Cencora UK leaders collaborate with IHP to aid vulnerable global communities

Leaders from Alloga, PharmaLex, Alliance Healthcare, and World Courier came together to support our longstanding charity partner, International Health Partners with a donation of medicines.

The volunteering saw senior team members Marie Evans (Alliance Healthcare), Nick Blurton (Alloga UK), Paulina Wroblewska (Alloga), Ryan Williams (Alloga), Trey Anderson (Alloga), Jon Jeffery (PharmaLex), Regina Dawkins (PharmaLex) and Simon Beaumont (World Courier) ] build and distribute Essential Health Packs for IHP. These packs contain a diverse range of medical supplies that are destined for people and communities around the world that need them the most. Acting as portable pharmacies, each pack contains crucial medicines such as antibiotics and analgesics and their compact size makes them ideal for reaching even the most hard-to-reach and remote areas.

Claire Ward, Labour’s East Midlands Mayoral candidate, also joined the activity during her visit to the Alloga and Alliance Healthcare Customer Service site.

Alliance Healthcare Opens Access to Cancer Symptom Referral Scheme to UK Pharmacies Following Successful Launch Across Alphega Pharmacy Network

The ‘Not Normal for You?’ (NNFY) scheme, which enables pharmacists to refer patients showing potential cancer symptoms to their GPs, will be available to pharmacies across the UK following Alliance Healthcare’s decision to expand the scheme to all pharmacies.

As part of the rollout, Alliance Healthcare will provide pharmacies with marketing materials - including leaflets and referral cards, free-of-charge, as part of their standard delivery.

The scheme, pioneered by Alphega Pharmacy member - Jackie Lewis, owner of Lewis Pharmacy in Exmouth, was rolled out across the Alphega Pharmacy network of more than 1,000 pharmacies in the UK in October 2023.

Through the scheme, pharmacy teams are trained to spot potential early symptoms of cancers and other illnesses. All pharmacy staff, from counter assistants to pharmacists, will be trained to look for ‘red flag’ symptoms and behaviour, which may be indicative of certain cancers.

Following the identification of symptoms, a pharmacist can discuss the issue with the individual and encourage them to visit their GP if appropriate. Symptoms are written on the back of an eye-catching ‘Not Normal for You?’ orange referral card which can be presented to a GP inorder to confirm symptoms. Although the NNFY card does not enable a faster GP visit, it acts as a mode of validation of symptoms which makes it quicker for a GP to give a referral.

The brightly coloured referral card often acts as a prompt for patients to book an appointment with their GP, further increasing the likelihood of diagnosis after potential symptoms have been identified by pharmacy staff.

The initial rollout of the scheme across Alphega pharmacies showed that NNFY was extremely effective in enabling pharmacists to refer patients to their GPs, which was largely due to the existing relationship between pharmacy staff and their patients.

Jackie Lewis first rolled out the scheme to 10 pharmacies across East Devon after she was awarded £10,000 in funding from the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA’s) Health Education Forum. Jackie is also extremely grateful to Bristol Myers Squibb for their grant which enabled material development, upscale and roll out of the project. The pilot of the scheme was a success and led to its rollout across Alphega pharmacies.

Jackie has also developed a free online training programme called: ‘Let’s communicate cancer’ which aims to teach pharmacy teams about cancer symptoms using videos and quizzes. The resource is hosted on the British Oncology Pharmacy Association website and the NPA’s websites.

During the pilot a patient in one pharmacy was encouraged to visit his GP following a repeat request for purchase of cough medicine. The pharmacist concerned attended a practice meeting and was informed that this particular patient had been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of her referral, six months later his wife came into the pharmacy and thanked the pharmacist as her husband was now in remission.

This case study is in Module 1 of Let’s Communicate Cancer.

The pilot also revealed several cases of skin cancer.

Participation in the scheme will be open to pharmacies across the UK. More information about the scheme and how to participate can be found at: Bopa.org.uk/cancerhub

Jackie Lewis  said: “The ‘Not Normal for You?’ scheme offers pharmacists and their staff resources and training for the early identification of cancer in patients visiting their pharmacy. The timely detection of cancer is incredibly important and I would encourage pharmacies across the UK to participate in the scheme. By equipping frontline healthcare providers with the tools to recognise potential symptoms, lives can be saved through early treatment.”

Dr Mandeep Mudhar, Head of Alphega Pharmacy UK, adds: “The ‘Not Normal for You?’ scheme has been positively received by Alphega Pharmacy members and engagement continues to increase. With 1.6 million people visiting their community pharmacy each day in England, pharmacists are well-placed to support, and Jackie has worked tirelessly to increase awareness and empower pharmacists to have more agency when supporting their patients. We will continue to encourage our members and pharmacies to offer this service to their patients as part of our ambition to create healthier futures for all.”

Class 3 recall- Co-Codamol 8/500mg effervescent tablets (Key pharmaceuticals livery

Accord-UK Ltd is recalling a specific batch of Co-Codamol 8/500mg Effervescent Tablets (Key Pharmaceuticals Livery) as a precautionary measure due to the internal tablet blister strips being printed with an incorrect expiry date.

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-3-medicines-recall-accord-uk-ltd-co-codamol-8-slash-500mg-effervescent-tablets-key-pharmaceuticals-livery-el-24-a-slash-12?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=5bbfbb93-89fc-44d3-8872-098e5dc41b46&utm_content=immediately

Further Information

For medical information enquiries please contact Accord-UK Ltd’s Medical Information Department on 01271 385257, or email medinfo@accord-healthcare.com

For stock control enquiries please contact Accord-UK Ltd’s Customer Services Team on 0800 373573, or email customerservices@accord-healthcare.com

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

Early May 2024 bank holiday opening hours

To help keep our customers informed of changes to our service, we have published our Early May 2024 bank holiday opening hours for pharmacy and retail customers.

Early May 2024 bank holiday opening hours - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Early May 2024 bank holiday opening hours - Channel Islands and Isle of Man

Class 3 recall- OPDIVO 10 mg/mL concentrate for solution

Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited has informed the MHRA that a potential product quality issue has been detected, relating to incomplete crimping of the metal crimp cap of OPDIVO 10mg/mL concentrate for solution for infusion (nivolumab) (1VLX10ML)

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-3-medicines-recall-bristol-myers-squibb-pharmaceuticals-limited-opdivo-10-mg-slash-ml-concentrate-for-solution-for-infusion-nivolumab-el-24-a-slash-11

Further information

For medical information enquiries please contact the Bristol Myers Squibb Medical Information Department by phone (0800 731 1736) or email medical.information@bms.com.

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

Best Kept Secret: the value of Clinical Homecare to the NHS, patients and society

A new independent report commissioned by the NCHA has been released, shining new light on the value of Clinical Homecare. ‘Best Kept Secret: the value of Clinical Homecare to patients, the NHS and society’ has been steered by an independent panel of experts and shines new light on the benefits of homecare to patients, NHS and society.

Clinical Homecare can significantly enhance patients’ lives, enabling them to maintain independence, sustain relationships and pursue work or education. Clinical Homecare also provides significant financial savings and benefits to the NHS and wider society. Despite this, Clinical Homecare remains absent from long-term NHS plans, resulting in a significant missed opportunity.

Follow this link to read the full report: clinicalhomecare.org/bestkeptsecret

Alcura is proud to be a full member of the NCHA, adhering to its stringent Code of Practice and membership criteria. Our commitment to these standards ensures that we provide patients, healthcare professionals and commissioners with the assurance of rigorous excellence in all aspects of Clinical Homecare services we offer.

Class 4 caution in use-Freeflex Sodium chloride 0.9%

Fresenius Kabi Limited has informed the MHRA of an error on the infusion bag packaged into the specific batches of Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion 0.9% Freeflex.

MHRA drug alert date: 21st March 2024

MHRA drug alert link:https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-notification-fresenius-kabi-limited-sodium-chloride-intravenous-infusion-0-dot-9-percent-freeflex-el-24-a-slash-10

This is a caution in use only we are not accepting stock returns

Further information

For more information or medical information queries please email Medical.Information-UK@fresenius-kabi.com or telephone +44 (0)1928533575

For stock control enquiries please contact FK.complaints-uk@fresenius-kabi.com or telephone +44 (0) 1928 533758

Field safety notice-Carboflex dressings

Field safety notice-Carboflex dressings

We have received a recall from Convatec regarding two sizes of Carboflex dressings

Date of recall: 19/03/24

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

Class 3 recall- Oestrogel Pump-Pack 750 micrograms/actuation Gel

Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd has informed the MHRA that a defective pump system was detected in two batches of Oestrogel Pump-Pack 750 micrograms/actuation Gel.

MHRA drug alert link https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-3-medicines-recall-besins-healthcare-uk-ltd-oestrogel-pump-pack-750-micrograms-slash-actuation-gel-estradiol-el-24-a-slash-09?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=2a4a39f7-3462-4017-8038-15c956ac6096&utm_content=immediately

Further Information

For medical information enquiries please contact the Besins Healthcare UK Ltd Medical Information via email besins@eu.propharmagroup.com or by calling +44 (0)1748 828 789.

For stock control enquiries please contact Besins Healthcare UK Ltd Supply Chain via email supplychain-bhuk@besins-healthcare.com.

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

Alliance Healthcare UK entered into a new wholesale agreement with Opella Healthcare (T/A Sanofi Consumer Healthcare): February 2024

We are pleased to announce that, as of 01 February 2024, Alliance Healthcare UK has become one of the chosen wholesalers to supply Opella Healthcare’s (trading as Sanofi Consumer Healthcare) consumer healthcare products to all pharmacies in the United Kingdom.

Opella Healthcare’s consumer healthcare portfolio includes the brands Cialis®Together, Allevia®, Buscopan®Dulcolax® and Phenergan®.

Click here for full product details.