Latest news from UKHSA: Living with Covid announcement

England only:

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 21 February that free mass testing will end from 1 April, this means that the Pharmacy Collect service will end on 31 March. UKHSA will work with its distributors, NHSEI and the PSNC on a smooth transition to the end of the service.

UKHSA continues to have good stock levels and will manage these to provide flexibility in future. Ahead of the end of free universal testing in England, it will be necessary for UKHSA to cap the number of tests distributed each day to manage demand. Given that advice to test has and continues to reduce, the Government urges people only to order what they need.

We will be in touch with pharmacy contractors with details such as final claims, test kits and orders.

Information from Alliance Healthcare:

UK & NI:
Alliance Healthcare continue to work with the UKHSA on the distribution of lateral flow tests to support the Pharmacy Collect scheme.

For latest PIP codes please visit myahportal.co.uk

Prescription Validation Service now available on the myahportal

Alliance Healthcare is delighted to announce the launch of a new innovative and customer friendly functionality on the Alliance Healthcare portal, www.myahportal.co.uk as of 21 February 2022

This new functionality allows our customers to submit their Prescription Validation orders more efficiently, and allows them to check the status of their order via the portal. This functionality will be available for customers to place and check orders 24/7.

This new innovation provides pharmacies with an alternative way to send an anonymised Prescription to Alliance Healthcare for validation and supply of any item subject to Prescription Validation (PVS).

Taking advantage of this new service means our accounts will benefit through                                             

- A simplified supply optimisation process for PVS - making it easier to do business with us

- Access to order progress updates so they can track the order via the myahportal

- Receipt of the required stock quicker - due to this advanced technology

- Modernisation of the process - no need to rely on fax technology

- Efficiencies to their business – another feature in our one stop shop offering provided by myahportal  

To help assist our accounts with this new service, we have produced a short video on how to use the new portal functionality which can be accessed here

For further information or assistance with this new functionality, please contact the Customer Portal Team on 0330 100 0448 – option 8 or email CustomerPortal@alliance-healthcare.co.uk with ‘PVS’ in the title of your email.

Message from Marie Evans following Storm Eunice

Earlier today (18 February 2022), one of our vans in the Croydon area was hit by a falling tree as a result of Storm Eunice. You may have seen this incident feature on news broadcasts and social media recently. We wanted to share the news that thankfully our driver is unharmed and is home safely.
 
Please click here to read a message from Marie Evans, Managing Director.

AmerisourceBergen launches its new ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) microsite and FY21 report

Caring for our people, planet and the communities we serve is extremely important to our business.

This week, AmerisourceBergen launched its new ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) report and microsite.

As part of AmerisourceBergen, we are delighted to be part of the global effort to create healthier futures.

Discover highlights here from Alliance Healthcare UK in this year's report and learn more about: Getting Drastic with Plastic, supporting the EORTC, Alloga Investors in People and supporting International Health Partners.

Our Health & Beauty team launch the improved H&B Portal including new Knowledge Zone feature

This exciting new service expands the functionality of the portal, providing pharmacies with a range of content to help them grow and deliver a first-class customer experience. 

The Knowledge Zone was developed to provide Healthcare Professional’s with educational materials including ailment driven knowledge, links to training, new product developments and category insights. It provides guidance based on practical knowledge, empowering Healthcare Professionals to understand, identify and manage the most common conditions seen daily in pharmacies, including product recommendations for treatment.

Sachiv Patel, Category Director, is extremely proud of the new feature, saying: “The Knowledge Zone is a fantastic development on the Health & Beauty portal, increasing the support offered to Healthcare Professionals and expanding their knowledge, in order to better serve their customers. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in its creation.” 

The site is now available to all independent and key accounts.

This is another great development on the myahportal and we strive to have many more in the future, improving the functionality for our customers and making their lives easier!

Introducing Alliance Healthcare's dedicated pharmacy newsletter – Independent Pulse!

Without a doubt, the last 18-24 months have been relentlessly tough and challenging for everyone, not least pharmacy teams and healthcare professionals. Community pharmacy has once again been asked to step-up and support the UK COVID-19 vaccination efforts and the team at Alliance Healthcare are doing everything we can to support their efforts.

Alliance Healthcare is proud to launch Independent Pulse - our dedicated newsletter for community pharmacy, packed full of all the latest news and service information from Alliance Healthcare to support community pharmacy.

This issue provides important information on:

• – Christmas/New Year bank holiday opening hours

• – Lateral flow test kits distribution

• – Marie Evans' appointment as Managing Director

• – Delivery of pre-ordered flu vaccines and preparing for 2022 Flu Season

• – Operational readiness

• – Health & beauty promotional offers

• – A reminder of our COVID-19 vaccination distribution video

• – Our sustainability pledge campaign

• – Plus a festive message to all of our downstream customers

Read our Independent Pulse here or visit our Winter Readiness page.

We hope you enjoy reading and look forward to any feedback you may have.

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alloga UK celebrated for ‘Outstanding Response to COVID’

Alliance Healthcare and Alloga in the UK were the proud recipients of the Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Response to COVID at the Logistics UK Awards 2021. 

The onset of COVID-19 meant quick thinking and rapid action to ensure the supply of medicines to the NHS and UK patients did not falter. Colleagues from across Alliance Healthcare and Alloga worked tirelessly to ensure the stock of medicines was maintained across the UK.

This special award was open to an individual or organisation who demonstrated an outstanding response to the pandemic in 2020 within the logistics sector.  To enter this award, the company had to demonstrate how it led a class-leading response to COVID-19, how this was achieved and the outcome that followed.

Marie Evans, who was recently announced as Alliance Healthcare’s new Managing Director, said: “I am delighted that our business and team of 6,000 colleagues have been recognised at this level for our contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Our main aim over this unprecedented period is to support the NHS, pharmacy and all UK patients, and this award is true recognition for all of that hard work and dedication.”

Chris Williams, Managing Director at Alloga UK, added: “It is fantastic news that the joint efforts of the Alloga and Alliance Healthcare UK teams has been recognised with this special award from Logistics UK. Significant efforts were and are still required to increase the overall level of responsiveness to support the NHS and the patients that they serve.

“I am very proud of the tireless efforts of our colleagues who have generated exceptional results supporting the fight against COVID-19.”

Alliance Healthcare UK appoints Marie Evans as new Managing Director

Alliance Healthcare UK, the leading wholesaler of healthcare products, has announced that from today, Marie Evans will be its new Managing Director. Marie, who is Alliance Healthcare UK’s current Commercial and Category Director, brings a wealth of customer, leadership and retail experience to the role. Marie said, “I am delighted to be appointed Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare UK. In the ten years I have spent here, I have seen our business grow to become the major wholesaler and distributor in the UK.  That success is down to our terrific team and the unwavering commitment we have shown to strive to meet the needs of our customers and patients.”

Marie will report to Juan Guerra, Alliance Healthcare’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director of International Wholesale. Juan Guerra said, “The last 18 months has shown just how important wholesale and distribution is to the NHS and I am so excited to welcome Marie to her new position at this critical time. Her experience and leadership will be key as we continue to evolve our services in response to the changing needs of pharmacy, the health service, and industry.

Marie will succeed Julian Mount, who has made the decision to leave after five years in charge. As part of a planned transition Julian will remain as an Executive Advisor, supporting Marie in her role.   

“During Julian’s time in charge, Alliance Healthcare has continued its growth as a significant provider of valued services to the NHS and UK healthcare industry, along the way he has transformed our relations with upstream and downstream customers and the UK Government, and introduced Alliance Healthcare’s new digital platform” said Juan Guerra, “I thank Julian for his commitment and contribution and wish him well.”  

Alphega Pharmacy Members Take Home Much Deserved Trophies at the C+D Awards for Outstanding Support They Bring to Community Pharmacy

The prestigious Chemist and Druggist Awards finally returned last week to a face-to-face ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in London, to recognise and celebrate the very best in the pharmacy industry. We are so delighted for three of our Alphega Pharmacy members who took home well-deserved Awards last Friday, for their outstanding work and vital support they bring to community pharmacy.

Congratulations to Lewis Pharmacy, Exmouth who walked away with the Training and Development Award, for the innovative Let’s Communicate Cancer programme, an e-learning portal to help equip pharmacy professionals with the tools and confidence to help patients on their cancer journey. The team also received a high commendation in the Independent Pharmacy of the Year category.

Dr Jackie Lewis had the following to say on this triumphant achievement: “It’s amazing to win an award and be recognised for all the hard work we put in. After a few difficult years in pharmacy and the current climate to also come out as highly commended in Independent Pharmacy of the Year on top of this is such a morale boost to the team and to share this with them is incredible.  To win the Training and Development award I am blown away. This win is going to be amazing for the publicity of this programme as we are looking at up-skilling the whole of community pharmacy with it. This programme will assist them with the early diagnosis of cancer to help their cancer patients and ensure they get the help they need.”

The ‘Let’s Communicate Cancer’ programme is an engaging e-learning portal for community pharmacy professionals, giving them access to real life case studies, slide shows, bit-sized quizzes and animations in order to give an entire pharmacy team the confidence, skills and knowledge to better help a cancer patients’ journey – from early diagnosis all the way through to treatment. 

Mandeep Mudhar, Head of Alphega Pharmacy UK had the following to say on the recent win: “I’m delighted to see Lewis Pharmacy recognised twice at the C+D awards. Jackie works tirelessly to champion the support and expertise community pharmacists can give to their patients and carers dealing with cancer, and this is on top of the numerous pharmacy services that Lewis Pharmacy offers – the consultation room in Lewis Pharmacy is never quiet!  A massive congratulations to Jackie and the whole team at Lewis Pharmacy.”

The E-learning module for the Let’s Communicate Cancer Programme can be accessed by pharmacy teams at https://www.bopa.org.uk/cancer-elearning-for-community-pharmacy-lets-communicate-cancer/.

A further congratulations goes to two fantastic Alphega Pharmacy members, firstly James Tibbs, AR Pharmacy for picking up the Community Pharmacist of the Year Award, which praises his community focus, strong business acumen, and commitment to patient care. Last but certainly not least, Landys Chemist in North-West London who were awarded with the Independent Pharmacy of the Year Award for their sharp focus on sustainability and plastic free approach to pharmacy.

Alliance Healthcare would like to congratulate our remarkable Alphega Pharmacy members for their outstanding work and commitment to community pharmacy.  

Alliance Healthcare partners with Novo Nordisk for the launch of PenCycle; the circular recycling initiative

Alliance Healthcare UK is delighted to collaborate with Novo Nordisk to help reduce plastic pen devices entering UK landfills by up to 1.1 million in the next year.

Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specialising in treatments for people living with diabetes, obesity, and rare blood and endocrine disorders, has launched PenCycle; the circular recycling initiative for pre-filled diabetes and weight management pens. As a partner organisation, Alliance Healthcare will be delivering all the materials needed to recycle the pre-filled injection pen devices, including a blue PenCycle Recycling Bin, PenCycle Return Boxes and other support materials to Community pharmacy. These materials are being provided completely free of charge by Novo Nordisk. 

A first-of-its-kind in the UK, the PenCycle Pilot has launched across Greater Manchester, Leicestershire & Rutland, and Greater Glasgow and Clyde, ahead of a planned national roll-out next year. Selected pharmacies in these areas have been invited to participate to show their support towards the environmental target, and upon sign up of the scheme, will play a big role in helping to reduce waste and advance the sustainability agenda of community pharmacy.

Skills in Healthcare has led participation in the project on behalf of Alliance Healthcare, from initial discussions with Novo Nordisk to the official launch which happened on 1st November. Skills in Healthcare will now support pharmacy engagement and on boarding of pharmacies to the scheme.

Paul Fowler, Head of Skills in Healthcare, presented at the launch event and said: “We are delighted to be partnered with Novo Nordisk, supporting the design and delivery of the PenCycle Recycling Pilot within a pharmacy setting. The process has been designed to be simple to manage and allows a pharmacy to participate by using all the systems and processes they are already familiar with. It provides their patients with a new pharmacy return option and supports them to recycle their Novo Nordisk Insulin pens. I hope all the pharmacies in the pilot areas will participate and help make PenCycle a real success story. “

As a central point of care, community pharmacies will be key to the success of this forward-thinking initiative, and Alliance Healthcare are delighted to play a part of it.

Pharmacies located in the relevant pilot areas are encouraged to join the scheme by visiting: https://www.alliance-healthcare.co.uk/pencycle.

For more information, you can contact the Skills in Healthcare PenCycle team at: PenCycle@skills-in-healthcare.co.uk

About Skills in Healthcare

Skills in Healthcare is a contract sales and marketing business that provides customers with flexible and cost-effective solutions to realise retail pharmacy potential. With over 70 years’ experience in retail pharmacy, Skills in Healthcare provides a wide range of services including dynamic sales support, training, consulting, call centre and branding support.

To find out more visit: https://www.skills-in-healthcare.co.uk/