NEWS Alliance to open premises in Northern Ireland?
Alliance Healthcare has ended its distribution arrangement with UnitedDrug Sangers, Pharmacy in Focus has learned, paving the way for ensuing rumours that the company is to put down roots in Northern Ireland.
In a statement, Alliance said, “As one of the UK’s leading distributors of pharmaceutical, medical and health and beauty products, Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd regularly reviews its distribution channels.
As part of this review process, Alliance Healthcare has decided to end its arrangement with UnitedDrug Sangers (Alliance Healthcare’s distribution partner in Northern Ireland) and has given them the required notice.”
Tellingly, the statement goes on to add that other distribution means are being explored, leading some to question if they are to set up stall locally.
“In the meantime, it is business as usual and Alliance Healthcare is implementing alternative distribution arrangements,” says the statement. “Alliance Healthcare will continue to work with UnitedDrug Sangers to ensure that there is no disruption to service levels during this transition.”
The news comes on the background of UnitedDrug Wholesale announcing in September last year, that it is to sell its Irish pharmaceutical distribution businesses to global pharmaceutical
wholesaler McKesson in a €407.5 million deal.
The sale to McKesson, which owns the LloydsPharmacy chain in Ireland,
includes UnitedDrug Supply Chain Services business, UnitedDrug Sangers business, TCP Group, as well as UDG’s UK based travel healthcare business MASTAUDG Healthcare. McKesson’s acquisition follows last year’s takeover of Celesio and will strengthen its position in Ireland, where it already employs 1,000 people.
UDG said it will use the proceeds to pay down debt and provide “significant firepower” to support UDG Healthcare’s ambitious growth plans, through strategic M&A complementary to the group’s existing market leading, high-growth businesses and to address any scale and geographic gaps.
But only part of the acquisition is now complete, some seven months later. A Celesio spokesperson told us, that whilst the Irish acquisition is complete, Northern Ireland is not.
“We can confirm that McKesson and Celesio have completed the acquisition of the pharmaceutical distribution division of UDG Healthcare plc. McKesson and Celesio have acquired: UDG Healthcare’s United Drug and UnitedDrug Sangers, leading wholesale operations across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; TCP, a leading home healthcare provider in the Republic of Ireland; and MASTA, a travel healthcare business based in the United Kingdom,” they said.
“On 1st April, UnitedDrug Sangers and TCP in the Republic of Ireland joined the Celesio Group of companies.
“As expected, the UK parts of the businesses have been referred to the
UK Competition Authority (CMA), which has imposed a legal requirement that the UnitedDrug Sangers and MASTA businesses are held separately pending the outcome of the CMA’s review.”
McKesson is the parent company of AAH. It has been widely suggested that Phoenix will not allow Numark to continue using UnitedDrug Sangers if it were to become part of AAH. Talk of further LloydsPharmacy branches in Northern Ireland, have also been rife.
What of the Numark contractors in Northern Ireland? Commenting on McKesson’s acquisition of UnitedDrug
Sangers, Numark Managing Director John D’Arcy said at their recent conference in Belfast’s Crumlin Gaol, “We are looking to continue our relationship with UnitedDrug Sangers for as long as possible.”
However, Jeremy Meader, Phoenix Sales Director, also stated emphatically during a ‘Question and Answer’ session at the same event, that Numark customers can, in fact, have their distribution serviced by them. Many of those involved in the situation are keeping their cards close, but as one door closes, another always opens. Look out for the next issue for further developments.
Midwifery Medicines Guidance
A pharmacist from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Lyn Watt, was part of a regional steering group which developed the guidance and a new e-learning tool to help midwives understand their responsibilities in terms of medicines management.
Midwives and Medicines (NI) aims to give midwives up to date information
on the latest medicines and legislation and provides learning scenarios and self-assessments to help maternity staff to improve their understanding and confidence.
Director of Pharmacy for the Southern Trust, Dr Tracey Boyce congratulated Lyn on her involvement in the project stating, “The pharmacy team work closely with other clinical colleagues
for the benefit of our patients and are very proud that Lyn’s expertise and knowledge has been applied to this regional guidance which will benefit women and their babies across Northern Ireland.”
Welcoming the new guidance, Joanne McGlade, Acting Head of Midwifery for the Southern Trust added, “Each year we have around 6,000 births
Were you a Pharmacy Graduate from Queens University 1988-1992?
Pharmacist James Cassidy has organised a reunion for pharmacy graduates at the Slieve Donard Hotel on Saturday 20th August.
What a great idea to pull together people from different parts of
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pharmacyinfocus.co.uk
Northern Ireland and reunite with old friends, or perhaps indulge in a fun date night with your partner. Everyone is welcome. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Nora Hanna at the Slieve Donard directly on (0)28 437 21010 or via email at
conf@sdh.hastingshotels.com and reserve their room, quoting ‘QUB Pharmacy Reunion’. More information is available on Facebook at ‘QUB Pharmacy Reunion 2016’ or alternatively you can contact James directly on Mob : +353 86 8166153.
across both of our acute hospitals, Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area.
“We have a very dedicated midwifery team who are committed to mothers and babies and want to ensure that they are always practicing within the expected professional standards.
“We are delighted to have this new resource, which will help to give our staff a better understanding of their role and responsibilities around medicines and ensure that expectant women in the Southern area are receiving the best possible care.”
This e-learning tool can be accessed via the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) at
www.nipec.hscni.net and also through the HSC eLearning Centre. Awareness Sessions for Midwives are ongoing across Northern Ireland.
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