UK Minister for Public Health visits Alcura

We were delighted to welcome the The Minister for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, the Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP to Alcura’s Brackmills site to show her the fantastic work our Northampton team are doing.

The minister was given a full tour of the site by Alcura’s Head of Production, Ellie Taylor, and saw first-hand the vital role our staff play in the medicine supply chain.

The minster then sat down with Alliance Healthcare’s Marie Evans, Owen Cooper, Sam Unsworth and Catherine Van Vilet to discuss the key challenges the sector faces and the incredible work of Alcura’s home care offering. 

Thank you to everyone involved in the visit and a special thanks to the Alcura Northampton Team for all of your hard work. 

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2023: Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy Reiterate Their Commitment

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy are once more rallying behind World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) this year. This marks a continuation of their support from the previous year, as they aim to tackle the global challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The theme for WAAW 2023 is "Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”. This decision was made after a comprehensive online consultation by the World Health Organisation, with stakeholders spanning human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors in search of an impactful campaign theme.

This year's WAAW runs from the 18th till the 25th of November. The week-long initiative aspires to raise awareness about global antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driving best practices regarding antimicrobial usage to curtail the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

Marie Evans, Managing Director, Alliance Healthcare said: “We are once again proud to be supporting AMR week to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices for using antimicrobials. It is important to continue to share awareness of this and pledge our support along with the NHS.”

The campaign alerts people that unnecessary intake of antibiotics could lead them towards having more serious or prolonged infections and strongly encourages adherence to doctor’s advice on antibiotic use.

Support us and the NHS during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Alliance Healthcare continues its pledge to be an Antibiotic Guardian and is proud to support this campaign once more. Find out more here.

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy UK support Pharmacist Support’s ACTNow campaign

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alphega Pharmacy UK are once again proudly supporting Pharmacist Support’s ACTNow campaign.

The campaign supports pharmacists and pharmacy teams to encourage a mental health and wellbeing culture shift in the workplace, this year’s focus is to highlight real life workplace wellbeing practices that have made a positive impact.

ACTnow encourages individuals to:

• - Allow time for wellbeing
• - Consider the needs of others
• - Take action

In 2022, the ACTNow campaign achieved remarkable milestones, with a 49% increase in sign-ups and a 197% rise in social media engagement compared to the previous year. The campaign garnered over 16,000 website page views, reached a broader audience, including more male pharmacists, and received overwhelming positive feedback, with 88% of participants finding it very useful or useful, and 85% expressing the desire for future campaigns.

To find out more about the ACTNow Campaign please click here.

Alliance Healthcare Team Member Completes Blenheim Palace Triathlon in Aid of Cancer Research UK

Alliance Healthcare UK Chessington Support Centre team member, Roslyn Glover, has raised over £2,900 for Cancer Research UK taking part in this year’s Super Sprint Triathlon.

Roslyn was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2019 and started running as part of her recovery. In 2020, she took part in the Race for Life 5km race and then, inspired by the GB Triathlon Team, Roslyn decided she would train for a triathlon.

The Super Sprint Triathlon is a 400-meter lake swim, 13.3km cycle and then a 2.9km run set in the grounds of UNESCO World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace. Each year, over 7,000 participants of all ages and abilities take part in the triathlon.

Roslyn finished the lake swim and closed road course in an impressive 1 hr 22 mins 51 secs this June.

The Cencora Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Alliance Healthcare’s parent company Cencora, is proud to show support for Roslyn by donating $2,500 USD bringing the total to almost £5,000. You can still donate here.

Ros Glover, AHUK customer finance team member, said:

“I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2019, so the Cancer Research charity is, quite literally, very close to my heart. I was inspired by the GB Triathlon Team at the Tokyo Olympics and set my sights on completing a triathlon with the ambition to raise funds for the charity. It was an incredible challenge but completing the race gave me a real sense of achievement. A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored and supported me.”

Sam Unsworth, Head of Communications at Alliance Healthcare UK, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement and Roslyn should be proud of the extraordinary sum she has raised for Cancer Research, which has been matched by the Cencora Foundation. We are pleased that so many Alliance Healthcare UK team members showed their support for Roslyn, and we look forward to seeing what challenge she takes on next.”

AmerisourceBergen becomes Cencora, in alignment with the company’s growing global footprint and central role in pharmaceutical access and care

New name of company reflects unified global presence and collective goal of creating healthier futures by accelerating positive outcomes for customers and their patients

Company announces more than $5 million commitment to global corporate philanthropic efforts

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (August 30, 2023) – Cencora, Inc. (NYSE: COR) today announced the completion of its name and stock ticker change from AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC), marking the latest stage of the company’s evolution as a leader in global pharmaceutical services. Cencora will begin trading under the new ticker symbol “COR” on the New York Stock Exchange at the open of the market trading today, August 30, 2023. 

Under the new name Cencora, the company unifies its 46,000 employees – across several global business segments – under one identity, propelled by a bold vision and purpose-driven approach to creating healthier futures.

The new name underscores Cencora’s experience and vision when it comes to connecting manufacturers, providers, pharmacies and patients, and ensuring the consistent, reliable flow of treatments to those who need them at a time of growing complexity.

"Today is a significant and exciting milestone for Cencora. Our new name is a reminder of our customers, their patients, and our team members who are at the center of everything we do,” said Steven H. Collis, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Cencora. “It represents the healthier futures we strive for serving as a trusted industry partner that prioritizes innovation, advocates for patient access, and advances strategic partnerships across the global pharmaceutical value chain.”

As a global healthcare company, Cencora will continue to invest in and focus on its core pharmaceutical distribution business, while also growing its platform of pharma and biopharma services to support pharmaceutical innovation and access across the globe.

Aligned with the company’s purpose, and to commemorate this seminal moment in the organization’s history, Cencora also announced a $5 million donation to the Cencora Impact Foundation, formerly known as the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization. The donation will be used to launch the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program, which aims to identify opportunities to support those on the front lines of healthcare in underserved populations who are driving innovation in global health. Targeted donations from the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program, operated by Cencora Impact Foundation, will go toward nonprofits and charities around the world that are advancing access to care and directly impacting communities in need.

The inaugural donation out of the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program will be a $500,000 grant made to the UNICEF Health Fund, which focuses on ensuring every child has the ability to survive and thrive by providing strong primary healthcare systems, training healthcare professionals, and working closely with national governments to ensure programs are replicable at scale. These system-wide responses aim to reduce the number of maternal and newborn deaths, provide children with immunizations, reduce malnutrition, address adolescent mental health, and combat the rise of non-communicable diseases. 

“We are grateful for support from the Cencora Impact Foundation to help UNICEF deliver large-scale, sustainable results in ensuring the health of the world’s most vulnerable children,” said V. Renée Cutting, Chief Philanthropy Officer, UNICEF USA.

Cencora Ventures, formerly known as AB Health Ventures, the company’s dedicated corporate venture fund, has also committed to donating 10% of future realized profits to support the efforts of the Cencora Impact Foundation and its continued work to improve healthcare access globally.

For more information about the rebrand and updated design and branding elements, visit: www.cencora.com

About Cencora

Cencora is a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals around the world. We partner with pharmaceutical innovators across the value chain to facilitate and optimize market access to therapies. Care providers depend on us for the secure, reliable delivery of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, and solutions. Our 46,000+ worldwide team members contribute to positive health outcomes through the power of our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Cencora is ranked #11 on the Fortune 500 and #24 on the Global Fortune 500 with more than $200 billion in annual revenue. Learn more at www.cencora.com

Supporting the NHS – a Q&A with couple who both work for the NHS

Last month we celebrated 75 years of the NHS. This prompted us to take look closer at our amazing National Health Service. We caught up with a Jim (a GP) and Marie (an intensive care nurse) who have both worked for the NHS for over thirty years.

What has your experience been working with the NHS?

Jim: I am very proud to have worked for the NHS for 36 years and it is a privilege to work for such an amazing organisation. The NHS has evolved and changed over the years to accommodate the changing demographics and needs of its population. It has been incredibly hard work but enormously rewarding.

Marie: I’ve worked for the NHS for 40 years and my experience has generally been very good. Whilst the work has been difficult both mentally and physically, particularly in the last few years, it is incredibly rewarding. Working alongside amazing colleagues helps you through the tougher moments.

Coming out of the pandemic, how has your work evolved?

Jim: We have embraced new technology, supported our patients and each other and tried to develop strategies to cope with a staggering increase in demand.

Marie: More of the day-to-day has moved online, it is much busier, there are less staff and higher expectations. It must be said that the pandemic has drastically changed the way that we work, and the way that the public see us. That said, I feel immensely proud to have been able to work in intensive care during the pandemic. It was extremely difficult, but the work that every member of staff did during that time was incredible.

Do you have a message for the NHS as it celebrates its 75th year?

Jim: Keep working hard to care for your patients, embrace change, support your colleagues and staff. Know that you are doing a great job and are much appreciated.

Marie: The NHS is a wonderful institution that I’ve been proud to work for my whole career. My message to all NHS workers is to keep doing what you’re doing – the hardest moments will be worth it; you are making a difference every day.

Supporting the NHS – a Q&A with Victoria Hoy, Pharmacy Procurement and IT Manager, Royal Surrey Foundation Trust

Earlier this month we celebrated 75 years of the NHS. This prompted us to take look closer at how we support our amazing National Health Service. We caught up with one of the pharmacists we work with on a daily basis and asked about her experiences of working with the NHS and the working relationship with Alliance Healthcare.

Do you enjoy working for the NHS?

The NHS have had a lot of ups and downs over the years, in particular the challenges we faced with Covid. Caring for our patients is obviously our main priority, so when we do face difficult times, we are like a family who support and help each other through, which is a wonderful thing to be a part of.

How would you describe working with Alliance Healthcare?

Alliance Healthcare are a huge part of our patient care, particularly in the pharmacy world. Knowing that we have a reliable source to provide of a huge range of medications means we can ensure there are no hold ups to care and can continue to look after our patients.  In my experience, the service you provide has always been extremely dependable so when we are rushed off our feet, we know the experience we receive from you will be stress free.

Coming out of the pandemic, how has your work evolved?

We had to become a lot more reactive as our patients and staff got used to us being able to source products quickly and efficiently during that time. This expectation has continued as we move out of the pandemic, so we have learned to adapt our work processes and order medications as soon as we are asked to.

How did you celebrate 75 years of the NHS?

Our Trust brought in ice cream vans and staff were all able to get free ice cream for the day. There were also various events going on within the Trust which allowed staff and patients to celebrate together.

Do you have a Birthday message for them?

Happy Birthday NHS, you have looked after so many people over the years, including many of my family and friends. You provide access to care for all, and I hope you continue to do so for many years to come. Through the bad times and good, I am proud to be an NHS employee.

Alliance Healthcare Team Members Complete 6-hour Trek in Aid of Alzheimer’s Society Dressed as ‘Glamorous Grannies’

Alliance Healthcare UK team members Nick Atkins, Swansea Service Centre Manager, and Karl Goodall, Swansea Driver Team Manager, successfully climbed Pen y Fan in South Wales in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

Pen y Fan, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, is the highest British peak south of the Cadair Idris in Snowdonia standing at 886 metres above sea level.

Nick and Karl embarked on the trek dressed as ‘glamorous grannies’ - donning wigs, tights, and dresses to climb the famous peak and raise money for those with dementia. Dementia is a disease which most commonly affects those aged 65 and over and 65% of the 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK are women*. The pair completed the mountain trek in six hours, carrying an Alliance Healthcare medicines cool box weighing over 35 kg. They have so far raised over £1,500 for Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to Nick Atkins’s heart.

Alzheimer’s Society is a national care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers. The charity comprises trusted experts, campaigners, researchers, and clinicians who are attempting to tackle the biggest challenges facing people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is the only UK dementia charity to fund both biomedical and care research.

Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said:

“Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is delighted that Nick and Karl from Alliance Healthcare scaled Pen Y Fan as ‘glamourous grannies’ to raise funds and awareness, particularly when Nick is directly affected by dementia. With over 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales and 900,000 across the UK, there has never been more important time to support our work.

“Alzheimer’s Society Cymru relies on the generosity of its supporters, like Nick and Karl and Alliance Healthcare, to help us continue our vital work, providing help and hope for people affected by dementia. We cannot thank Nick and Karl enough for their amazing efforts to support Alzheimer’s Society Cymru.”

Nick Atkins, Swansea Service Centre Manager, said:

“We decided to dress up as glamorous elderly ladies to bring attention to the demographic that are most affected by the disease. Raising money for Alzheimer’s Society is very close to my heart as my mother is currently in the later stages of this horrible disease. It’s great that every penny raised through this event will go to such a worthy cause.”

Karl Goodall, Swansea Driver Team Manager, said:

“After doing many charity events previously I now needed a different challenge. When Nick and I spontaneously came up with this unique idea I knew it would be a sure way to raise money and awareness for such a great cause!”

You can still donate to their cause by visiting the following link: Fundraiser by Nicholas Atkins : The Betty & Edna Mountain Climb (gofundme.com)

If you need help, visit alzheimers.org.uk or call 0333 150 3456 to speak to one of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s expert dementia Advisers.

Supporting the NHS – a Q&A with Kara Richards, Alcura nurse

Earlier this month we celebrated 75 years of the NHS. This prompted us to take a closer look at how we support our amazing National Health Service. In the first of a series of three interviews with Alliance Healthcare team members – we caught up with Kara Richards one of our Alcura nurses.

Alcura supports the NHS with both straightforward and complex patient needs through a comprehensive end-to-end service, to enable patients to receive care out of the hospital environment. 

Kara is the Operations Manager for the field team and manages the Alcura nursing team on a day-to-day basis. The team consists of 45 registered nurses who provide service to patients from NHS trusts across the whole of the UK.

As a registered nurse herself, Kara did her training at a hospital in Milton Keynes and has worked in various areas across the NHS covering all aspects of nursing in hospitals, the community, as well as the private sector supporting the NHS. She has always supported NHS patients and worked with the organisation to manage their care of patients by providing additional support and resources. 

When asked how she would sum up her experience of working with the NHS, Kara said:

“I started my career in the NHS and its where my true passion for nursing started. I think it's a fantastic organisation and I am very proud to have worked with them and of the support that we (Alcura) are able to offer them. Any help that we're able to give to support and work collaboratively within the NHS is just a positive thing. It would also be great to grow and innovate what we can offer to the NHS, the work that we do is very beneficial to our communities.”

Do you have one person you link to at the NHS or are you all inter linked?

“We deal directly with them and the clinical teams will have a contact escalation matrix if there are any issues they need to raise. I speak to the clinical nurse teams, the clinical home care pharmacists, consultants, and clinicians. We have review meetings for some of our services on a regular basis just to ensure that the service we're providing is suitable. We also work closely with our hospital account managers and the commercial and manufacturing account managers - communication between the two teams is important and done well.”

What was your experience of working and supporting the NHS during the pandemic?

“I worked in the field team as the pandemic started and we managed to continue all the services we provided pre-COVID without any disruption. The patients we cared for were very vulnerable, immunosuppressed and couldn’t go into clinics as they would do normally, so we played a vital role at that stage. Alcura nurses provided a continuous feedback link with the Trust, writing up detailed reviews of their patients, letting the NHS know if there were any clinical issues that needed escalating or raising. 

It wasn’t just about the physical giving of the medication but also the holistic, safeguarding, and mental health care too. It was a really difficult time for those in hospital as they were facing COVID head on, so we were able to really support those patients that were vulnerable in the community that may have not been monitored as closely. The support we got from the NHS and from the PPE suppliers meant that our nurses could continue working. I was told there was no delay in any treatment during that whole time frame. We just continued to follow NHS England guidelines and worked with the NCHA to ensure that our nurses stayed safe.”

How did you celebrate the milestone Birthday at Alliance Healthcare?

“We had tea and cake stations around the building as we joined in with the NHS Big Tea to celebrate. We also raised money for NHS charities and team members joined in with ‘wear it blue’ day.”
 

Happy 75th Birthday to the NHS!

Wednesday 5 July marked 75 years of our amazing National Health Service (NHS).

Marie Evans, Managing Director, Alliance Healthcare UK said: 

“Today marks 75 years of our fantastic NHS, and we would like to take a moment to thank all the healthcare professionals who work tirelessly each day to keep our vital service running. This significant anniversary presents an opportunity for us all to stop and consider just how lucky we are that the National Health Service gives us comprehensive access to healthcare, free at the point of delivery, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

“We’re so proud that we work alongside them, supplying one in every three medicines taken by NHS patients and serving over 17,000 pharmacies, doctors, hospitals and health centres across the UK. At Alliance Healthcare UK we’re marking the occasion with lots of activity across our sites including local tea parties and encouraging our team members to wear blue on the day itself.”

At Alliance Healthcare UK team members across our sites got together to celebrate by wearing blue and taking part in activities such as bake sales and tea parties.