Alliance Healthcare Team Member, Fran Middleton, Competes at European Transplant Sport Championships

Alliance Healthcare is proud to announce that Fran Middleton, a dedicated Driver Development Coach from the Hinckley team, recently represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the European Transplant Sport Championships (ETSC) in Lisbon, Portugal. Fran returned with an impressive collection of accolades, including three Silver medals, one Bronze, a Team GB&NI Best Heart and Lung Team and Best Overall Team trophy.

Fran's participation in the ETSC is a testament to his resilience and dedication. After receiving a heart transplant in 2018, he has become an advocate for organ donation, raising awareness through his involvement in international sports. Last year, Fran represented Great Britain at the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia, where he competed to honour the memory of his donor and highlight the lifesaving impact of organ transplants. To support Fran and his mission, Alliance Healthcare UK sponsored the GB volleyball team, financing their kit.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the competition, Fran said:

“The European Transplant Sports Championship Lisbon 2024 has been absolutely fantastic! I'm extremely proud and honoured to have helped manage the team, challenging at times, but hugely rewarding to play a small part in everyone's success and enjoyment. The tops were great, and the team said a huge thank you for the kind sponsorship. Thanks to everyone at AHUK who rooted for me!”

Marie Evans, Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare said:

"We are incredibly proud of Fran Middleton and his unwavering determination to not only overcome personal challenges but also to inspire others through his remarkable journey. His participation in the European Transplant Sport Championships embodies the resilience, courage, and commitment that we value at Alliance Healthcare. By supporting Fran and the GB volleyball team, we are not just backing an exceptional team member, but also promoting the vital message of organ donation and its life-saving impact."

Alliance Healthcare and Alloga Raise £10,000 for Charity Through Jurassic Coast Challenge

Teams from Alliance Healthcare and Alloga have successfully raised £10,000 for Action Medical Research following the Race the Sun Jurassic Coast Challenge 2024, involving over 30 dedicated team members from across the business.

Participants tackled a 27-mile cycle, a 2-mile canoe, and a 9.6-mile hike along the scenic Jurassic Coast. For the first time, team members also had the option to participate solely in the 9.6-mile hike, making the event more inclusive and encouraging wider participation.

The participants hailed from various locations within the organisation, including the Alloga warehouse team, Preston Service Centre warehouse team, Exeter Service Centre drivers, and Support Office teams at Chessington, showcasing the unity and collaborative spirit of Alliance Healthcare. Their combined efforts and dedication to the cause were instrumental in reaching the fundraising goal.

Sam Unsworth, Head of Communications at Alliance Healthcare and a participant in the event said: "Being part of such a significant challenge for a noble cause has been an incredible experience. The determination and teamwork displayed by everyone has been inspiring. I'm proud that so many team members have come together once again to raise much needed funding for Action Medical Research.”

Lucy Holloway, Corporate Events Fundraiser at Action Medical Research, said: "We are immensely grateful for the continued support from Alliance Healthcare UK. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting our mission to save and change children’s lives through medical research.”

The Race the Sun Jurassic Coast Challenge 2024 not only highlights the physical endurance and dedication of Alliance Healthcare and Alloga team members, but also underscores the company's commitment to creating healthier futures through fundraising for charitable causes and community support.

Leanne Carey, of Barnton Pharmacy in Edinburgh, discusses her thoughts on Pharmacy First in a piece for P3 Magazine

Adapting to a new paradigm: Learnings from Pharmacy First Scotland

Contractors in England are experiencing their first year of delivering Pharmacy First, but a similar service has been running in Scotland since 2020. Scottish pharmacist Leanne Carey describes the experience as wholly positive.

The Pharmacy First scheme was launched in England this year to give patients quick and accessible care and to ease pressure on GP services for a number of conditions that pharmacists encounter and identify on a daily basis.

For my pharmacy in Scotland, Pharmacy First was introduced in July 2020, allowing pharmacists to prescribe OTC items from a specific formulary. This was extended by adding Patient Group Directions (UTI in women, impetigo, shingles, cellulitis and infected bites and allergies,) and then Pharmacy First Plus, using independent prescriber (IP) skills for common conditions in January 2021.

Although the Pharmacy First schemes in England and Scotland differ slightly, there are a number of lessons we have learned which will be applicable to pharmacies across England.

Rolling out Pharmacy First effectively

Firstly, the great benefit of the Pharmacy First scheme is that it elevates the role of pharmacists and staff, allowing us to have more influence in treating patients.

Under the scheme, patients can visit their local pharmacy without needing to book an appointment with their GP for certain minor ailments.

In England, full payment is received by referral from the GP. Pharmacists, equipped with their expertise and knowledge, can offer advice, treatment, and refer patients to other healthcare providers. The scheme also leads to greater job satisfaction; it is much more rewarding to be able to treat a patient than having to refer them to a GP.

Trust and confidence

After the roll-out of Pharmacy First in my pharmacy, we found that the scheme enhanced the patient and customer relationship.

By offering healthcare services beyond dispensing, our staff had the opportunity to build stronger relationships with patients. This has created trust and confidence in our staff’s expertise, which has led to higher patient satisfaction and loyalty.

Our prescription items and retail sales have increased by around 8 per cent each year since the service was established, despite giving more advice than prescriptions.

Patients choose to come to us first for advice, again and again.

We are part of the Alphega Pharmacy group, which was helpful for us in launching the service and getting the most out of it, including providing consultation forms that help staff get the information they need from patients to offer advice or make a referral.

Addressing capacity concerns

Pharmacies across England already have incredibly skilled and capable staff. However, it is understandable that some pharmacies have concerns about capacity.

Pharmacy staff are trained to triage patients, support with advice and OTC medication, and refer to pharmacists or technicians. We also involve pharmacy students training in branch, so they are able to support with checking patient symptoms. This training frees up the time of pharmacists and prescribers and is an excellent learning opportunity for all colleagues.

I have two post-foundation pharmacists at the moment (one full time and one part time) who stayed on after their foundation year training to be supported with the IP course and develop clinical skills to assess patients under supervision, gaining confidence in the process. This has meant I have continued to have capacity to assess patients and prescribe, support other IPs through the Teach and Treat hub I run as well as managing the business.

Making access to care more equitable for all

The Pharmacy First scheme is a significant step forward in transforming the role of community pharmacists and improving healthcare accessibility for patients across England, with more than 95 per cent of pharmacies already signed up. By capitalising on pharmacists’ expertise, the scheme not only benefits patients but allows pharmacists to have a greater role in patient care within their communities.

The Pharmacy First scheme empowers pharmacists to play a more integral role in delivering primary healthcare services. As this initiative continues to evolve, it will no doubt drive positive outcomes for both patients and pharmacists alike, creating healthier outcomes for all.

Leanne Carey is an independent prescribing community pharmacist who has owned and run Alphega member Barnton Pharmacy in Edinburgh for more than 14 years.

Published online at: Adapting to a new paradigm: Learnings from Pharmacy First Scotland (p3pharmacy.co.uk)

Visit from the Shadow Roads Minister and PPC for Leigh

On Friday 10 May we hosted a visit from the Shadow Roads Minister, Bill Esterson, and the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Leigh, Jo Platt, to Alliance Healthcare’s Leigh Service Centre.
 
The pair were given a full site tour by Leigh’s service centre manager, Zakir Patel, to showcase the sites capabilities and highlight its important role in delivering medicine to community pharmacists and hospitals in the northwest.
 
The pair also had the opportunity to meet members of the 280-strong team and get a better understanding of the vital work carried out at our service centre.
 
We discussed the Labour party’s Net Zero ambitions as well as Alliance Healthcare’s sustainability credentials.
 
We would like to thank all those involved in the visit and a special thanks to those at the Leigh Service Centre for their continued hard work and dedication to create healthier futures.
 

Alliance Healthcare Partners with Mercedes-Benz Vans to Raise Awareness for Drivers’ Mental Health

To mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May) Alliance Healthcare UK, the UK’s leading wholesaler of healthcare products, has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Vans to bring van drivers together through sport.

Mercedes-Benz Vans and ex-Sky Sports football pundit Chris Kamara have launched Vantasy Football, the UK’s first five-a-side football tournament to bring van drivers together to help improve mental wellbeing.

A team of Alliance Healthcare delivery drivers taking part in the tournament joined Kamara for a football coaching session and as an opportunity to open up about driver mental health. The event comes as Mercedes-Benz Vans launched it’s Under the Bonnet report which revealed van drivers spend up to 25 hours a week alone with no one to talk to while a third (35%) have three or fewer conversations a day at work – compared with the national average of 27.

Alliance Healthcare’s 1,300 drivers deliver 2.4 million medicines to pharmacies and healthcare professionals across the UK every day to help ensure patients have access to the medications they need. Beyond the football training event, Alliance Healthcare has planned activities throughout the year to support positive mental health, including its annual football tournament that brings together over 100 players and their families from across the network.

Alliance Healthcare also supports the mental health of its drivers through ongoing education and awareness. The driver booklet ‘A road to wellness’ contains information relating to mental health and signposting to resources for further help and support. Alliance Healthcare provides all team members with access to an employee assistance programme, as well as the internal support (in-house) from 80 trained mental health first aiders.
 

Marie Evans, Managing Director of Alliance Healthcare UK, said: “Our 1,300 drivers are the backbone of our delivery network, working hard to ensure that pharmacies, healthcare professionals and patients across the UK have access to the medications they need. The campaign with Mercedes-Benz Vans shines an important light on some of the pressures faced by drivers across every industry. The initiative identified that sport, alongside ongoing education and awareness, reflects our continued commitment to support the mental health and wellbeing of our teams. While there’s always more to do, listening and understanding is an important first step and we’re proud to be supporting our drivers with greater resource, including dedicated mental health first aiders, and bringing them together through team sport.”

Antony Simmons, Head of Transport for Alliance Healthcare UK, said: “At Alliance Healthcare UK, we put our people first. On a daily basis as a driver, you face many unique and sometimes stressful situations; I’ve worked in transport for over 30 years and was a driver myself, so I understand the challenges faced by our drivers and the potential for it to become a pressurised and lonely role if you don’t have the support in place. That’s why I’m pleased that Alliance Healthcare UK is shining a light on mental health and proactively taking steps to support the safety, efficiency, and overall wellbeing of our drivers.”
 

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.”

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.

South Normanton customer service centre welcomes Claire Ward

This week we welcomed Claire Ward, the mayoral candidate for the East Midlands, to our customer service centre in South Normanton and the Alloga UK Amber Park warehouse facility.

Claire met our Customer Service Agents to hear about the 1.5million customer conversations the team support each year, before meeting some of the 1,500 Alloga team members to learn more about the pre-wholesale business.

Claire also spent time with Marie Evans, Managing Director, Alliance Healthcare UK, who said: “It’s been wonderful to welcome Claire to the site and I’m delighted she had the opportunity to join our volunteering work in packing doctor packs full of essential medicines with International Health Partners today."

Early detection paves the way for healthier futures: Highlights from AHUK’s Cancer Day Event

Alliance Healthcare UK recently hosted an impactful World Cancer Day Coffee morning, shining a light on the urgency and importance of early cancer detection. The event was marked by compelling discussions, heartfelt stories, and resilience against this global health challenge.

"Never, never, ever give up."

The event kicked off with Matt Addison, Operation Director at Alliance Healthcare UK, presenting key cancer statistics that underscored the importance of early detection. His opening speech was filled with inspiring messages of strength, determination, and hope. He shared powerful phrases like "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger", "I can, and I will", and "Never, never, ever give up". These words set a strong theme for the event: standing strong against cancer and how early detection can save lives.

Jackie Lewis: A pillar in pharmacy

Pharmacist Director, and valued Alliance Healthcare customer, Jackie Lewis, provided invaluable insights from her own journey with cancer. Owner of Lewis Pharmacy in Exmouth for 19 years and an Alphega Pharmacy member, she encourages community pharmacists to support their patients on the cancer pathway.

Jackie has developed ‘Let’s Communicate Cancer’, a comprehensive training package for pharmacy teams that has received national accreditation from NHS. In collaboration with Alliance Healthcare UK, she introduced ‘Not Normal for You’—a service designed to enable pharmacy staff to identify early stages of cancer in patients.

Understanding cancer staging & trends

The importance of understanding cancer staging was highlighted during the event. With nearly half of all cancer cases diagnosed at stage 3 or 4—which is harder to treat—the goal set by NHS is to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028.

38% of cancer cases are deemed preventable

With 38% of cancer cases deemed preventable, maintaining a healthy lifestyle was emphasised as crucial—non-smoking status, healthy weight management, nutritious eating habits, abstaining from alcohol consumption and sun safety are key preventive measures.

Regular screenings can help detect potential issues early; however, barriers such as embarrassment or fear often deter individuals from these important appointments—a concern discussed at length during the coffee morning.

Maximising opportunities within Pharmacy

Pharmacies are uniquely positioned to aid early detection—through over-the-counter conversations, consultations during vaccinations or simply asking about symptoms when customers buy medications. The 'Not Normal for You' service is one such initiative aimed at leveraging these opportunities for better patient outcomes.

“Cancer doesn't discriminate.”

Lee Garrett, National Account Manager – Hospitals, shared his personal experiences with cancer and the story of his friend Ben who has received 75 rounds of chemo and won’t stop until he beats Cancer.

His message was clear—if something doesn't feel right get it checked out without delay or embarrassment because "cancer doesn't discriminate". His recent challenge—to run 40 miles with family for Royal Marsden Charity—is a testament to showing support for those living with cancer and raising awareness of early detection.

Through hosting events like these and supporting patients via Alcura through their treatment process; Alliance Healthcare UK reaffirms its commitment towards creating healthier futures. This is more than just our purpose—it's a promise we live up to each day. United in our responsibility, we continue to take proactive steps forward in the battle against cancer, turning hope into action for a healthier tomorrow.