In Discussion With - MedicalUpdateOnline

In Discussion With - Ann Marie Goacher

We spoke to Dr Rita Shane about why medication reconciliation should be done by pharmacy staff and how they made this happen in California.

Topics:

• Introduction, titles & roles
• What triggered the med rec project?
• What is a Medical Assistant
• Transitions and the ‘poly’ problem
• Collecting the evidence
• Med rec at admission?
• The business case for med rec
• Getting buy-in for med rec
• Driving the legislation for med rec
• Measuring the impact
• High-risk patients
• Med rec on discharge
• A national requirement

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/rita-shane/

This interview was recorded on 11/02/2026.

In Discussion With - Ann Marie Goacher

We spoke to Ann Marie Goacher about the use of intravitreal fluocinolone implants for uveitis.

Topics:

• What is uveitis?
• How is uveitis treated?
• Fluocinolone implants for uveitis
• How intravitreal implants work in uveitis
• How do intravitreal implants feel?
• Audit of implants in uveitis
• Audit findings
• Adverse effects of implants
• Audit conclusions
• Refining the audit
• Is uveitis bilateral?
• Getting started in ophthalmology
• Why specialise in ophthalmology?

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/ann-marie-goacher/

This interview was recorded on 19/01/2026.

In Discussion With - John Donoghue

We spoke to John Donoghue about the management of insomnia and how this might be transformed by the use of a dual orexin receptor antagonist.

Topics:

• Introduction, titles & roles
• What is insomnia?
• Impact of insomnia
• Insomnia and mortality
• Insomnia management guidelines
• Sleepio and Sleepstation apps
• CBT for insomnia
• Medicines for insomnia
• The case for eszopiclone
• Eszopiclone vs zopiclone
• How melatonin works
• OTC melatonin?
• Other medicines for insomnia
• Orexin and DORAs
• Daridorexant approved by NICE
• Daridorexant - the evidence
• Cost of daridorexant
• Managing insomnia in the pharmacy

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/john-donoghue/

This interview was recorded on 26/11/2025.

In Discussion With - Louise Newson

We spoke to Dr Louise Newson about some of the trickier questions that come up in discussions about management of the menopause and perimenopause.

Topics:

• HRT and breast cancer risk
• HRT and past breast cancer
• HRT and the BRCA gene
• What is genito-urinary syndrome?
• Do Neurokinin RAs have a place in menopause care?
• Can you be too old for HRT?
• 2024 NICE guidelines on menopause
• Individualised menopause care?
• Where to find menopause information
• What makes Newson Health different?

To watch the full interview, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/louise-newson/

This interview was recorded on 19/09/2025.

In Discussion With - Louise Newson

We spoke to Dr Louise Newson about management of the menopause and perimenopause.

Topics:

• Introduction, titles & roles
• Menopause symptoms
• Prevalence of symptoms
• Impact of symptoms
• Effects of female hormones
• Benefits of HRT
• HRT and CVS
• Prescribing of HRT
• Antidepressants and menopause
• HRT and reduced libido
• Ideal approach to hormone deficiency
• Menopause management training

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/louise-newson/

This interview was recorded on 19/09/2025.

In Discussion With - Anthony Singh

We spoke to Anthony Singh about pharmacist-led menopause clinics in the NHS – a service that featured as a ‘trailblazer’ at the recent Royal pharmaceutical Society regional conference in Birmingham.

Topics:

• Introduction, titles & roles
• What is the Women’s Health Hub?
• Menopause clinics
• Accessing the clinic
• Use of testosterone
• NICE guidance for testosterone
• Testosterone products
• How digital tech supports clinics
• Building on patient feedback
• Achievements of the menopause clinics
• Impact on mental health
• NHS menopause clinics
• Community engagement
• Feedback from patients and staff
• NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme
• Unmet menopause service needs
• Next steps for the menopause service
• Message for frontline staff

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/anthony-singh/

This interview was recorded on 04/09/2025.

In Discussion With - Dame Laura Lee

We spoke to Dame Laura Lee about the work of Maggie’s cancer caring centres.

Topics:

• Introduction, titles & roles
• How did Maggie’s start?
• Maggie’s vision & drive
• Support from Maggie’s
• Accessing Maggie’s support
• Maggies and other cancer charities
• Funding for Maggie’s
• Fund-raising activities
• Changing cancer landscape
• Specialist nurse to charity CEO
• Recruitment for Maggie’s
• Future plans for Maggie’s
• Message for healthcare staff

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://pharmacyupdate.online/category/in-discussion-with/laura-lee/

This interview was recorded on 28/07/2025.

In Discussion With - John Donoghue

We spoke to John Donoghue about the extraordinarily high death rates in schizophrenia and how they might be tackled.

Topics:

• Starting in mental health
• Medicines in Mental Health Ltd
• What is schizophrenia?
• Premature mortality
• Factors contributing to premature mortality
• Role of cardiovascular disease
• Risk factors and comorbidities
• Cardiometabolic side effects
• NICE schizophrenia guideline
• Lester cardiometabolic resource
• Benefits vs risks of anti-psychotics
• Role of clozapine
• Clozapine safety
• Benefits of anti-psychotics
• 2nd vs 1st generation anti-psychotics
• Research findings
• How should anti-psychotics be used?
• NICE update required?
• A new approach to treatment
• Effective schizophrenia management
• A pharmacy career in mental health?

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/john-donoghue/

This interview was recorded on 17/06/2025.

In Discussion With - Kalveer Flora

We spoke to Kalveer Flora about the use of biologics and biosimilars in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Topics:

• Getting started in rheumatology clinics
• Biologics in rheumatology
• Biosimilars’ impact
• Biologic vs biosimilar
• Biosimilars & sustainability
• bDMARD dose reduction
• Homecare in rheumatology
• The rheumatology pharmacist
• Patient feedback
• Tips for success
• A career in rheumatology pharmacy?

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/kalveer-flora/

This interview was recorded on 20/05/2025.

In Discussion With - Jaakko Mustakallio

We spoke to Jaakko Mustakallio about designing and implementing a unit-dose medicines distribution system for a smart hospital.

Topics:

• Oulu University Hospital
• The smart hospital
• The goal of automation
• Why have a unit dose system?
• Benefits of a unit dose system
• Unit dose system in practice
• The pneumatic tube system
• Packaging and storage robots
• ‘Rings’ of patient-specific doses
• How many robots?
• Space requirements for robots
• What can be packed?
• Packing of ampoules
• Packing of liquid oral doses
• Just-in-time delivery
• As-required doses
• Topping up as-required doses
• Waste with a unit dose system
• Sustainable packaging
• Implementation timeline
• What does ward staff think?
• Who else is involved?
• Why did you choose Sinteco?
• How will you measure success?

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/2025/04/revolutionising-medication-distribution-oulu-university-hospitals-smart-unit-dose-system/

This interview was recorded on 17/03/2025.

In Discussion With - Hilary McKee

We spoke to Hilary McKee about tackling polypharmacy in rheumatology clinics.

Topics:

• Getting started in rheumatology
• Polypharmacy problems
• Prescribing cascades
• Methotrexate safety concerns
• Cannabis in rheumatology
• Medication adherence
• Polypharmacy and the greener NHS
• Biological DMARDs
• Reducing DMARD dosage
• Clinical case challenges
• Off-label prescribing
• Role of rheumatology pharmacist
• Tips for success
• Opportunities in rheumatology

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/2025/04/tackling-polypharmacy-in-rheumatology-clinics/

This interview was recorded on 11/02/2025.

In Discussion With - Deborah Evans

We spoke to Deborah Evans about GLP-1 receptor agonists – the fat jabs – and what we have learned over the past 12-18 months.

Topics:

• Are GLP-1 RAs easy & safe for weight loss?
• Differences - semaglutide vs. tirzepatide
• Side-effects of GLP-1 RAs
• Serious side-effects of GLP-1 RAs
• How to get GLP-1 RAs
• GLP-1 RAs via the NHS
• Additional support for patients
• Incorrect GLP-1 RA prescribing
• Counterfeit GLP-1 RAs
• Short-term use of GLP-1 RAs?
• Should you take GLP-1 RAs for life?
• Risks of sarcopaenia and osteoporosis
• Dose optimisation
• Tolerability variations
• Dose individualisation
• GLP-1 RA drug switching
• GLP-1 RA non-responders
• Starting GLP-1 RAs – what to expect
• Do we eat too much?
• Value of GLP-1 RA weight loss
• Possible anaesthetic risk

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/2025/03/glp-1-ras-where-are-we-now-what-have-we-learned/

This interview was recorded on 06/02/2025.

In Discussion With - Cindy Williams

We spoke to Cindy Williams about launching a hospital pharmacy drone delivery service for underserved communities.

Topics:

• Could a drone delivery service for medicines improve healthcare?
• Challenging logistics of a drone delivery service for medicines
• How does a drone delivery service for medicines work in practice?
• What are the next steps for drone delivery of medicines?

This interview was recorded on 27/01/2025.

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/cindy-williams/

In Discussion With - Cathy Harrison

We spoke to Professor Cathy Harrison about implementing innovative clinical pharmacy services across a health system - from getting the funding to measuring the impact.

Topics:

• Developments in healthcare – the background for new pharmacy services in Northern Ireland
• How innovative clinical pharmacy services were funded and implemented in Northern Ireland
• How new pharmacy services saved £20 million per year in Northern Ireland
• Positioning pharmacy in Northern Ireland to make the most of independent prescribing

This interview was recorded on 22/11/2024.

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/cathy-harrison/

In Discussion With - Paul Sessink & Birgit Tans

We spoke to Paul Sessink & Birgit Tans about safe handling of hazardous medicinal products – in particular what the guidance says and how this is translated into practice.

Topics:

1. Why some medicinal products can be hazardous
2. What the EC guidance tells us about handling hazardous medicinal products
3. How much contamination is too much in the workplace?
4. How to make the EC guidance work in practice
5. Case study – responding to a large hazardous spillage

This interview was recorded on 12/11/2024 (Sessink) & 19/11/2024 (Tans).

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/paul-sessink-birgit-tans/

In Discussion With - Philip Chennell

We spoke to Philip Chennell about choosing the best syringe for intravitreal bevacizumab injections.

Topics:

1. Why syringe type matters for intravitreal injections
2. How the syringe lubricant interacts with the drug inside it
3. Why ready-to-administer syringes improve clinical care

This interview was recorded on 06/11/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/philip-chennell/

In Discussion With - Lisa Jamieson

We spoke to Lisa Jamieson about nutritional supplements, medicines and deprescribing – and how these all fit together.

Topics:

1. How diet and nutrition impact health
2. Is magnesium a forgotten nutrient?
3. Why the omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid balance is critical
4. How much vitamin D do you really need?
5. Could a good diet and supplements reduce the need for medication?

This interview was recorded on 20/09/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/lisa-jamieson/

In Discussion With - Shania Liu & Jonathan Penm

We spoke to Shania Liu and Jonathan Penm about their research into opioid dose tapering before hip or knee surgery.

Topics:

1. Why is opioid use before hip or knee replacement a problem?
2. How OpioidHALT tackles pre-operative opioid use
3. What the OpioidHALT pilot study tells us
4. Why pharmacists should manage pre-operative opioid use

This interview was recorded on 03/09/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/category/in-discussion-with/shania-liu-jonathan-penm/

In Discussion With - Paul Rutter

We spoke to Paul Rutter about differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning for non-medical prescribers.

Topics:

1. Why community pharmacists need skills in differential diagnosis
2. How clinical reasoning underpins effective consultations
3. Clinical reasoning – the challenge of moving from novice to expert

This interview was recorded on 02/08/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/paul-rutter/

In Discussion With - Kieron Power

We spoke to Kieron Power about a pharmacist-led pulmonary embolism pathway that has delivered excellent results.

Topics:

1. Pulmonary embolism – what patients experience
2. How are high and low-risk pulmonary embolisms diagnosed and managed?
3. How the pulmonary embolism pathway ensures consistent decision-making
4. What impact has the pulmonary embolism pathway had?
5. How to establish a sustainable pulmonary embolism service

This interview was recorded on 28/06/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - hhttps://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/kieron-power/

In Discussion With - Steve Tomlin

We spoke to Steve Tomlin about pharmacy services in paediatrics and neonatology.

Topics:

1. Why neonatology pharmacy is fascinating and demanding
2. The challenges of parenteral feeding for pre-term babies
3. How standardisation of pharmaceutical products helps in neonatology
4. What does a consultant neonatal pharmacist do?

This interview was recorded on 08/05/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/steve-tomlin/

In Discussion With - Dr Anna Murphy DPharm

We spoke to Dr Anna Murphy about how pharmacists can help to improve the care of patients with asthma.

Topics:

1. Asthma and why it causes deaths in the UK
2. Biologics and working with patients
3. Where do pharmacists work in respiratory medicine?
4. Making the case for respiratory pharmacists
5. Reasons to be a respiratory pharmacist

This interview was recorded on 27/05/22

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/dr-anna-murphy/

In Discussion With - Dr Cathrine A McKenzie

We spoke to Dr Cathrine McKenzie about delirium – what it is, what causes it and how we can treat it.

Topics:

1. Delirium and why it's a problem
2. Risk factors and triggers for delirium
3. Treatment options for delirium
4. What can pharmacists contribute to delirium management?

This interview was recorded on 07/06/2022

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/dr-cathrine-mckenzie/

In Discussion With - Professor Ashok Soni

We spoke to Ashok Soni OBE about how primary care pharmacy could help the NHS work more effectively.

Topics:

1. Why pharmacists should manage repeat prescriptions
2. Getting Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) to work
3. Reducing harm from medicines and improving the patient experience
4. Integrating community pharmacy and primary care

This interview was recorded on 12/01/2023

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-wit\h/professor-ashok-soni-obe/

In Discussion With - Kläre Bryant BSc

Kläre Bryant is an advanced clinical pharmacist who has been holding clinics for dermatology patients receiving biologics and other systemic treatments for more than nine years. We spoke to her to find out more about her work.

Topics:

1. What a specialist dermatology pharmacist can offer
2. Working with patients with skin conditions
3. Clinical pharmacy services in the dermatology biologics clinic
4. Opportunities for pharmacists in dermatology

This interview was recorded on 31/03/22

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/klare-bryant/

In Discussion With - Dr Raliat Onatade

Pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine are increasingly becoming a part of mainstream healthcare and it is an area where pharmacists have a major part to play.

Topics:

1. The added value of pharmacogenomics to prescribing
2. How does pharmacogenomics work in day-to-day practice?
3. The challenges of developing pharmacogenomic services

This interview was recorded on 18/05/2023

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/dr-raliat-onatade/

In Discussion With - Neil Powell

Neil Powell combines the roles of consultant antimicrobial pharmacist and clinical researcher at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. He describes the rationale for removal of erroneous penicillin allergy labels and the quest for effective methods

Topics:

1. Why penicillin allergy labels might be a bad thing
2. What the PALACE study tells us about penicillin allergy de-labelling
3. Could penicillin allergy de-labelling lead to better outcomes?
4. What does a consultant antimicrobial pharmacist do?

This interview was recorded on 12/10/2023

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/neil-powell/

In Discussion With - Martin Hewison

Martin Hewison, Professor of Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham. For the past 30 years he has been engaged in research into vitamin D ranging from molecular biology to clinical usage.

Topics:

1. Vitamin D: endocrine, intracrine and paracrine functions
2. Vitamin D and auto-immune disease
3. Why do people become vitamin D deficient?
4. The impact of vitamin D on auto-immune disease
5. Vitamin D: where we are now?

This interview was recorded on 01/11/22

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/professor-martin-hewison/

In Discussion With - Debi Bhattacharya

Debi Bhattacharya is Professor of Behavioural Medicine at the University of Leicester, UK. As a former primary care pharmacist, she has experience of both practice and research into deprescribing.

Topics:

1. Deprescribing – reactive and proactive
2. Barriers and enablers for deprescribing
3. CHARMER – a different kind of deprescribing intervention study

This interview was recorded on 13/04/2023

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/2023/04/deprescribing-to-optimise-drug-therapy/

In Discussion With - Reena Barai Reena Barai is a community pharmacist and owner of the family business, SG Barai Pharmacy in Sutton in Surrey. In this series of short videos, she describes how she and her team prepared for and implemented Pharmacy First Services and how the first few weeks turned out.

Topics:

1. What is the Pharmacy First Scheme and how can pharmacies get started?
2. Practicalities – what worked well in Pharmacy First
3. Pharmacy First – where is it going next?

This interview was recorded on 11/03/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/reena-barai/

In Discussion With - Deborah Evans

Deborah Evans is a pharmacist and independent prescriber who specialises in women’s reproductive and sexual health, including the menopause. She owns and runs Remedi Health, an independent pharmacy and healthcare clinic in Winchester. In this podcast, she describes the menopause clinic and the guiding principles behind it.

Topics:

1. How menopause affects women and why we should offer treatment
2. How the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks
3. Why you could add testosterone to menopause treatment
4. Choosing a transdermal oestrogen and tackling genitourinary syndrome of menopause
5. Tips for building a successful pharmacy menopause service

This interview was recorded on 04/04/2024

To watch the full video series, visit our website - https://medicalupdateonline.com/in-discussion-with/deborah-evans/