NEWS


MSP GAINS INSIGHT INTO PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALING


Pharmaceutical wholesaling is a critical link in the supply chain ensuring the flow of medication from manufacturers to pharmacies and hospitals, but its role is often overlooked, so, in a big to gain insight into and understanding of the complexities of this process, Fulton MacGregor MSP recently spent time with the Coatbridge- based Alliance Healthcare service centre team to learn how vital medicines reach pharmacies and hospitals across the whole of Scotland.


During the visit, Mr MacGregor - accompanied by the site’s manager, Lynn McWhinnie - saw the service centre in action. He was shown around the 120,000 square feet state-of-the-art, fully-automated warehouse, and witnessed how medicines are received and stored safely and securely in accordance


with the strict Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance.


‘I was grateful for the time I spent with the Alliance Healthcare team in Coatbridge,’ Mr MacGregor told SP. ‘I learnt a lot, and it was great to get an insight into one of biggest local employers. I appreciate the vital work they do in supplying medical supplies to Scotland from this site and I look forward to visiting them in the future.’


Alliance Healthcare recently celebrated its 80th birthday, having been founded in 1938 by pharmacist Ernest Skues, who set up a London-based cooperative of local independent pharmacists originally known as UniChem. Coatbridge is one of twelve Service Centres run by Alliance Healthcare in a network spanning the whole of the UK.


NPA IN FOCUS


THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL BRING CONSIDERABLE CHANGE TO INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY


PHARMACY ACROSS THE UK.


The Scottish Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care - Achieving Excellence, now over a year old, will facilitate transformation in pharmaceutical care. A new pack for Scottish NPA members, the Supporting Excellence resource, which is available as hard and USB copy, can help to support pharmacy teams prepare for these changing times. It is our intention that this becomes a working toolkit and will be added to and updated as the need arises. If you identify any resource that would be useful to support your pharmacy team, please email me at j.oman@ npa.co.uk


NPA BOARD VISIT TO EDINBURGH AND NPA MEMBER FORUM IN MAY


The NPA board will be coming to Edinburgh in May to meet with Scottish members. We also have the popular Scottish NPA member forum taking place in Glasgow on 14 May, which will provide expert information and full discussion on the topics that matter to pharmacy owners. The opportunity to meet other pharmacy owners, superintendents and managers from across Scotland is really valued by those that regularly attend this informal free NPA event. The forum encourages an open discussion on the current topics in community pharmacy in Scotland. If you are interested in attending, please contact j.oman@npa.co.uk


Janice Oman


Scotland Representation Manager


FMD IS HERE


To help you with FMD, the NPA has produced FMD-adjusted SOPs, which can be found on our website www. npa.co.uk/fmd. We have also agreed member-only rates for a standalone FMD solution with our business partner, FMD-IT.


PRO DELIVERY MANAGER


Pro Delivery Manager provides pharmacies who manage their own delivery service with the ability to run their delivery programme in a cost- effective and time-efficient manner. Pharmacies can take control of the time spent delivering prescriptions through gaining clear visibility of exact delivery timings, allowing members to effectively schedule drivers’ shifts.


For more information go to www.npa.co.uk/business-support/pdm


GPHC INSPECTIONS – SUPPORT RESOURCES


The GPhC plans to begin to publish its inspection reports from April 2019, while the other changes will come into effect between April 2019 and April 2020. The NPA has created an extensive range of resources to provide practical support, including a comprehensive booklet, supporting templates to use within the pharmacy, advice videos, e-Learning modules and a range of products to demonstrate compliance. Go to www.npa.co.uk/services-and-support/ practical-support/gphc-inspection/


(l-r): Fulton MacGregor MSP Coatbridge and Chryston; Mike Smith, Non-Executive Advisor Alliance Healthcare; Jim Semple, pharmacist and Alliance Healthcare colleagues.


SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 45


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