Alphega Pharmacy Members Receive Extra Support in Covid-19 Effort

Alphega Pharmacy Members have been going to heroic lengths to support patients during this time of uncertainty, coping with unprecedented demand and changing their ways of working to protect staff and patients. Alphega Pharmacy is helping its 1,022 community pharmacy members with a range of useful resources and tools hosted on its COVID-19 hub site to support their continuing commitment to serve patients and the NHS through the Covid19 pandemic. 

Alphega Pharmacy has issued briefings on the developing situation, summarising the necessary actions and providing links to official guidance. Neil Scobie, Head of Alphega Member Offer & Engagement, said: “Keeping Alphega Pharmacy members informed by providing material that distils complex information into concise, actionable points is one of the best ways we can help. We’re taking out this complexity for members, and freeing up their time to better serve patients during this critical period.” 

The Alphega Digital In-Pharmacy Tablets are being adapted to allow pharmacists to conduct online patient consultations, providing a continuity of service as more patients are having to self-isolate. 

Alphega Pharmacy has put together a comprehensive COVID-19 Support Pack hosted on the Alphega portal COVID-19 hub site containing items to protect pharmacy staff and patients as they continue to operate through the crisis. The pack sent to all members includes:  Face visors to protect pharmacy staff are provided free to members.  NHS key worker IDs for staff to enable them to carry out their jobs with as little restriction as possible, for example, being able to put their children in school and use necessary transport links.  Visuals aimed at enhancing patient communication have been sent to all members. These include a range of posters containing health advice and guidance on distancing within the pharmacy, zero tolerance and temporary opening hours.  Mental health and wellness materials aimed at supporting pharmacy teams in these challenging times have been included in the pack.  Alphega Acetate Sneeze Screens to provide a barrier to contagion at the counter are offered at a competitive price to members, delivered within 6 working days of placing the order. 

Raj Nutan, Head of Alphega Pharmacy UK said: “We’re doing all we can to help members to ensure they can continue to support the communities in which they serve. We have already started to plan & develop products and services for our members to support them post COVID-19. In the interim I would urge members to continue to contact Alphega Member Support or your Business Mentor for help and advice”. 

About Alphega Pharmacy  

Alphega Pharmacy is a leading European network of independent pharmacists, whose aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of communities by delivering a future vision for independent community pharmacy.  

Since its initial launch in 2001, Alphega Pharmacy has grown to support more than 6,800* independent pharmacy members across ten countries – the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Turkey and Romania.  

As a provider of added-value services, dedicated to enabling its members to bring better health and wellbeing to patients and consumers, Alphega Pharmacy offers clear branding, business mentoring, solutions for operating more effectively and driving customer traffic and sales, support in shaping the future role of the pharmacist and the opportunity to be an active member of a local, national and European network of peers 

With the full support of Alliance Healthcare, which is part of the Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise, Alphega Pharmacy members reap the benefits of belonging to a European network of pharmacists. At the same time, they retain their independence – a key consideration for many independent pharmacists.  

* As of 31 October 2019, excluding equity method investments 

For more information on Alphega Pharmacy UK, visit: www.alphega-pharmacy.co.uk