Rx for Rest. From the BSPSS.

BSPSS

Rx for Rest™ is the podcast that takes sleep seriously - and pharmacy even more so. Hosts Adrian Zacher and Gareth Evans cut through the myths, challenge outdated practices, and ask: why is pharmacy still sleepwalking through a public health crisis? We dive into real conversations about insomnia, sleep apnoea, and more. We will explore the role pharmacy could - and should - be playing. You’ll hear from sleep scientists, pharmacists, policy thinkers and patients. Whether you’re on the counter, in clinic, or shaping the system - Rx for Rest™ is where the pharmacy profession wakes up to sleep.

Episodes

  1. 10/10/2025

    Rx for Rest - Interview: Dr Phyllis Murphie on Launching the AWAKE Check

    Interview: Dr Phyllis Murphie PhD on Launching the AWAKE Check In this special episode of Rx for Rest, co-hosts Adrian Zacher and Gareth Evans (President, BSPSS) speak with Dr Phyllis Murphie, PhD about the national launch of AWAKE Check - a UK research study designed to estimate population-level risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and insomnia. We unpack: Why a fresh, UK-wide risk snapshot is urgently needed. How AWAKE Check combines validated tools (e.g., ISI and STOP-Bang) to provide personal risk indication -not diagnosis. What participants can expect: consent, anonymity (no names collected; email optional), and how data are handled and safeguarded. The role of community pharmacy in identifying risk, avoiding harm (no OTC “sleep aids”), and signposting guideline-aligned care. Early insights, myths we’re busting, and how clinicians, students, teachers/lecturers, nurses, physiologists and the public can get involved and add their voice. A clear-eyed conversation about evidence, ethics, and scalable sleep health — from research to real-world impact. Learn more & take part: awakecheck.co.uk #AWAKECheck #SleepHealth #Pharmacy #PublicHealth #Insomnia #OSA #RxforRest

    15 min

  2. 10/10/2025

    Rx for Rest - What do you do, Gareth?

    Episode 4: What Do You Do, Gareth? In this episode of Rx for Rest, co-hosts Adrian Zacher and Gareth Evans (President, BSPSS) turn the microphone around. Listeners get to know Gareth - his professional journey, his passion for pharmacy practice, and his vision for the role of the British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services in transforming how the UK approaches sleep health. Together, Adrian and Gareth explore: How Gareth’s background in community pharmacy shaped his advocacy for sleep health. Why pharmacists are uniquely positioned to identify and support people with undiagnosed sleep disorders. The challenges of changing long-established habits in pharmacy practice. The shared mission driving BSPSS and the Rx for Rest podcast. An engaging and personal conversation between two leaders determined to make sleep expertise accessible - and redefine pharmacy’s role in public health. 🔗 Learn more: https://bspss.org #SleepHealth #Pharmacy #PublicHealth #RxforRest #BSPSS

    11 min

  3. 10/10/2025

    Rx for Rest - Position Statement re Sleep Aid Reclassification

    Rx for Rest: BSPSS Position Statement on Sleep Aid Reclassification In this episode of Rx for Rest, co-hosts Adrian Zacher (CEO, BSPSS) and Gareth Evans (President, BSPSS) discuss the British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services’ formal position on proposals to reclassify over-the-counter “sleep aids” — such as sedating antihistamines, 'Z drugs' and melatonin - in the UK. Together, they unpack the evidence, the risks, and the ethical implications for pharmacy practice, explaining why BSPSS opposes any move that legitimises non-evidence-based treatments for insomnia. Key topics include: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary on insomnia: “Do not recommend over-the-counter treatments.” The lack of efficacy and safety data for sedating antihistamines. How commercial pressures distort clinical decision-making. What a guideline-aligned, patient-centred approach to sleep health looks like in community pharmacy. Essential listening for pharmacists, educators, and health leaders committed to evidence-based care. 🔗 Read the BSPSS statement: https://bspss.org/position_statement_reclassification_sleep_aids/ #SleepHealth #Pharmacy #PublicHealth #EvidenceBasedPractice #RxforRest

    14 min

  4. 10/10/2025

    Rx for Rest - About us

    About Rx for Rest Welcome to Rx for Rest - the podcast where science meets sleep health in community pharmacy. Hosted by Adrian Zacher, sleep scientist, educator, and CEO of the British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services (BSPSS) and Gareth Evans, Superintendent Pharmacist at Wansford Pharmacy, President of the BSPSS. Rx for Rest explores how better understanding of sleep can transform everyday pharmacy practice - improving public health, safety, and wellbeing. In this introductory episode, Adrian and Gareth share the purpose behind Rx for Rest: Why sleep matters more than ever in healthcare. How pharmacy can play a pivotal role in identifying and managing sleep disorders. What listeners can expect from upcoming episodes featuring global experts, real-world insights, and evidence-based discussion. Gareth relays a real-life case study - that happened the same day as the recording! If you care about sleep, health, and the future of pharmacy, this podcast is for you. Learn more: https://bspss.org Contact: info@bspss.org #SleepHealth #Pharmacy #PublicHealth #RxforRest

    10 min

  5. 01/09/2025

    Rx for Rest - The Beginning

    Welcome to the very first episode of Rx for Rest - the podcast from the BSPSS (British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services) that takes sleep seriously… and pharmacy even more so.In this launch episode, hosts Adrian Zacher (CEO, sleep health researcher and founder of the BSPSS) and Gareth Evans (BSPSS President, community pharmacist and educator) introduce themselves, the purpose behind the show, and why it’s time pharmacy woke up to sleep health.🎙️ Expect: • Honest conversations about the role of community pharmacy in tackling sleep disorders • How we’ll be using this series to share insights, challenge myths, and elevate the sector’s voice in sleep healthWhether you’re on the counter, a pharmacy technician, pharmacist, educator, researcher, or just sleep-curious, this podcast is for you. 🛏️ Listen. Learn. Lead. → Visit the British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services to learn more → Access our free CPD modules via the Chemist+Druggist Sleep Room → Follow Adrian on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/adrianzacher→ Follow Gareth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-evans-pharmacist-lipotrim/ 📌 Disclaimer:This content is intended for healthcare professionals and provided for educational and discussion purposes only. It does not constitute clinical guidance or individual medical advice. Always refer to current guidelines and use your professional judgment in practice 🎧 Listen wherever excellence is heard ;) - we’re just getting started. #RxForRest #PharmacyPodcast #SleepHealth #BSPSS #Insomnia #SleepApnoea #CPD

    12 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Rx for Rest™ is the podcast that takes sleep seriously - and pharmacy even more so. Hosts Adrian Zacher and Gareth Evans cut through the myths, challenge outdated practices, and ask: why is pharmacy still sleepwalking through a public health crisis? We dive into real conversations about insomnia, sleep apnoea, and more. We will explore the role pharmacy could - and should - be playing. You’ll hear from sleep scientists, pharmacists, policy thinkers and patients. Whether you’re on the counter, in clinic, or shaping the system - Rx for Rest™ is where the pharmacy profession wakes up to sleep.

Information