Hallo Healthcare to exit hospital pharmacy sites: PDA offers support to affected pharmacists

Last year, Hallo Healthcare sold all of its 1,054 high street and community pharmacies under the LloydsPharmacy brand

Hallo Healthcare has announced its decision to exit from its hospital pharmacy sites, currently operated by LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services (LP HCS Limited), which primarily provides outpatient services.

Pharmacists and their teams at its 64 pharmacy sites were informed on Monday, 19 August 2024, about the company's plans to withdraw from this sector.

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA), the recognised trade union representing pharmacists at these sites, was also notified.

The association has assured its support for members impacted by the decision, although it noted that the process of branch transfers could take several months.

“It is expected to be several months before all such branch transfers are agreed and undertaken,” the PDA said.

The association noted that contracts to provide such services “do change hands periodically with some hospital outpatient departments (OPDs) operated by pharmacy multiples and others operated by hospital-owned subsidiaries” and highlighted its experience in supporting pharmacists when employers change in this way.

PDA Union Director Paul Day is hopeful that there will be no job losses in outpatient services and that all pharmacists will be able to continue in their current roles.

He said: “Each hospital or healthcare services site will still need a service, so it is hoped that we see no job losses in outpatients and that every pharmacist will be able to continue in their current role, albeit that their employer will change.”

However, he cautioned that new employers may try to use such transfers to change someone’s role or the terms of their employment.

Therefore, he emphasised the importance of Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations that provide specific rights to those employees impacted.

The PDA encourages pharmacists to seek their support during this period of change.

Hallo Healthcare currently comprises wholesaler AAH, LloydsPharmacy Clinical Home Care, LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services and Lloyds Online Doctor.

LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services were first commissioned at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in 2009. Since then, the services have expanded across the UK, now supporting over 65 NHS hospitals, numerous custodial facilities, and an increasing number of private sector organisations.

Last year, the Group sold all of its 1,054 high street and community pharmacies that were operated under the LloydsPharmacy brand.