Helping you deliver patient-centred care with the latest news and essential information about key products and developments in store.
Covid-19 - Keeping up to date
During these difficult times, our number one priority is the safety of colleagues and customers. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidance on how to do this, Boots Live is updated at 8.30am every day.
If you don't have access to Boots Live, there is a selection of documents available on Pharmacy Unscripted. External Covid-19 news and learning resources are available on the Pharmacy School Covid-19 hub.
Top tips
Check Boots Live every day before starting work
Refer
prescription patients to the online pharmacy - this protects patients
as they don't need to leave their homes.
It also protects store and Pharmacy
Delivery and Collection (PDC) service capacity
Use the PPE
provided to keep you and your team safe.
Click the boxes below for product updates, an interview with Preetesh Khetani and the latest eTutor modules.
FEATURED BRAND
Vype ePen 3
Item code: 82-84-474
Vype aims to create better smoking alternatives for the future through continued research and testing with top flavour experts and scientists from many disciplines.
Voted Product of the Year 2019,* Vype ePen 3 brings power and convenience for a satisfying vaping experience.+
Performance
Containing a powerful system and
high-performance 650 mAh battery, Vype ePen 3 provides a rich vapour and
intense taste.
Simplicity
Easy to use as customers can switch
flavour and nicotine levels almost instantly.
Simply click in the
pod and it is ready to use straight away.
Design
Comes in six elegant soft-touch colours and
has a compact pocket fit design.
Quality
95 per cent less toxicants? and
0 per cent tar§ without compromising on flavour or
satisfaction.
Vype ePen 3 pods are available in different flavours including blended tobacco, crisp mint and dark cherry. All flavours are available in a variety of nicotine strengths: 0mg/ml, 6mg/ml, 12mg/ml and 18mg/ml.
* Winner e-cigarette category. Survey 10,399 people by
Kantar TNS.
† In terms of
battery power and nicotine delivery vs all other Vype closed-system
devices.
‡ Comparison of smoke
from a 1R6F reference cigarette and vapour from Vype ePen 3, in
terms of the 9 harmful components the World Health Organisation
recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke. This quality does not
necessarily mean this product is less harmful than tobacco
products.
§ By 'no tar', Vype
means no tobacco-derived tar. This quality does not necessarily mean
this product is less harmful than other tobacco products.
3 simple steps
- Put the pod into the ePen 3 battery unit. It will click in.
- Click the button three times to start.
- Press the button whilst inhaling the rich vapour.
Salonpas
Pain Relief Patch (GSL)
Item code: 78-73-360
Price: £8.20
An anti-inflammatory patch for pain relief of muscle and joints associated with strains, sprains, backache and bruises.
Salonpas Pain Relief Patch:
- Delivers the active ingredients directly to the site of pain with less systemic exposure
- Works for up to 12 hours
- Stretchable and flexible
- Easy to apply.
This product is suitable for adults aged 18 years and over. For usage and directions, read the product pack and leaflet. Customers should be advised to use no more than two plasters in 24 hours. The patches should not be used for more than three days in a row.
PoxClin® CoolMousse
Item code: 55-16-501
Price: £11.80
A cooling, soothing mousse that relieves symptoms of chickenpox.
PoxClin CoolMousse benefits include:
- Instant itch relief
- Cooling and soothing
- Helps prevent scarring
- Helps reduce risk of infection by blocking bacteria.
PoxClin CoolMousse contains the patented 2QR complex, which blocks bacteria to reduce the chance of infection and supports the skin's natural healing process, helping to prevent scarring.
The mousse format makes it easy to apply, even to large areas of the skin.
The instant cooling effect helps to relieve itching and irritation, thereby reducing the urge to scratch, preventing possible further damage of the skin.
Directions for use: Apply at least three times daily or whenever relief is desired. PoxClin CoolMousse is especially suitable for larger areas and is absorbed rapidly by the skin. For external use on the skin only. For added cooling relief, PoxClin CoolMousse can be stored in the fridge. Read the product leaflet and pack for full directions for use.
Boots Anti Viral Hand Foam
Item code: 87-89-738
Price: £3.19
Boots Anti Viral Hand Foam kills 99.9 per cent of viruses and harmful bacteria* and provides up to eight hours protection from E.coli.
The foam provides long lasting antimicrobial protection to the skin, when it is not possible to wash hands with soap and water.
Directions for use: Apply as many pumps as necessary to dry hands for good coverage. Rub hands together until product has dried. Do not rinse off. Reapply as necessary.
* Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (swine flu), rotavirus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus hirae, E.coli.
Salonpas Pain Relief Patch contains methyl salicylate; levomenthol. Indications: For the symptomatic relief of pain of muscles and joints associated with strains and sprains. Legal category: GSL. Information about this product, including adverse reactions, precautions, contraindications and method of use can be found at https://mhraproductsprod.blob.core.windows.net/docs-20200204/3fb5807bbe852cb8f876082cf692e17676d812bb Marketing authorisation number: PL 23168/0001. Further information is available from Licence Holder: Hisamitsu UK Limited, 5 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LG, UK. Last revised: February 2020.
INTERVIEW - PREETESH KHETANI
Covid-19 testing stations
Preetesh Khetani, Pharmacy Learning and Development Designer, updates us on the new drive-through testing stations that provide coronavirus (Covid-19) tests.
What role have you played in helping to set up the new testing
stations?
My role has been to help train our testing
colleagues so they can carry out the tests safely and effectively.
Proper swabbing technique, use of PPE, hand hygiene and social
distancing measures at the stations are essential to protect patients
and colleagues. Our team is responsible for developing and maintaining
consistently high standards across our testing stations.
Which other teams have been part of the
project?
Getting the sites up and running has been a
combined effort by teams from all areas of the business and various
external partners. A combination of Boots colleagues (typically with
some clinical experience, e.g. opticians and audiologists) and external
partners are manning the test sites. Every colleague involved on the
project feels incredibly proud to be stepping up to support the NHS and
its staff. I think this is the most cross-functional team I have been a
part of, and the shared enthusiasm for such a worthwhile cause has also
made it one of the best!
How quickly was the first test station opened?
In
under a week, we were able to develop a process, identify a site,
recruit and train an effective workforce, and start testing NHS workers.
Since then, we've been able to adapt and support partners to implement
this template right across the UK. There are currently 27 sites with
Boots colleagues and more testing stations are opening every
week.*
How does testing support the NHS?
The current aim
of these sites is to swab certain groups of the population in line with
government guidelines. This includes essential workers who are currently
in self-isolation, unable to work due to having symptoms. Results from
these tests will enable those who have tested negative to return to
work, confident that they don't have the infection and won't pass it on
to their patients or customers.
* Number of sites correct at time of writing.