Today, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, Julia Lopez, visited AAH’s warehouse in Harold Hill to meet some of the team members who helped distribute vital medicines and vaccines throughout the region during the pandemic, and to celebrate the new investment being made in their Havering facility.
AHH is a full-service wholesaler and distributer of 14 million medicines each week to over 14000 independent pharmacies, hospitals, and other dispensing organisations such as prison trusts and mental health trusts. Their Romford branch, on Faringdon Avenue, operates a fleet of over 125 vans that distribute life-saving and essential medication twice a day to pharmacies, hospitals and public services across London and neighbouring counties.
AAH were asked to step up their operation to handle the extraordinary challenges posed by the pandemic. That included supplying the very first Nightingale Hospital established at the Excel Centre at a moment's notice.
In employing over 200 people at the Harold Hill site, many of whom are local and have worked for the company for decades, AAH is one of Havering's biggest employers. So vital were their workers deemed that they were permitted to keep operating their 85 000 square foot warehouse on Faringdon Avenue throughout lockdown and provide wider logistical support to the mammoth undertaking of the vaccine rollout.
Mrs Lopez was briefed by Director of Operations, Ashley Cowen, as well as their long-serving General Manager, David Scally, who talked of his pride in the hard-working family-like team he leads from the AAH Romford site. Mrs Lopez was later invited to unveil a plaque to mark the tremendous new £4.2 million investment that has been made in the facility.
Commenting after the visit, Mrs Lopez said: ‘It was fantastic to visit AAH's Romford warehouse in Harold Hill this morning to meet some of the team who helped the country through the toughest times of the pandemic. We all understand the contribution of frontline medical teams, scientists and others to the national effort but may not have thought about all the people involved behind the scenes in the distribution of vital medicines and supplies who deserve enormous credit and recognition.
I was glad also to unveil a plaque to mark the tremendous new investment that has been made in the facility by AAH. They are one of Havering's biggest employers, with a great team spirit and many local people who have worked in the warehouse for decades. The borough should feel proud of these key workers' service in taking London through such difficult days and making sure we never ran out of critical medicines for patients, and I was very grateful for the chance to thank them in person.’
