Birmingham, I had the pleasure and joy of attending the Birmingham Yes Group. Running on the first Thursday of each month, individuals from many walks of life get together to engage in positive thinking and building a positive style in their lives so that they can move forward.

The group is run voluntarily and every month a speaker provides a talk in front of the audience - there are a variety of styles and topics of speeches, from how to see life in a positive way, how to adopt techniques to make life more enjoyable and productive, how to adopt techniques to handle potentially negative and difficult situations and how to achieve sustained happiness in life.

Every year at Christmas time, the Yes Group in Birmingham run the annual Birmingham Basket Brigade. Basket Brigade is a phenomenon initiated by motivational speaker Tony Robbins and since it began it has grown! In 2011, the Birmingham group helped 300 families, delivering food hampers to each of them. Robbins himself once said:

“Everyone has a need to contribute. It is one of the six human needs. If you give from your heart, it will come back to you tenfold.”

Tony Robbins


Many other Yes Groups all over the country and beyond run very similar events. This really is the symbolic of what an event like Christmas should be all about. Thinking about others. Putting yourself in other people's shoes. Humbling yourself. The world is full of so many problems that should never have existed in the first place and Christmas should be a time when people should put their own priorities aside and think about others.

These people are an absolute asset to our planet and I salute them enormously.

Happy Christmas!

No status quo for Scotland

Scotland, if it chooses to vote 'No' in the forthcoming 2014 independence referendum, will still see some sort of substantial change in the amount of devolution that it will possess as a nation. 

I read a very fascinating article on The Guardian website earlier this week written by Mark Sneddon. A former Conservative MEP, John Stevens,  suggested that David Cameron could still offer maximum devolution to Scotland, yet save the union from breaking up AND finally address the West Lothian question.

It really got me thinking and last night I was asked why I came to the assertion I made in my first paragraph of this article. After all, why wouldn't the current Prime Minister want to make a piece of substantial British history? It may even define his premiership for his own benefit for his legacy. 

And as for Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, it would mean he could claim to have brought Scotland just one step closer to independence. Or he could claim to have brought "home rule with independence" as quoted from his March 2012 address during the Scottish National Party conference. That would be independence in terms of fiscal autonomy if some commentators prefer to interpret that phrase that way.

What Scotland can't, and shouldn't end up with, is absolutely no change from the current status quo. Because it would mean the last few years of hard and passionate debate will have all gone in vain.

Being on ITV's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?"

Tonight on ITV1, STV and UTV, Chris Tarrant returns with a Christmas edition of long running quiz show "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?". Already in its 15th year, the show has broken records all over the world, has become a international institution, has even featured as part of a running theme of a smash hit film and, to this day, continues to pull in millions of viewers all over the United Kingdom.

Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

I've grown up with the quiz. I was barely 10 years old when the show first aired on ITV in September 1998. Nobody predicted then that the show would go on to become a hit in the United States, Australia, India, China, Japan, all over Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa. I've auditioned for the show twice and been in the studio audience at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, no less than four times!

Watching the show on television and shouting out all the answers in front of your television screen is one thing. But being there and watching the contestants play for real money, live, is quite another. And I've loved it so much hence the reason I just keep going back and back for more. In this article, I take you on a tour of what a typical recording of the ITV quiz show is like.

The evening begins queuing to get into the studio at around 5pm. Although the show recording doesn't normally take place until later on in the evening, you do need to get there early in order to increase the likelihood of you getting a decent seat in the studio audience so that your gorgeous face can show up on television. Now I've been to the show at different points during the year so especially if you are going to a recording during the colder months, you do have to make a sacrifice in waiting in the cold if you want to get a decent seat.

Once you are permitted to enter the studio premises then its a quick case of nipping to the loo before your mobile phone is taken off you. This is to ensure that no foul play ever does take place on the set and the production team at Elstree Studios and Victory Television (who produce Millionaire) are extremely strict on this especially. The last thing they, or anybody want, is for a contestant's winnings to be invalidated simply because the rules are not fully enforced.

Then the exciting bit comes - entering the studio. Situated at Studio 9, you enter through the door and then go up a set of artificially built steps before the set appears in front of your very eyes. The first thing you will inevitably notice is that the set looks much smaller than it does on the television programme. That's because the technical crew find very unique ways to make the set look bigger on the television.

Then a team of very lovely people who look after the studio audience will then guide you to a suitable place in the studio audience. Three out of the four shows I attended, I sat in either of the two front rows behind host Chris Tarrant. But don't be upset if you don't get into the front rows because there is still every chance of you appearing on the show through 'Ask The Audience' and through other studio shots during the programme.

And then the main star of the show enters the arena - Ray Turner. Well he's not the main host, but he plays a major role during the evening. He is the warm up man. He does a lot of warm up roles for other ITV shows such as The Cube. But he's been at the helm alongside his best mate Chris since the 4th September 1998 and still does the warm up duties to this very day (and I assume he will be there tonight in Elstree!).

Ray has an eclectic and wild mix of jokes, one liners and generally likes to play around, much to the amusement of the studio audience. He even conducts the pre-show warm up where he gets the audience to cheer, clap and awww. During this time, the crew prepare the glasses of water and the team behind the scenes in the technical area prepare the electronic screens, questions and all the other technical areas for Chris and the contestants.

And then, the big moment. The arrival of Chris Tarrant. He gets his own music cue and applause from the audience when he enters the set. Now at this point I have an anecdote to share.

In the second recording which I attended, which was a live soap star special, I happen to have sat in the hot seat because Ray needed a member of the audience to volunteer and play for a virtual million. As I was about to be asked my question, Chris was then introduced and looked rather bemused at the sight of me, much to the hilarity of the audience. Then something else caught his eye - my hair. He couldn't believe how much gel I put on my head and even queried whether it was even gel! At least I could say that I've been on the receiving end of Tarrant's wit. He was on top form. And I was even greeted by EastEnders star Joe Swash and provoked the attention of Coronation Street stars Kym Marsh and Jamie Lomas, because of my controversial hair. Never has hair gel allured much attention.

In my first recording, which was a normal programme for civilian contestants, the host simply made his first entrance during the start of the recording where he makes his way to his chair before the lights dim down and the music stops. However for the rest of the recordings, which were celebrity specials, Mr Tarrant made his entrance before the recording commenced. And also, the celebrity contestants were introduced to the audience before the show began and a trailer was recorded to fit in with the introduction titles. And then, it was show time.

In the quiz, there are three lifelines - '50:50', 'Phone a Friend' and 'Ask The Audience'. A fourth lifeline was introduced on a permanent basis in 2010 called 'Switch' for use after the £50,000 level where if a contestant did not like the look of a question then they could 'switch' the question for a new one (but it could only be used once).

That's myself after my third recording (Dec 2011)

During 'Ask The Audience', our input counts for everything. We are supplied with an electronic voting keypad (and during recent recordings, four different pieces of paper with the letters A, B, C and D were also supplied to each audience member and were only needed, if the voting keypad technology failed. Believe it or not, on two occasions in the last six months, it has failed and a "Ready Steady Cook" style of voting was adopted). When the lifeline is in use then Chris asks us the question again and provides the four possible answers and then once he says we can vote then every audience member caste their vote. The results are then projected onto the screen for everyone to see. Most of the time, a majority of the audience go with the one answer. And on some occasions, one or two members of the audience vote one way (and are normally wrong). I've been one of those people at least once.

Once recording is complete then the show is over and then both Ray and Chris thank the contestants, the crew and us the audience for coming along for the evening. We then all get our mobile phones back and leave Elstree Studios reflecting on an amazing night of fun, banter and tricky questions.

Lost in TV normally provides the tickets for the show and for many other TV shows. The tickets are normally free of charge. Just turn up on the night with your ticket and have yourself a unique night of fun!

Is dating awkward?

The comedian David Mitchell once said, "The problem is I hate the dating thing, I just find it incredibly awkward."

Personally, I do not engage in dating because of my religious beliefs. However, many more people do and its a topic that I think people often get a bit funny about for a variety of reasons.

To explore the issue, lets imagine a hypothetical situation where you have been invited for a date with someone from the opposite gender and you have confirmed a time and a place to meet. Your heart rate speeds up a little faster, your blood pressure elevates slightly, your nerves become more active, your eyes dilate and become a little bigger and your imaginative mind leaps out of the blue and runs as wild as a kangaroo!

From the moment the date is confirmed up until the point you both intend to meet each other, the excitement within your existence builds up gradually until the meeting. Or it could shoot through the roof before it turns into anxiety, fear and questions such as "what if I end up saying the wrong thing upsetting the other person?" to "what if the other person immediately never wants to see me again?" or even  "what if I spill the whole bowl of soup over my clothing during the starter?!"

Once you gather yourself together and buy the necessary clothing (or if you aren't willing to spend a penny and use your existing wardrobe) and get through your life up until the date then the real action begins.

The first step of doing anything in life, whether its driving a car or starting a course at college or university, seems to be the toughest part. And I can only imagine that a date is very much the same. Now I'm a man so please forgive me ladies but I'm going to provide my own point of view but I am sure that you can relate to much of what I am saying.

Walking up to the venue is a horrifying experience. Your legs are like jelly. Your brain is still producing conflicting thoughts about how the evening may go. And your sweat glands are on standby temporarily before they try to have some say on the matter!

And then, there's the greeting stage. Your smile is slightly hindered by the sheer resistance of your nerves. You focus on the other person as if you are behind the wheel of a car whilst undertaking your driving test. And this is also, I would argue, the most important stage. This is the stage which gives you a clue as to whether the date will be a successful one or whether you've lost your luck before you say the word "hello".

Next is the part when the gentleman puts himself second to the lady. The lady is the Queen. She sits first. You sit last. No arguments there. After all, you aren't Mr Bean.

And then comes to culinary delights of the place you've chosen to get to know each other in. Remembering to eat at a moderate speed, not talking too much, ensuring you don't permit the spaghetti bolognese any chance to sneakily jump from your cutlery and onto your designer shirt. Who said eating a meal was easy?

And then, a big hurdle looms...the bill. Who pays? Personally, some people think it should be split 50/50. But many more think the man should wave the flag for chivalry and pay the whole bill. Personally, if I were in a situation (lets say when I hopefully become a married husband) then I wouldn't dare allow my wife to pay for the bill. Because if I did, then I deserve nothing more than to shower myself in shame.

Once you get over the hurdle then its a matter of whether you get to show the lady that you're the kind of dancer who could be an extra on The X Factor when she frankly thinks you are as good as Mr Bean waving his arms like windmills (I'm referring to the episode where he takes his girlfriend to a magic show and ends up dancing horribly, yet with hilarity in the next door disco).

Look, let me put all this in a few simple words. Its not an easy life, dating. Its like throwing yourself onto a roller-coaster at a theme park and putting yourself through agony, thrill and complete electricity.

In summary Islamically, love relationships are normally conducted through marriage. And they aren't all arranged marriages either. Two people can still meet each other and really like each other and want to form a relationship through marriage as long as modesty prevails. Both families normally meet with each other and get to familiarise themselves. Then if an agreement takes place for a man and a woman to marry then a Nikah ceremony takes place where the couple are then married with the blessing of God, if God wills.

I hope to have given you a brief insight into how romance works in Islam. But just because Muslims like myself have a different way of doing things, it does not mean we are different. After all, I desire a lot in the woman that I would love to marry. The problem is, I haven't found her yet!

But one day, I will. And I'll be one grateful and happy man.

The curse of the Norovirus

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Its nasty. Its unpleasant. It inflicts torture. Its the norovirus.

According to a report in The Independent newspaper this morning, vomiting bug cases have almost doubled since last year, affecting up to nearly a million people. It has disrupted school classes, closed hospital wards and caused problems in other care settings.

And I know what its like. I've been struck by the norovirus. Twice.

The bug is highly contagious and anyone can catch it if they make contact with anything that is contaminated, including any object. It is also very easy to catch from another person and even no contact is required. 

Sadly, there is no cure for it so any infected individual must let the virus run its course. Generally the virus will end its run within one or two days after it begins. However, according to NHS Choices, any individual suffering from the norovirus can make certain measures to minimise its disruption:

- Drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration.

- Use paracetamol appropriately to combat any pain, aches or fever.

- Eat foods that are easy to digest if you need to consume food.

- Do not go to your doctor as nothing can be done and the norovirus is contagious.

- If your symptoms last for a few days or if you have a serious illness then contact your GP for advice.

Regarding the fourth point, I would also add don't go to accident and emergency either because again nobody there can do anything for you and the last thing you would want is the virus spreading to another patient in the hospital. When I had the virus second time round, a long time ago, I was in such agony that I insisted on going to hospital. But when the staff at A & E told me it was probably the norovirus then that put everything beyond doubt.

And its also best to stay at home as well in order to minimise the impact of the norovirus. You don't want to infect anyone else after all!

This morning, Ward 2 at Stracathro Hospital has been closed due to the outbreak of the virus there. Anyone planning to visit the hospital ward to see family relatives or friends is advised by the hospital not to head there for 48 hours.

With just less than a week to go until christmas, the last few days will be a little more nervous for everyone. Lets hope this virus is contained and in control well in time for then.

Latest Scottish Pharmacy Review magazine

I am delighted to announce that just a few minutes ago, I discovered that my article regarding why politicians do understand community pharmacy in Scotland has been published in the latest edition of the Scottish Pharmacy Review.

To take a look at it, please visit: http://www.pharmacy-life.co.uk/ and head to the 'Magazines' section.

Please note that only suitable healthcare professionals within the pharmacy sector will be permitted to access this section of the website.

Then make your way to the latest magazine. I feature at the end of the magazine.

Alternatively, if you are expecting a copy at your community pharmacy place of work then you can check me out in the magazine too! Print or online, I'll be there!

Shocking report from the BBC's Inside Out programme regarding alleged illegal sales of prescription only medicines

Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Last night, viewers of BBC One in the London area were shown some unbelievably shocking footage from the programme Inside Out. The programme, now available on the BBC iPlayer, shows a serious of undercover reporters walking into a series of pharmacies across London who stated that they were able to purchase POM (Prescription Only Medicines) over the counter, WITHOUT a prescription.

And if that wasn't bad enough, the medicines that were allegedly illegally sold over the counter included the likes of Amoxicillin, Valium (Diazepam), and Temazepam.

The BBC documentary claimed that they found nine pharmacies across West London who sold POM's over the counter illegally across the space of just a few weeks. By anybody's standards, this is frighteningly extraordinary. I really do hope that the General Pharmaceutical Council act immediately and take the appropriate action necessary, and widely expected, to protect the public and protect the rest of the profession.

If the allegations featured in the programme are proven, then it will demonstrate how deeply sickening that a tiny minority of ignorant, uncaring and dangerous individuals have behaved so maliciously and brought the profession into complete and total disrepute. Pharmacy sadly has been embroiled in too much negativity, for other reasons, over the years and the findings in the programme will have caused more poison to spill and threaten to intoxicate the integrity of the pharmacy profession.

And all this especially, when addiction to even over the counter medicines is proving to be a real growing and very serious issue. A few months ago, during my time training in the West Midlands, I had a long discussion with another pharmacist and fellow pre-reg colleagues about this growing issue. Even addiction to medicines such as co-codamol have brought misery to many people and can ruin lives. It really re-inforces the importance of pharmacists supervising P medicine sales (pharmacy only medicines which can be bought over the counter if appropriate for the patient), especially in the wake of this shocking report.

Ash Soni, the pharmacist who gave an articulate, ethical and correct explanation of what pharmacists do in the report (03:09 into the programme), spoke for the vast majority of pharmacists across these islands. I think I speak for the vast majority of pharmacists here when I say:

I agree with Ash. We all agree with Ash.

Are free prescriptions really affordable in Scotland?

Northern Ireland's current health minister, Edwin Poots, announced a few months ago that he was considering putting a paper through Stormont to reinstate prescription charges. Poots states that he wants to ensure that funding for expensive medicines can be secured and has stated that he cannot afford to pay any more money for funding medicines without finding other ways to fit the bill.

Yesterday, I focused on the issue of the Cancer Drugs Fund which was heavily debated in the Scottish Parliament nearly two weeks ago. And I also raised the question of how, with the current priorities being made and the cuts to funding from Westminster for Holyrood, the Scottish Government can find the money to fund a possible Cancer Drugs Fund for Scotland.

On the funding front, its time to dig deeper into the issue. As uncomforting as this may sound, the question we really ought to be asking is whether Scotland can continue to afford free prescriptions for every patient?

At £1.18 billion (2011/12), Scotland's medicine bill takes up a substantial portion of the NHS budget. Although I don't anticipate a future levy raising even around a tenth of that amount, that could still be a sizeable amount which could open up the possibility of funding a series of new initiatives like a possible Cancer Drugs Fund.

But also, as far as pharmacists are concerned, anecdotally I am hearing that many newly qualified pharmacists are only on short term contracts and that many employers, particularly in hospitals, are only considering internal candidates for vacancies and, I assume, due to funding pressures only around half the current team of pharmacists will be successful in filling those vacancies, leaving the other unsuccessful half facing a period of unwelcoming instability in terms of sustaining continued employment. And we are not talking about failures here. We are talking about successful, talented and highly capable individuals who have every right to face a bright future ahead of them. And I am pretty sure this crisis is not limited to pharmacy.

Now lets not forget that the pharmacy graduate employment crisis is not exclusive to Scotland. It is a problem across these islands. However, in the current economic climate and with all funding pressures raising up to fever point, should the Scottish Government not be a bit more pragmatic and, by all means, protect the poorest and those on tight incomes in our nation by ensuring they continue to receive prescriptions without a payment but also at the same time ask those who have disposable income to contribute a little bit towards the cost of their medicines?

Don't get me wrong, I think free prescriptions for everyone is progress. But, at the moment, it is coming at a price - to patients and health professionals from all diversities. Unless the Scottish Government can find a way to address the current issues that are arising at the moment by securing funding for expensive medicines for NHS patients and securing funding to employ more newly qualified health professionals then desperate times could call for desperate measures, like reinstating prescription charges.

And that's a place that I, nor anybody, really wants to go to.

A Cancer Drugs Fund for Scotland?

Cancer is a condition that no human being should have to suffer. However, sadly, too many people die from it too often and many more suffer during day to day life because of it.

On the 6th December, First Minister's Questions was dominated with questions from both leaders of the Scottish Labour and Scottish Conservative parties over drug treatment for cancer patients in Scotland.

When David Cameron became British Prime Minister in 2010, one of the policies contained within the Conservative party manifesto was to introduce a cancer drugs fund in England worth £200m. The NHS has been one of the most innovative institutions of our time. However, it is a victim of its own success because the resources it has is finite and limited.

And because the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, otherwise known as NICE, are limited in how far their arms are stretched when it comes to approving funding for medicines in the NHS in England, this is where the Prime Minister came in, pledging the extra money to ensure that patients who need the treatment can receive it.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium, the equivalent of NICE in Scotland, have probably realised those similar limitations. I think an inevitable decision is ought to be made by the Scottish Government to introduce a similar kind of fund in Scotland because those particular medicines are very expensive and there is a credible case for doing so. But in the end it all comes to funding and sadly the NHS budget can only stretch so far.

However one recent example of a drug to treat prostate cancer, abiraterone, has been approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium earlier this year. Although it was rejected on the grounds that it was too expensive to prescribe on the NHS (£3,000 a month per patient), the SMC reversed its initial decision.

The reality is, in the current political climate, cuts to public spending have become inevitable and priorities for spending have been clearly made by the Scottish Government. And the funding from Westminster will not get any bigger anytime soon. Although the idea of setting up a cancer drugs fund is an excellent idea, how is it going to be funded? Will other public spending commitments have to go?

I will touch on public spending and priorities in another post later on this week. Watch this space.

Communication is the key

Last night I attended a talk provided by NHS Education for Scotland at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on adult literacy and how it impacts on the quality and provision of patient care. The talk and interactive session provided a unique insight into the challenges that some patients face in their daily livelihoods, particularly in this context when it comes to receiving and using healthcare services. The talk was very well attended with approximately 40 people from the world of pharmacy across the Lothians (including least one from outside the Lothians too, can you guess who?).

One of the first activities we did as a group was to discuss what literacies were specifically defined as - and we came up with a quite a few ideas. Ideas such as reading, writing, listening, interpreting information, speaking, numeracy and problem solving.

According to figures from the Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies, over one quarter of the Scottish population faces the occasional challenge and constrained opportunities with literacy skills, however will still manage with their day to day lives. But, within that figure, 3.6% will face serious challenges in their literacy skills.

In 2004, The Big Plus was launched where its main objective was, and still is, to provide support to residents in Scotland with reading, writing or numeracy skills. Run by Skills Development Scotland, it has reached out and helped many people improve their ability to carry out those relevant skills and hence improved their livelihoods in many different ways.

In the context of pharmacy and healthcare in general, we discussed many issues and in particular we spoke about the challenges some patients may face when it comes to, for instance, reading patient information leaflets for a certain medicine, reading health promotion posters, communicating to a pharmacist concerns regarding health and filling out forms.

To build on the last of the series of points, one particular example we discussed in deep detail was the form for signing up to the Chronic Medication Service. The form is very detailed and requires strong, clear guidance from the pharmacist leading the consultation as a result (take a look at this example here from Community Pharmacy Scotland). I suggested to one of the facilitators that it should be a bigger priority for the Scottish Government into looking to simplifying these forms and making them easier to fill in. Frankly, it is much too detailed and too complicated than it should be (even for me!).

We looked at a couple of scenarios later on and applied everything we discussed to addressing the problems presented by the scenarios. And finally, we were introduced to the 'teach-back technique' - it emphasises that simply asking, after an explanation, 'is that clear?' or 'do you understand?' is not enough. What it suggests is that asking an open-ended question like this:

"We have gone through a lot of issues today, can you sum up to me what you've gathered from our discussion today?"

That way, the patient will be given an opportunity to go through what they have appreciated from the consultation with the pharmacist and if any misunderstandings still exist then those can be clarified with ease.

Communication is such an important skill, that its relevance in the healthcare environment is not to be underestimated. And we pharmacists have a key role to play in ensuring that we are clear, unambiguous and a strong source of help for our patients in the NHS and in healthcare.

Where are all the men?

Photograph taken in Aberdeen by Tom Joy (www.tomjoy.co.uk)

This is the one question that many women up and down the country and beyond ask every single day in canteens, workplaces and even at home? Where are they? Where are all those gentlemen? Why do virtually none of them exist?

Its actually very depressing that we as a society worldwide have had to resort to hearing this question being asked time and time again. But what on earth has happened to cause this question to arise?

Personally, I find it disheartening that this question is now probably the biggest question when it comes to talking about romance. Have we men lost the plot when it comes to behaving like a real man? Is this why this question is being asked all the time now?

I don't think there is one single right answer to address all of the questions that I have set out. I know there is a lot of talk about how men have been characteristically emasculated, particularly this example from the Daily Telegraph in 2008.

But frankly, I don't treat the world as if one group, gender or set of people rule it completely. I'm actually a God fearing individual and I make no apology for that. I'm an individualist. I think everyone has an entitlement to express their individual identity, character and personality without fear or favour, as long as they don't set out to offend people directly or maliciously. And for men, that means being confident, witty, happy, enthusiastic about life and their career and just generally having fun - I think women like that and wouldn't expect anything less.

But, and I invite any female reader to agree or disagree with me, I think women expect the following from a man when it comes to the framework and dynamics of a typical heterosexual romantic relationship:

- The man has an automatic duty to look after his other half without being triggered or reminded to do so emotionally, physically and with her welfare.
- The man kisses and hugs his other half upon her arrival and treats her like her Queen, asks how she is and how delighted he is to see her.
- The man looks after the home, cooks the evening meal for his other half and cleans up the dishes when his other half has absolutely every right to sit down and watch The Great British Bake Off on BBC Two after a long hard day at work (or any other TV programme for that matter).
- The man smiles proudly knowing that he is lucky to be loved, cared for and to have done his duty for his other half.

A man should be a man, not a little petulant boy who spits out the dummy when things don't go his way. The world doesn't revolve around us. Nor should it now. Women are more successful than ever before and have every right to succeed and be supported in their careers.

Fellow gentlemen, let's wave the flag for chivalry!

Glasgow Celtic have proven that money doesn't buy you success

Tonight, my tartan bonnet is going to be taken off to Glasgow Celtic football club after yet another sweet result in the Champions League which has now seen the Scottish champions advance to the final sixteen of the competition.

Whilst the majority decided to laugh off any possibility of Neil Lennon's side making it anywhere near the 3rd place Europa League spot, let alone qualification for the last 16 of the tournament, I, on the other hand, was optimistic that this was the best Celtic side in nearly ten years and had more than enough of a chance to pull off qualification to the knock out stages of the competition. And my goodness I was right.

Celtic proved that you do not need to spend millions upon millions of pounds on new players to make your way through European competition. And unlike certain clubs down south where their football minds are clouded with banknotes and nothing else, Celtic have not just done Scotland proud. They have done the whole world of football proud. It is so reassuring to see that you can still be a success in the world's most prestigious football club competition despite not having anywhere near the financial muscle that other football clubs have.

After what has been the worst year for Scottish football since the formation of the Scottish Football Association in 1873, Celtic have done this nation proud. And make no doubt about anything. This victory is a lesson for anybody, no matter what their career is or who they are. Flashing banknotes in people's eyes will never guarantee you success. Only a special characteristic called humility will.

Tonight Celtic triumphed. Tonight Scotland have become victorious. Tonight real success prevailed.

And tonight, football well and truly is the winner.

Politicians DO get community pharmacy in Scotland

Forget recent negative comments about pharmacy, lets applaud our politicians in Scotland for showing insight into community pharmacy and what pharmacists can do for our communities.

Scotland has always led the way when it comes to taking the quality of our healthcare forward, particularly since devolution came to life in 1999. And Scottish community pharmacy has also led the way when it comes to showcasing the talent, ability and innovation that equates to the success story that is community pharmacy and our talented community pharmacists in Scotland.

The budget across the country in all areas of life is being squeezed year on year. But having said that, the publicity that community pharmacy is winning is a welcome boost for pharmacy in Scotland. The last few weeks has seen our profession attacked so unprovokedly, unnecessarily and unacceptably by a minority of elected representatives.

But if you take a look at the MSP's visit section of the Community Pharmacy Scotland website then it really is not fair to ignore the hard work MSP's are making to actually recognise the welcome value that pharmacists in Scotland bring to the NHS and healthcare provision.

And whether its Scotland's First Minister or members of all the political parties or none from Holyrood who take time out of their busy schedule to see community pharmacists in action, the work that they undertake on the observational visits is more than enough to combat the unfair accusation levelled at politicians that they seem to be doing 'nothing' about pharmacy.

Its also worth noting that pharmacy in Scotland is the envy of the rest of the United Kingdom and beyond. When the new pharmacy contract was implemented, it demonstrated that pharmacy in our nation was ready to elevate to the next level.

The Minor Ailments Service has enabled the much welcomed autonomy given to pharmacists to be able to directly support patients who may not have the time to see the GP but still receive appropriate treatment for a minor ailment. Whether its athlete's foot, a cough, eczema or even hay fever (the list is not exhaustive, see the full list here) then this much welcomed service has been a major success story in Scotland, enabling pharmacists to make full use of their patient-focused skills and freeing some of the GP's time. Some other parts of the UK are now implementing a similar kind of service, like Wales, however many more patients in other parts of these islands still don't benefit from such a service.

The Acute Medication Service see Scotland's pharmacies accepting GP10 prescriptions including barcodes on them. A patient with a prescription can wait less longer as all the pharmacy needs to do is scan the prescription, receive the content of the prescription electronically without the need to input data into the dispensing computer and then just get the pharmacist to check to clinically check the prescription before the patient receives their medicines. Convenient for patients. Convenient for pharmacies.

The Scottish pharmacy contract also contains an element which is the Public Health Service and this enables pharmacies to play a role in enabling their patients to be encouraged, educated and supported in self care. Pharmacies are expected to take part in campaigns run nationally (where they normally have to display a health promotion poster) covering public health issues such as smoking cessation, healthy eating and annual flu vaccinations.

And finally, the Chronic Medication Service. In England, these are called Medication and Use Reviews (MUR's). But Scotland has its own unique service. It is broken down into three stages. Stage I consists of the patient registering their interest, with full permission given by them, in using the service if they are taking medicines for long term conditions. Stage II involves the pharmacist using a pharmaceutical care plan in order to identify the needs of their registered patients regarding their care and addressing those needs. And Stage III involves establishes the integrated effort of care provision where the GP issues a prescription at appropriate time intervals over an agreed period of time where at the end of that period of time an 'end of care summary' is sent to the GP electronically covering issues such as compliance and any recommended courses of action that the GP may choose or choose not to take.

After all that detail, it is fair to say that our politicians, stakeholders and pharmacy leaders have gone beyond the call of duty when it comes to addressing the needs of patients who utilise pharmacies and also has enabled pharmacists in Scotland to make maximum use of their clinical and patient-focused skills within a nationally agreed framework.

Our elected representatives must maintain, sustain and protect the defence of the role of the pharmacist within the healthcare system in Scotland, and the rest of the UK. But in a time when one negative comment or assertion can ignite a passionate outcry of lack of fairness and a sense of victimhood, lets pay tribute for a change to the vast majority of our politicians for recognising the hard work that pharmacists perform in Scotland's National Health Service.

Act I: A plague on both your houses

I have to say that, as we head to the end of 2012, the opening act of the musical - The Scottish Independence Referendum - has been something short of being spectacular. Certainly when you consider the lack of innovative ideas from both sides for taking Scotland forward, regardless of the result.

Or, it has been spectacular for all the wrong reasons - particularly the sloppy errors made by the Scottish Government over the way they have handled issues such as the European Union or by the behaviour witnessed in the chamber at Holyrood.

Firstly, the lack of innovative ideas from both sides of the constitutional divide. The pro-independence camp, led by Yes Scotland, have frankly been playing it too safe by reassuring us time and time again that sterling will remain our currency, the monarchy will stay and that we would continue to play our part in the European Union.

An exciting vision of Scottish independence should be new, fresh, innovative and excitingly different. But I'm not feeling that fresh new thinking from the pro-independence campaign. Also, there seems to be far too much ambiguity with the way they present their policies. How do we really know if we will still really be in the EU? How do we really know if the money from oil revenues will definitely head to Edinburgh rather than London? And how do we know if our cross-border links with England and the rest of these islands will remain the way that they currently are?

The people of this nation are not stupid, they know what is at stake and they want no ambiguity. If Yes Scotland want a decisive victory then they need to be much more bolder and braver.

As for the pro-union campaign, led by Better Together, the biggest question I would ask them is the following - what is going to happen with Scotland's constitutional arrangements if we vote "No"? It is very clear that there is a majority in Scotland who want a change from the current arrangements. For absolute sure, if devolution remains unchanged or diminished after the referendum then the Scottish people will be gasping with complete frustration and anger towards our elected representatives. And rightly so. This whole debate, over these years, will amount to nothing if we vote "no" and both Holyrood and Westminster choose to stand still over Scotland.

It is very welcoming to see an alternative vision presented by the Devo Plus campaign. The problem is, however, that the leadership of the Labour and Conservative parties are not paying enough attention to those alternative ideas. And its not often the Liberal Democrats get a gold star, but they should be given a little bit of credit for endorsing an alternative vision for Scotland beyond 2014.

And secondly, the game of verbal tennis that has been taking place between the MSP's in the chamber - which has sadly escalated into downright unpalatable rally at times. The quality of the debate during First Minister's Questions has descended into nothing more than a national joke. The debate has lacked serious substance at times and instead turned into a game of cat and mouse between Labour and the SNP. Despite the shambolic way the Scottish Government handled the European Union issue, I felt the way Alex Salmond was branded "a liar" was discourteous and a very bad choice of words. And if that wasn't bad enough, then dragging the Presiding Officer into the gutter by being heckled with the words "out of order" took the quality of public life in Scotland to an all time low.

I think what's lacking in our current generation of politicians, is wit, humour and charisma. Its no wonder people from outside the political bubble write off politics at every opportunity that they get. The House of Commons was once full of character and vibrancy. It should be a bit like showbiz combined with substantiated, intellectual and well reasoned argument and people should be able to tune into the news or current affairs programmes feeling engaged and entertained. People find boredom unenticing. Our politicians across these islands should look west to the USA. The past Presidential election was captivating and was full of electricity for all the right reasons!

Thank goodness our Scottish sports stars have been a roaring success this year and electrified the nation. The only piece of advice I can provide to our MSP's is simply - raise your game for 2013.