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HDA welcomes Minister of Health Stephen Hammond on visit to member service centre
HDA welcomes Minister of Health Stephen Hammond on visit to member service centre
London, 12th July 2019. On Thursday 11 July, Stephen Hammond, Minister for Health and Social Care and MP for Wimbledon, saw for himself how Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) member Alliance Healthcare’s Chessington Service Centre delivers vital medicines to pharmacies and hospitals across the south and south-east of England including in his own constituency.
The visit was hosted by Martin Sawer, HDA Executive Director, and both he and the Minister were greeted by Alliance Healthcare UK Managing Director, Julian Mount before being given a tour of the service centre. They witnessed first-hand the semi-automated warehouse in full swing with orders being picked and packed ready for afternoon delivery. The Minister also observed how medicines are received and stored safely and securely in accordance with strict regulatory guidance, including a demonstration of procedures required under the recently introduced Falsified Medicines Directive.
Stephen Hammond, Minister of State for Health reflected:
“It was a fascinating experience to see how the operations worked. It is no mean feat for customers to receive two deliveries a day, five days a week and one on Saturday. It is apparent to me that healthcare distributors are pivotal in ensuring that all GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals are kept fully stocked with the medicines they need to keep their patients healthy.”
Martin Sawer, Executive Director of the HDA noted:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister following his key note address at the recent HDA Annual Conference where he thanked the distribution sector for the vital role it plays in ensuring the safe and consistent supply of healthcare products and medicines to patients across the UK. It is particularly reassuring the Minister continues to recognise the important role our members have played in the complex preparations for a no-deal Brexit. May I also express my thanks to Alliance Healthcare for kindly hosting the visit.”
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About the Healthcare Distribution Association
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services for patients, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. HDA UK members operate across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom enabling a safe, efficient and high-quality supply chain for the healthcare sector. They are responsible for distributing over 92% of NHS medicines and provide wholesaling services including working capital, stock management and IT systems to their supply chain partners. The HDA and its members are at the forefront of the constantly evolving healthcare supply chain, which is seeing innovative practices and technologies make new services possible for manufacturers and to those who dispense medicines, reflecting the needs and choices of individual patients.
Contact Information
Will Browne – wbrowne@hdauk.co.uk
Hannah Milne – hmilne@hdauk.co.uk
0207 031 0590
