CLASS 2 RECALL - LEVOTHYROXINE TABLETS BP 50 MICROGRAMS

NorthStar are recalling the below batch of Levothyroxine Tablets BP 50 micrograms as a precautionary measure due to out of specification results for tablet hardness obtained during stability testing. This issue may result in tablets that crumble or break when removed from the packaging.

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-accord-uk-ltd-trading-style-northstar-levothyroxine-tablets-bp-50-micrograms-el-21-a-slash-23?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=81eb29f8-dc8c-4b55-a257-c872a529afa5&utm_content=immediately   

Further Information

For more information or medical information queries, please contact: NorthStar Medical Information Department on 01271 385257

For stock control queries, please contact: NorthStar Customer Services Team on 0800 373573

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

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) 

CLASS 2 RECALL - IKERVIS 1 MG/ML EYE DROPS

SANTEN Oy (trading as Santen UK Limited) are recalling the below batches of products as a precautionary measure due to detection of particles/crystals of the active pharmaceutical ingredient ciclosporin. These particles have been detected following microscopic evaluation during stability monitoring. The company’s root cause investigation is ongoing

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-santen-oy-trading-as-santen-uk-limited-ikervis-1-mg-slash-ml-eye-drops-emulsion-el-21-a-slash-22?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=ee7f731a-c906-4ee1-8c07-9626285185c8&utm_content=immediately

Please note that Alliance Healthcare do not stock and we are therefore not accepting stock returns.

For more information, please contact Santen UK Limited, Salisbury Hall, St Albans, AL2 1BU, UK at +44 (0)1727 615 110 or email enquiries@santen.co.uk

For medical information queries, please contact 0345 075 4863 or email medinfo@santen.co.uk

For supply queries, please contact AAH Customer services at 0344 561 8899

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team

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

GSK Consumer Healthcare – RWA Agreement

From 01 October 2021, Alliance Healthcare UK has been chosen as one of four national UK Pharmacy Wholesalers to supply all GSK consumer healthcare products to the independent pharmacy sector, hospitals and other healthcare outlets.

If you have any queries, please speak to your Alliance Healthcare Account Manager.

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.

Class 4 Drug Caution in use - ROSUVASTATIN 5 MG, 10 MG, 20 MG AND 40 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS

Accord Healthcare have informed us of an error with the patient information leaflets (PILs) that have been packaged in the below batches of products. These were an older version of the PIL which did not include the most up to date safety information

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-defect-information-rosuvastatin-5-mg-10-mg-20-mg-and-40-mg-film-coated-tablets-el-21-a-slash-21?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=3e06cb87-f3cb-4338-896d-f0082c18f7f1&utm_content=immediately     

This may have been supplied by AHDL. Unfortunately we are not providing specific batch information you will  be required to follow the instructions as per the drug alert.

This is a caution in use only we are not accepting stock returns.

Further Information

For more information or medical information queries please contact: Accord Medical Information Department on 01271 385257, email medinfo@accord-healthcare.com.

For stock control queries, please contact: Accord Customer Services Team on 0800 373573

For updated PIL requests please contact contact@accord-healthcare.com or phone: 01271 385200.

Fontus Health – Solus Agreement

From 4th October 2021, Alliance Healthcare UK will become the only wholesaler to supply the Fontus Health product portfolio to all pharmacies and dispensing doctors in the United Kingdom.

If you have any queries, please speak to your Alliance Healthcare Account Manager.

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).