HDA UK Media and Political Bulletin – 02 March 2021
New HDA UK website. We are delighted to inform you that the HDA has launched its newly redesigned website at https://hdauk.com/. The new comprehensive website features a streamlined, modern design, improved functionality, and easy access to all the key information and documents you might need.
As we transition to this new website, all existing users will be required to change their password. Please check your emails for instructions on how to proceed, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with the HDA Secretariat on secretariat@hdauk.co.uk if you face any technical issues or have any questions.
Media Summary
HDA Executive Director Appears on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4, 01 March
Martin Sawer, Executive Director of the HDA, appeared on BBC Radio 4’s ‘PM’ show yesterday afternoon to discuss the UK’s vaccine roll-out. Mr Sawer took this opportunity to highlight the highly sophisticated nature of the existing supply chain, and commended the NHS for its decision to use this existing network for the vaccine roll-out.
Mr Sawer highlighted the immense effort undertaken by healthcare distributors in delivering the vaccine to 1,800 different sites in England to date, noting the involvement of HDA member companies. Discussing plans to ramp up vaccinations in coming weeks, Mr Sawer confirmed that additional vaccination sites will be established as the roll-out progresses, also noting a greater involvement for community pharmacies with capacity requirements having recently been lowered.
Mr Sawer said he was confident in the existing distribution network’s ability to continue to satisfy demand, saying he did not foresee any issues from a logistics or capacity perspective. He added that recent comments made by Government ministers suggest that supply levels will be able to increase as planned in the coming weeks.
You can listen to Martin’s appearance from 06:32 here.
Parliamentary Coverage
Colestid supply notification
Dispensing Doctors’ Association, Alisa Colquhoun, 01 March
The Dispensing Doctors’ Association has provided an update on the supply of certain medicines:
- A Tier 2 medicines supply notification for Colestid (colestipol) orange and plain 5g granules sachets has been issued. The medicine will be out of stock until end of May but other bile-acid sequestrants remain available;
- A Supply Disruption Alert has been issued for the discontinuation of morphine sulphate (MST CONTINUS) 20mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg and 200mg prolonged release granules for oral suspension; and
- There have also been changes to the resupply dates of certain other medicines, including Fluoxetine 10mg tablets.
You can view further details on the supply notifications here.
House of Commons – Written Answer, 01 March
Bob Seely (Conservative, Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding by Ernst and Young in its September 2020 report, “Impacts of current funding, policy and economic environment on independent pharmacy in England,” that three-quarters of independent pharmacies are at risk of closure by 2024.
Jo Churchill (Conservative, Bury St Edmunds): The data referenced in the Ernst and Young report is not publicly available and we are unable to verify its forecast. On 31 March 2020, latest published data available from the NHS Business Services Authority, there were 11,421 community pharmacies in England. This is 280 fewer pharmacies than on 31 March 2016 but 470 more than on 31 March 2011. Maintaining access to pharmaceutical services is a key priority for the Government and the Department continues to closely monitor the market.
House of Commons – Written Question, 01 March
Sarah Owen (Labour, Luton North): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to allocate additional funding to community pharmacies to help them cover costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
House of Commons – Written Question, 26 February
Kate Hollern (Blackburn, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of waiving the repayment of the £370 million allocated to community pharmacies during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Full Coverage
HDA Executive Director Appears on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4, 01 March
Martin Sawer, Executive Director of the HDA, appeared on BBC Radio 4’s ‘PM’ show yesterday afternoon to discuss the UK’s vaccine roll-out. Mr Sawer took this opportunity to highlight the highly sophisticated nature of the existing supply chain, and commended the NHS for its decision to use this existing network for the vaccine roll-out.
Mr Sawer highlighted the immense effort undertaken by healthcare distributors in delivering the vaccine to 1,800 different sites in England to date, noting the involvement of HDA member companies. Discussing plans to ramp up vaccinations in coming weeks, Mr Sawer confirmed that additional vaccination sites will be established as the roll-out progresses, also noting a greater involvement for community pharmacies with capacity requirements having recently been lowered.
Mr Sawer said he was confident in the existing distribution network’s ability to continue to satisfy demand, saying he did not foresee any issues from a logistics or capacity perspective. He added that recent comments made by Government ministers suggest that supply levels will be able to increase as planned in the coming weeks.
You can listen to Martin’s appearance from 06:32 here.
