The UK is due to leave the European Union (EU) by or on Thursday 31 October 2019.

Canford Healthcare is working with suppliers and co-operating fully with Government contingency planning to minimise the impact of our departure on residents across our 12 homes. We and our suppliers are also fully aware of, and compliant with, the Department of Health & Social Care’s (DHSC) EU Operational Readiness Guidance.

Our staff

Both the company and our 1300-strong workforce are entirely UK based – our dedicated internal recruitment team fills all vacancies using locally recruited candidates only. We also enjoy good relationships with over 15 quality nurse and care agency suppliers, and have robust contingency plans in place with each.

Our suppliers

We are working closely with our core suppliers and have a commitment from each that they will continue to meet our requirements beyond 31 October. They provide medicines and first aid as well as medical, care home and catering equipment and supplies of food. Each holds sufficient stock to cover at least six weeks, in accordance with Government guidelines.

What our suppliers say

Boots

Across Walgreens Boots Alliance businesses, we continue to monitor the situation closely, as we do with any relevant developments, in order to ensure business preparedness wherever needed.

Gompels Healthcare Ltd

As an Authorised Economic Operator, Gompels Healthcare Ltd is a trusted importer and exporter of goods and should receive priority clearance at ports in the UK and Europe if necessary. To increase our preparedness, we have also:

  • supplemented our already large stock by an additional 25%.
  • increased our storage capacity via 3000 extra pallet spaces.
  • targeted our stock purchasing to the most critical products.
  • discussed options and preparedness with our supply partners and logistics providers.
  • ensured that all our import registrations/documentation procedures are in place.

Total MedCare Pharmacy

Total MedCare Pharmacy is co-operating fully with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) which, in turn, is working closely with the DHSC’s EU Exit Medicines Supply Industry Collaborative Group. The aim is to safeguard the continuous supply of medicines, vaccines and medical devices to pharmacies and patients. Total MedCare and our own suppliers are abiding by DHSC advice on ensuring an additional six-week supply of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area (EEA). The government is also facilitating sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity (space for goods vehicles to travel by ferry) to keep medicines moving freely into the UK, with additional storage space created where necessary.

Elior UK/Caterplus

A UK-based company, Elior UK is one of the top five British Contract Caterers. As part of the Business Services Association and UK Hospitality, we are fully briefed on the latest parliamentary position, Government and contingency planning.

We have undertaken a supply chain review to understand the impact of any unavailability of key products, have streamlined supply chains (where possible) to mitigate risk and put in place contingency planning. We are working to ensure that our menus can adapt to any shortages and have considered the impact on special/medical diets.

We’re looking at how we can mitigate short-term labour challenges, attract new colleagues and understand the impact of new immigration rules.

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