UPDATE: Ordering Lateral Flow tests – PIP codes - 04 October

Please see below for the various PIP codes you can use to order lateral flow tests. 

If one of the English pip codes appears to be out of stock, please check the other as we have good stock levels and receive daily replenishment. 

Please be advised that for the Flowflex test kits (pip 8033680), the Lot numbers can be found on the outside of the box of 7s.

Please allow 3 working days for receipt of orders placed for this product.

REGION                  PIP CODE                PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

England                   8943037                  DHSC INNOVA COV19 RAPIDTEST (7)

England                   8033680                 DHSC FLOWFLEX COV TEST KITS (7)

Scotland                  8031338                  NHS SCOT COV19 RAPIDTEST (7)

Scotland                  8037673                  NHS SCOT O GENE TEST KITS (7)

Wales                       8943730                 NHS WALES COV19 RAPIDTEST (7)

Continuing to strive for business-as-usual service amidst the current fuel supply challenge and driver shortage

The on-going national fuel supply challenge, along with continued driver shortages, will continue to impact our service offering in some areas of the UK. As a business we are doing everything we can in partnership with our suppliers to offer the best service possible.

We’re implementing contingency plans
We continue to work with all stakeholders on various initiatives to mitigate the problem and implement contingency plans wherever possible.

These plans include:

• On-going use of bunkered fuel on site across the majority of our service centres, with increased delivery arrangements. 

• Additional fuel cards to drivers at this time, which allows the use of more fuel stations across the country.  We are also asking drivers to top up where necessary, if they see a fuel station where this is possible.

• Where we have fuel deliveries directly to site, we have upped the quantities being delivered during this time to mitigate any risk.

• We are in regular contact with suppliers and continue to see adequate stock supply with regular inbound deliveries.

• Should the government implement tactics to further mitigate the fuel supply risks, then our driver as a Priority 2 worker, will have be granted critical access to fuel.

We are truly grateful to our operational colleagues and drivers at this time, for their personal efforts, as we strive for business-as-usual service.

Recruitment drive
While driver shortages continue across the country, we have seen success from our on-going recruitment drive. New drivers are joining regularly and are being trained quickly and efficiently across the network.

We’re working hard to support you
As the UK’s largest independent pharmaceutical wholesaler, we take our responsibility to maintain UK medicine supply very seriously. Our main aim, as ever, is to provide a service to our customers and, in turn, patients across the UK.

We will continue to keep you updated on the situation as it evolves and thank you for your understanding.

Continuing to strive for business-as-usual service as fuel challenges develop and driver shortages continue

The national fuel supply challenge, along with continued driver shortages, will impact our service offering in some areas of the UK this week. To continue to offer the best service possible at this time, we are working with all stakeholders on various initiatives to mitigate the problem as best we can.

We are truly grateful to our operational colleagues and drivers at this time, for their personal efforts, as we strive for business-as-usual service.

Driver shortages continue across the country, but we are seeing great success from our continued recruitment drive. New drivers are joining regularly and are being trained quickly and efficiently across the network.

As the UK’s largest independent pharmaceutical wholesaler, we take our responsibility to maintain UK medicine supply very seriously. Our main aim, as ever, is to provide a service to our customers and, in turn, patients across the UK.

We will continue to keep you updated on the situation as it evolves and thank you for your understanding.

Alphega Pharmacy member wins Pharmacy Champion Award at ROE Awards

Congratulations to Heidi Norton, Healthy Living Champion, from Bidford Pharmacy on winning the Pharmacy Champion Award – sponsored by Alphega Pharmacy at the recent Training Matters Recognition of Excellence (ROE) Awards, London. The Pharmacy Champion award celebrates the achievements of a special team member who has raised awareness of their pharmacy and promoted its services within the local community.

Heidi Norton was commended for her partnership campaign with a local dental practice in raising awareness of the importance of oral hygiene. It was this joined-up approach which helped patients feel cared for and added significant value to the support Heidi and the team could offer its patients. Heidi attended coffee mornings, local libraries, and village fetes, armed with pharmacy information and healthcare leaflets to promote this service. Heidi said: “It works well to tell the community we are here – and here for them.”

Richard Janes, Head of Alphega Pharmacy Retail said: “After the past 18 months the industry has had, it is fantastic to see such a great advocate of pharmacy really supporting their local community with such great ideas and initiatives. Well done Heidi and the rest of the team at Bidford pharmacy”.

Congratulations to  Lesley Vernoum-Norman, dispensing assistant, Abbotswood Pharmacy, Yate, South Gloucestershire, and Abdul Mauzer, assistant manager, Day Lewis Pharmacy, Old Montague Street, Tower Hamlets, London, as highly recommended in this category, and to all winners and runner-up team members at the event.

Read more about the event at Training Matters online at: RoE 2021 winners revealed (tmmagazine.co.uk) 

Almus Launch Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film Coated Tablets into UK Pharmacy Market

According to the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) erectile dysfunction becomes increasingly more common with age and is seen in 50 - 55% of men between 40 and 70 years old. It is often associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which are all significant risks to overall health*

Almus are pleased to announce the launch of Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film Coated Tablets to the UK pharmaceutical market.

Tara Dew, Own Brand Manager, said: “We believe that erectile dysfunction is no longer an off-limits discussion. We feel that sufferers should not feel embarrassed to ask for advice from their pharmacists. The launch of Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film Coated Tablets brings an affordable  treatment option to both pharmacists and patients, compared to the UK leading brand competitor.”

Sachiv Patel, Director of National Accounts & Health and Beauty at Alliance Healthcare, comments “This is a landmark product launch for us as we firmly believe that essential patient and personal care products should be available to everyone at an affordable price, without compromising on quality.”

Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film Coated Tablets will be the first of several new products to be launched in innovative new packaging.

“We’re preparing to launch a range of new lines across various therapeutic categories before the end of the year. and the new packaging design will be rolled out across our current product range. It’s a very exciting time to be involved with Almus and Alliance Healthcare.”

Product information

Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film Coated Tablets are available in both 4 and 8 pack sizes. See pricing and PIP code detail below.  Order Almus products through the Alliance Healthcare Portal, AH Direct, your PMR  or call: 0330 100 0448

Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief Sildenafil ‘P’ Medicine PI. Essential Information Name of Product Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50 mg Film-Coated Tablets. Active Ingredient: Sildenafil (as citrate). Indications Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50 mg Film-Coated Tablets is indicated in adult men with erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. For Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50 mg Film-Coated Tablets to be effective, sexual stimulation is required. Dosage: The recommended dose is one 50 mg tablet taken with water approximately one hour before sexual activity. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. If Almus Erectile Dysfunction Relief 50mg Film-Coated Tablets is taken with food, the onset of activity may be delayed compared to the fasted state. Legal Category: P Pharmacy OTC status. MANumber PL 08553/0621. MA Holder: Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd, 6 Riverview Road, East Yorkshire, HU17 0LD. Further information about this product including adverse reactions, precautions, contraindications and methods of use can be found at: http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/11008/smpc Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse events may also be reported to Pharmacovigilance at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories via drreddysgb@eu.propharmagroup.com. Please consult the summary of product characteristics before recommending.

*https://www.baus.org.uk/patients/conditions/3/erectile_dysfunction_impotence

Alliance Healthcare supports the Pharmacy Collect Service in Northern Ireland, supplying community pharmacies with NHS rapid lateral flow tests for people to collect and use at home

Alliance Healthcare is supporting community pharmacies in Northern Ireland by supplying NHS lateral flow tests to be distributed to people through the Pharmacy Collect Service.

Pharmacies in Northern Ireland can now order lateral flow tests via Alliance Healthcare as it continues supporting the nations efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

The Pharmacy Collect Service aims to improve access to COVID-19 testing by making lateral flow test kits readily available at community pharmacies for asymptomatic people. In doing so, it will help to identify COVID-positive cases and then break the chain of transmission.

John Laverty, Head of Independent Pharmacy – Northern Ireland said: “Working in an exclusive partnership with the Department of Health, I am very proud that Alliance Healthcare is able to support this initiative. We have already seen 420 orders placed which equates to more than 500 cartons, and our teams at our Belfast Service Centre continue to work tirelessly, as we have done throughout the pandemic, to aid the incredible work of the NHS and community pharmacy in Northern Ireland.”

Pharmacy customers in Northern Ireland should order via myahportal.co.uk or their provider, with PIP code: 8943904 (HSC N Ire Cov19 Rapid Test).

Update: COVID absence and driver shortage

Firstly, thank you for your patience while we at Alliance Healthcare have continued to put measures in place to mitigate issues that are affecting industries across the country. We are all very grateful for your understanding while we continue to progress with our improvements to service each day.

Absence levels across our network are continuing to decrease as our exemption from Test and Trace isolation has taken effect. We are obviously still dealing with some COVID absence but we are happy to say that our focus and dedication has meant that we have continued with twice daily deliveries across the UK.

Our national recruitment campaign is continuing and we are seeing good numbers of applicants each week. New starters are learning the ropes and our most experienced drivers are helping with training and coaching.

As always, our main aim is to provide a stable service to you, our customers and, in turn, patients across the UK. This is at the heart of everything we do. Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this time.

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

Calling Pharmacy England Contractors: Claim Your COVID-19 Costs Now!

With just five days to go, Alliance Healthcare is urging pharmacy contractors in England to claim for all extra COVID-19 costs they have incurred during the pandemic. The deadline is 23:59 on Sunday 15th August.

Ashley Kilgas, Sales Director at Alliance Healthcare said: “Alliance Healthcare urges all pharmacy contractors to, as a matter of urgency, ensure they apply to claim back extra COVID-19 costs they incurred during the pandemic. It is imperative all contractors carry out this exercise and submit their claim before the deadline. There is a range of support and resources on the PSNC website to aid the claims made, please visit: https://psnc.org.uk/the-healthcare-landscape/covid19/funding-during-the-pandemic/ 

Ian Barnes, Head of Field Operations at Alphega Pharmacy UK said: “The Alphega Pharmacy team has over the last few weeks been visiting and calling its members to offer support in the COVID-19 extra costs claiming process. What is apparent to our teams is that some pharmacies have not yet started looking at their claim submissions and in some cases some members are struggling to ascertain what their costs are. The Alphega Pharmacy Business Mentor team are out in the field to support members in this area – and my dedicated field team of 10 people are fully committed to help. All Alphega Pharmacy members that need any support in this subject so please contact: membersupport@alphega-pharmacy.co.uk

We are paperless! Customer monthly statements available via myahportal

As part of our on-going commitment to reduce our impact on the environment as well as helping you self-serve, this is our final reminder to inform customers that Monthly Statements are available to access on myahportal.co.uk and we will no longer send customersprinted copies from Thursday 5 August (July statement).

Benefits to online statements:

1. Instant access to documents – no need to wait for the statement to arrive by post and you can also get access to a rolling 12 months’ of statements, which can be downloaded and stored on your local device
2. Quick, safe and secure – peace of mind that statements will only be accessible by authorised persons
3. Environmental impact – by reducing the need to print an average of four pages of paper per customer, we’ll save approximately 720,000 sheets of paper – that’s more than 50 trees a year, based on current statistics
4. Fuel Savings - help us and the Royal Mail reduce fuel consumption by removing approximately 180,000 statement delivered per year, thus reducing our carbon footprint - a major contributor to global climate change

The benefits don’t stop there! The portal provides you easy access to:

• Ordering products with immediate access to AH Direct
• Ordering all your surgical appliances fromNWOS
• Reporting a missing product with instant access to E-Missings
• Creating a returns note with access to ‘Returns’
• View and access statements, invoices and credit notes through Your Docs (where applicable)

Here to Help

We would now like to encourage all customers to view their monthly statements on myahportal.co.uk and would be happy to support with any queries. If you experience any difficulties and require support please contact the Customer Portal Team on 0330 100 0448 – option 8 or email CustomerPortal@alliance-healthcare.co.uk with ‘Online Monthly Statements’ in the title of your email.

Thank you in advance for your support and co-operation with our move to online monthly statements.

COVID absence and driver shortages continue across the country and, as a business, we are working hard to mitigate the situation.

COVID absence

COVID absence across the network continues to affect service centres and drivers. However, these numbers are decreasing and now that our critical teams are exempt from Test and Trace isolations, the situation continues to improve.

Driver shortages

Our recruitment drive is progressing well and we are seeing good numbers of strong applicants and new drivers into the business. This means we have a lot of new members to train and it can take time for new drivers to learn our processes and routes. If you happen to meet one of our new colleagues please take the time to say ‘hello’ and make their on-boarding as smooth as possible.

As well as new drivers we have also taken the opportunity to move some of our experienced drivers around the country to help out at hot spots where we have seen service disruption recently. We are grateful to these team members for helping out in this way, travelling across the country and agreeing to leave their homes and stay in hotels to help out with the current situation.

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