Latest update from PSNC on lateral flow device stock

On 5th January 2022, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) provided this update from the UKHSA on the stock availabililty and distribution of lateral flow device (LFD) test kits:

"The unprecedented public demand for Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kits via the Pharmacy Collect service continues.

"The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are continuing to deliver stock to Alliance Healthcare for onward delivery to pharmacies. PSNC has been in regular contact with the UKHSA about the supply issues and we have the following update for pharmacy teams.

"By the end of this week (8th January 2022), the UKHSA will have distributed over 8 million tests to Alliance Healthcare (representing c.1,142,800 individual packs of 7 tests and just over 19,000 cartons). The UKHSA has indicated that Alliance Healthcare are delivering 86% of their orders within 24 hours of the pharmacy order, with almost half of that on the same day.

"For the remainder of January the UKHSA is planning to distribute 10.5 million tests per week (c. 1.5 million individual packs of 7 tests and just over 25,000 cartons) via Alliance Healthcare, replenishing Alliance Healthcare depots as test kits are distributed to pharmacies."

You can read the PSNC's full update, including advice for contractors on ordering LFD kits, on their website.

Service Disruption

As we continue to navigate the challenges caused by COVID related absence, there may be some service disruption across the Alliance Healthcare network. We understand the frustration this may cause for our customers and continue to work hard to minimise any impact to our service.

Alliance Healthcare would like to thank all its customers for their understanding at this time.

Lateral flow test distribution – a message on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – 22 December 2021

A UKHSA spokesperson said:

“Despite unprecedented demand, we are continuing to supply millions of rapid lateral flow tests every day.

“We are issuing record numbers of rapid test kits to people’s homes across the country, and our delivery capacity has doubled to 900,000 test kits per day since Saturday 18 December so more people can order tests. Over the weekend of the 18th December over 7 million lateral flow tests were distributed to households ordering online.

“A temporary issue with UKHSA's supply chain has delayed supplies of rapid test kits to Alliance Healthcare and has, in turn, caused some disruption to the supply of these kits to community pharmacies. UKHSA is working with its partners to resolve this and normal service will resume shortly. Community pharmacies can access the latest information via their association or myahportal. Last week saw record numbers of rapid tests distributed by the wholesaler to pharmacies, with over 11 million test kits sent.”

Additional background information:

• – In exceptional demand there may be temporary pauses in ordering or collecting tests, to ensure that distribution can be managed effectively across the system.

• – The UKHSA and Royal Mail announced capacity for home deliveries for COVID-19 testing kits will double to 900,000 a day in response to a week of unprecedented demand.

• – Healthcare workers can access LFDs from the usual routes that are open to the public (home delivery, pharmacy collection, and some community settings).

Order information from Alliance Healthcare

• – You are advised to place orders as normal via your usual ordering systems. If sufficient product is available on the day you place your order, it will be supplied. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

• – England only: please use pip code 8943995 to place your order which will automatically defer to which ever product is in stock at the time.

• – You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal

Posters to support you with patient communications

The UKHSA has created a poster for pharmacies to download, print and display on premises, which you can find here.

Zero tolerance posters are also available from the CRC as well which you can access here.

Message from the Pharmacy Collect team at UKHSA

“We would like to thank all staff at Alliance Healthcare for their ongoing efforts to help distribute test kits on our behalf. We recognise that at times it can be challenging dealing with difficult calls and queries and want to acknowledge the hard work that all staff, such as people working in the warehouse, call centre and drivers, are doing to help the efforts in the fight against COVID. We urge our members to visit the Alliance Healthcare website and myahportal for regular updates on this situation.”

Lateral Flow Test Update – Friday 17 December PM Update

The unprecedented demand for lateral flow test kits from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period continues. By Wednesday evening this week, Alliance Healthcare had almost delivered the entire weeks anticipated volume.

Please see below an important update regarding the lateral flow distribution as part of the Pharmacy Collect service Alliance Healthcare is supporting on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

This update contains information specific to pharmacy customers in (1) England, and (2) Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

1. England 

Message on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 

A UKHSA spokesperson said: 

“We have issued a record number of rapid test kits to people across the country. There has been unprecedented demand for testing this week and around 400,000 test kits have been delivered to people’s homes each day to help combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 

“Over 11 million tests have been distributed this week to pharmacies across the UK, which has doubled from last week.
 

“Today, Friday 17 December, we will be unable to provide some pharmacies with their test allocation and we are working hard to meet demand.
 

“If you have tests at home, we encourage people to use these or order for home delivery on gov.uk"

Further information: 

• – Due to exceptionally high demand, LFD tests are temporarily unavailable at pharmacies.

• – This is due to unprecedented demand from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period.

• – You can find where to get a lateral flow tests kit on gov.uk.

• – We would encourage people to use any tests they may already have at home before ordering online at gov.uk

Posters to support pharmacy communications with patients 

The UKHSA has created a poster for pharmacies to download, print and display on premises, which you can find here. Zero tolerance posters are also available from the CRC as well which you can access here. 

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

Please use pip code 8943995 to place your order which will automatically defer to which ever product is in stock at the time.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal.

2. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 

Due to the latest Government announcements, we have seen high demand for lateral flow tests. Our Coatbridge, Swansea and Belfast Service Centres may be experiencing delays on being able to supply orders. We have adjusted our order levels accordingly to meet any increased demand and stocks should be replenished regularly to meet the demand.

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal (myahportal.co.uk).

3. Thank you

Alliance Healthcare would like to take this opportunity to thank community pharmacy and the NHS for its incredible efforts in the fight against COVID-19; to date, Alliance Healthcare UK has delivered over 200 million lateral flow kits to pharmacy across the UK. 

Message from the Pharmacy Collect team at UKHSA: 

"We would like to thank all staff at Alliance for their ongoing efforts to help distribute test kits on our behalf. We recognise that at times it can be challenging dealing with difficult calls and queries and want to acknowledge the hard work that all staff, such as people working in the warehouse, call centre and drivers, are doing to help the efforts in the fight against Covid." 

Lateral Flow Tests Update

Alliance Healthcare supports the Government's Pharmacy Collect scheme and its efforts to support UK patients in the fight against COVID-19. Due to the latest Government announcements we have seen high demand for lateral flow tests. We can confirm that some Alliance Healthcare Service Centres may be experiencing delays on being able to supply orders. 

We have adjusted our order levels accordingly to meet any increased demand and stocks should be replenished within the next 24-48 hours. Community pharmacy can only order 1 carton per day and should arrive within three days as part of normal Alliance Healthcare deliveries. In some areas, to alleviate the high volumes, some orders may arrive via Parcel Force, within a five day window. Pharmacy stores should continue to order in the same way via our ordering portal myahportal.

Christmas and New Year 2021/22 Bank Holiday Opening Hours now available

To help keep our customers informed of changes to our service, we have published our Christmas and New Year 2021/22 Bank Holiday opening hours.

Please click here for more information.

Full service offering maintained, in spite of absence challenges

COVID absence and ongoing driver shortages continue in certain areas across the UK. This has been well documented in the media across all industries at this time.

We continue to mitigate these issues with various initiatives. There are still challenges being felt in some areas but we have a continued recruitment drive which is helping to bring new colleagues into the business. We are also continuing to move some of our more experienced drivers from their home bases to hot spots around the UK. 

Our main aim, as ever, is to provide a stable service to our customers and, in turn, patients across the UK.

We will continue to keep you updated on the situation as it evolves.

Our August 2021 Bank Holiday Opening Hours

A reminder to our customers that our August 2021 Bank Holiday opening hours can be found by clicking here.

August 2021 Bank Holiday Opening Hours now available

To help keep our customers informed of changes to our service, we have published our August 2021 Bank Holiday opening hours. 

Click here

National Driver shortage

HGV drivers

It has been widely covered in the UK press that there is a shortage of HGV drivers available across the country.

As a business, Alliance Healthcare and all subsidiary companies have a strong network of HGV drivers. One third of our workforce have achieved long service awards, with more than ten years’ experience, and tremendous loyalty to the business. This gives us confidence that we are in a safe place with regard to employment in this sector and our role in supporting the UK patient.

Van drivers

With our daily driver population we are experiencing two main issues: COVID absence rates due to isolations and a recruitment shortage across the country. With one of these complications in isolation our service levels would be maintained, however with both at once, it does cause some difficulties.

You may have recently experienced some missing deliveries on occasion from certain service centres for which we apologise and hope this has not significantly impacted supply to your patients. Please be assured that where this has occurred, we have endeavoured to, and will continue to let you know as soon as possible and provide information through the myahprtal.

How we are mitigating the situation

On a day by day basis, teams across operations are working hard to ensure that these challenges impact service as little as possible. This includes dynamic route changing, prioritisation and altering staffing. There is also an ongoing recruitment drive to encourage drivers to join our business. We encourage you all to refer any individuals to us if they could be suitable for a role.

Committed to supporting our customers and patients

Despite these current challenges, maintaining a stable service to customers remains our priority and we thank you for your continued support. The UK patient is at the heart of everything we do and we appreciate your continued dedication.

We will continue to keep you updated on the situation as it evolves.