Brexit-Readiness Statement
The United Kingdom officially left the EU on 31st January 2020. Brexit continues to present questions as official long-term trade policies are being negotiated. Fleetwood Healthcare acknowledges that ensuring security of supply is vital to our customers and patients and as such are doing everything within our power to ensure continuity of supply.
We are complying with Government advice in relation to Brexit and the following measures, among others, will ensure we continue to provide uninterrupted supply of products in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Fleetwood Healthcare has:
- Offices, Warehousing & Logistics capabilities in Belfast and Dublin, with the possibility to ’scale-up’ in both locations
- Increased stock levels of our key products
- Audited suppliers and has identified no major issues with the availability of specific products
- Received assurances from suppliers that contingency plans are in place within their own supply chains & logistics functions. Many of these suppliers will hold additional buffer stocks to counteract any negative impacts of Brexit
- Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI) registered to reduce risk of goods being held at custom ports
- In-House customs management policy in place
There will now be a ‘transition period’ until at least 31st December 2020. Until that time the United Kingdom will remain part of the EU single market and customs union.
The exact terms of Brexit are as yet unknown and we will continue to monitor the situation and react appropriately to minimise disruption.
The benefit of our dual locations in Belfast and Dublin will help to mitigate disruption to our service provision to hospitals throughout Ireland regardless of the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
We hope this provides some clarity and alleviates concerns you may have around supply of product from Fleetwood Healthcare. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves.
