Wholesaler updates

AAH

Healthwatch training for undergraduates
Pharmacy students at the University of Reading will be learning how to consult for a range of screening services, based on the AAH Healthwatch series. Porsotam Leal, a teacher practitioner at the university, has incorporated the Healthwatch series into the undergraduate syllabus following his experiences of using it in practice.

LINK training for minor ailments services
AAH customers in Scotland are to benefit from a new web-based training programme to help them use the LINK system to support minor ailments services. The training takes the form of short interactive courses that can be accessed from anywhere, so will be particularly useful for locums. Similar training is planned for the near future on the acute medication service.

LINK endorsing simplified
AAH Pharmaceuticals has updated its LINKEvolution system to include automated endorsing and reimbursement, according to the Drug Tariffs of all four home countries.

Phoenix

Acquisition of Munro Wholesale
Phoenix Healthcare has acquired Munro Wholesale Medical Supplies Ltd (the main line wholesale business of the Munro Group). This follows the Munro Group selling its retail pharmacies to Admenta, the owners of Lloydspharmacy. The Munro Group will continue to trade in parallel imports and generics, as Strathclyde Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Counter assistant programme
Numark has launched a new distance learning module for pharmacy counter assistants. Each “Category Excellence” module — free of charge for Numark members’ counter staff — will focus on different health topics. They will include merchandising techniques and point of sale advice. For further information contact Emma Charlesworth (telephone 01827 841220).

UniChem

New acquisitions
UniChem has acquired Central Homecare, a provider of home healthcare services in the UK. Central Homecare will continue to operate independently, under the UniChem umbrella.

UniChem has also acquired HF Healthcare Group, a short-line wholesale business based in the North East of England (which will be integrated into Cordia Healthcare) with a chain of about 40 pharmacies (which will become part of Boots).