NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF
‘STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP’ FOR CELESIO/SAINSBURY’S
As Scottish Pharmacist was going to press, it was announced that Sainsbury’s has struck a deal to sell its pharmacy business to Celesio’s LloydsPharmacy in an acquisition worth £125m.
The duo announced a “strategic partnership” which will also see Sainsbury’s receiving commercial annual rent payments from LloydsPharmacy for each location.
Sainsbury’s and LloydsPharmacy customers will benefit from an enhanced pharmacy service delivered from Sainsbury’s stores with all the benefits of accessible parking, flexible opening hours and convenient locations.
There are presently four Sainsbury Pharmacy’s in Scotland.
Cormac Tobin, Managing Director of LloydsPharmacy and Celesio UK, said the deal was a ‘fantastic fit’ for LloydsPharmacy.
“We are both passionate about excellent customer service and making a positive impact on the communities we serve. Health is our focus and over recent years we have developed a range of services to make it easier for people to manage their health, such as our pain management and skin health services, and we look forward to making these even more accessible via the Sainsbury’s network,” he said.
Under the terms of the transaction, LloydsPharmacy has agreed to acquire 281 pharmacies in total, including 277 in-store pharmacies and four located in hospitals, all of which will be rebranded as LloydsPharmacy.
As part of the Partnership Agreement approximately up to 2,500 Sainsbury’s pharmacy colleagues will transfer to LloydsPharmacy under TUPE.
The deal is expected to complete by the end of February next year, subject to regulatory conditions being satisfied.
Mike Coupe, CEO of Sainsbury’s, added the move will allow them to ‘grow and extend’ their pharmacy services to customers.
6 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST Pricing tool usage triples in Scotland
The number of pharmacies in Scotland using the price comparison stock ordering tool e-CASS2 has more than tripled in in the first six months of 2015 official figures reveal.
The PMR-based system, which orders stock by cascading through tens of thousands of lines to find the cheapest prices, was launched in September 2014 and since then demand for the product has increased month on month with hundreds of pharmacies signing-up.
Of these, 98% have reported making monthly savings and increasing their profits, while others have seen significant growth in the number of paid-for services they have performed because of the savings in time e-CASS has helped them make.
Andy Porter of the Cruden Pharmacy Group, said, “I have used e-CASS2 for seven months now and think it is a great tool. Previously, it was difficult to always order the correct product from the cheapest supplier. Now with daily updates I know that as long as the order is sent each day then I will be sourcing the products from the cheapest supplier available. This is invaluable for a company of my size and means I do not need to waste time worrying about the prices of
drugs. I have also noticed an increase in my gross profit margin since I started using it.”
Alistair Smith of Bishopmill Pharmacy in Inverness added, “We are happy to say that the time saving and the cost benefit of e-CASS2 have helped to replace some of the lost income that we face on a day to day basis. We are no longer faced with situations of trying to remember who has what and at what price. e-CASS2 is doing all of the work for us, which is helping our business.”
The system has been developed by the UK buying group Cambrian Alliance, which has more than 1,200 members across the country. Created so that pharmacies would have a quicker, more profitable way of ordering stock, e-CASS2 is free to try without any obligation for three months.
Mark Griffiths, Chairman of the Cambrian Alliance Group, said, “We are delighted that so many pharmacies across Scotland are benefiting from e-CASS2. We have worked closely with independent pharmacies
Mark Griffiths, Chairman, Cambrian Alliance Group
throughout the country to develop a product that is simple and effective to use in managing and ordering stock. e-CASS2 allows pharmacies to access the best prices for the stock they need with just the click of a button, saving them time and making them money. In the current challenging climate for pharmacies, this is important and an invaluable tool for them to benefit from.”
For your free e-CASS2 information pack email:
getintouch@cambrianalliance.co.uk or visit:
www.savingpharmacymoney.co.uk
Science skills lead to success for Sarah
A willingness to help others inspired Aberdeen student Sarah Skene who has graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from Robert Gordon University (RGU).
Sarah, 21, always excelled at science at school and was keen to combine her interest in the subject and working to help others. The former Oldmacher Academy graduated with
an MPharm degree with Distinction at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday, July 16.
She said, “The past four years have been really hard work and I’m so pleased that the hours I’ve spent working away have paid off and that I’ve gained the grades I’d hoped for.
“It’s been tough going but I feel that the effort and time I’ve committed has made it all worthwhile. I’ve pushed myself to reach my goal and this is my biggest achievement.”
Sarah will spend her pre-registration pharmacist year in Boots, Bon Accord and aims to become a fully qualified pharmacist next summer.
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