OPS Aseptic Services

The service provides ready-to-administer, aseptically prepared chemotherapy and biologic products that are dose-banded and standardised according to NHS England specifications.
It aims to reduce local compounding pressure, minimise waste by enabling single-unit ordering at batch prices plus OPS on-cost, and improve resilience and turnaround times.

The service provides ready-to-administer, aseptically prepared doses.

No. These are products produced by licensed aseptic manufacturing partners and held within the OPS supply chain to support rapid access.

OPS supplies a range of dose-banded cytotoxic, monoclonal antibody products, CIVAS and OPAT lines.
Customers can request a catalogue or login access to view the current product list.

Orders can be placed by email at ops.orders@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or via EDI using Supplier ID 11984.
EDI supports GHX, Powergate and Medecator.
The cut-off is 14:00 for next working-day delivery.
For new customers, or new product lines for existing customers, OPS will need to enable product access on the stock management system and set up pricing.

No. One of the key benefits of the model is no minimum order quantity.

An SLA is not necessarily required for ad hoc activity, but OPS recommends one for regular service usage. For regular customers, the SLA covers areas such as minimum shelf-life on receipt, delivery KPIs, recall processes and complaint processes. OPS can provide templates and onboarding support.

Standard delivery is next working day for orders placed before 14:00, subject to stock.
We can arrange pre 12noon delivery for an additional charge of £25.
Same-day delivery may be available by arrangement.

The service can help reduce wastage by allowing customers to order only what they need, improve availability through central stock holding, support faster turnaround through next-day delivery, and create potential cost savings through batch pricing plus OPS on-cost. It may also support compounder efficiencies by reducing pressure on patient-specific ordering.

Usually dependent on agreeing products, pricing and account setup requirements. Usually, the process should take 3-4 weeks but can depend on individual circumstances.
For more information please reach out to our Sales Account Manager – Samira Akram at samira.akram@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

OPS will endeavour to support ad hoc and emergency requests where possible, subject to stock availability and provided this does not adversely affect supply to trusts that purchase regularly from OPS.

Yes, subject to stock availability and as long as this does not affect regular customers.

Yes. Planned shutdown support is one of the key use cases for the service.

OPS aims to complement existing frameworks and may act as an alternative wholesale route for products. OPS is actively engaging with contracting authorities to consider contract-compliant options for future tenders and interim support routes.

Stability data is based on manufacturer and NHS England specifications. Detailed information is provided in product specification documentation and Certificates of Analysis.

Responsibility for quality is defined according to each party’s role in the supply chain. OPS does not manufacture these products; they are manufactured by appropriately authorised aseptic manufacturing partners, including organisations operating under the relevant MS licence where applicable. The manufacturer or licence holder is responsible for the manufacture, release, specification, stability data, shelf life and product quality of the unlicensed medicine.
OPS is responsible for the wholesale distribution activities it performs. This includes ensuring products are sourced from appropriately authorised suppliers, checking that required documentation such as Certificates of Analysis or Certificates of Conformity is available, maintaining GDP-compliant storage and distribution, preserving batch traceability, and managing complaints, recalls or quality concerns through its QMS.
As these products are unlicensed medicines, customers should also recognise that they do not have a UK Marketing Authorisation and have not been assessed through the standard MHRA licensing process. The clinical decision to use an unlicensed medicine remains with the responsible prescriber or clinical team, who must be satisfied that the product meets the patient’s special clinical need. OPS supports that decision-making by providing the relevant product, supplier and quality documentation, but does not replace the manufacturer’s responsibility for product quality or the prescriber’s responsibility for clinical appropriateness.

This varies by supplier. OPS may act as a distributor for some suppliers, while in other cases products are purchased and supplied via the OPS Wholesale Dealer Licence.

OPS is not routinely open on weekends or bank holidays; however, customers can contact our Customer Service Team in advance to discuss what delivery options may be available.

OPS is notified in advance of any contract or pricing changes by the contracting authority or supplier, and our systems are updated accordingly.

Yes. OPS shares the relevant product information with customers, and we would arrange an onboarding discussion to ensure they understand the applicable supply route and any related product receipt or checking requirements.

OPS maintains full batch traceability for all products, and suppliers have visibility of the relevant batch information to support effective tracking and assurance.

If a recall situation occurred, this would be managed through OPS’s established GDP-compliant recall and defective medicines procedures. OPS maintains full batch traceability from receipt, through storage, and onward distribution, allowing affected batches and customers to be identified quickly if a recall or defect notification is received.
The OPS Responsible Person and Quality team would coordinate the response, including quarantine of any stock held at OPS, communication with affected customers, reconciliation of supplied stock, and liaison with the relevant supplier, manufacturer or regulatory body where required. All recall actions, customer responses, stock movements and closure decisions would be fully documented to provide a clear audit trail and confirm that the recall had been completed effectively.

Yes. OPS provides assurance of temperature-controlled storage and delivery through its GDP-compliant quality system. Products are received from approved suppliers or manufacturers under defined supply arrangements, with temperature compliance checked on arrival at OPS. Once under OPS control, products are held in monitored ambient or cold-chain storage areas, with calibrated or verified temperature monitoring and escalation processes for any excursions. Outgoing deliveries are managed using temperature-controlled logistics appropriate to the product requirements, with delivery information, proof of delivery and temperature tracking available as part of the service. Where the earlier manufacturing-to-OPS stage is managed by the manufacturer or supplier, assurance is provided through the relevant supplier arrangements and Quality Technical Agreements.

OPS assures shelf life through the approved stability and shelf-life data provided by the relevant licensed manufacturer, NHS manufacturing unit, commercial compounder or supplier. Shelf life is product-specific and is confirmed through product documentation, labelling and Certificates of Analysis or Certificates of Conformity, with minimum remaining shelf-life expectations agreed with regular customers through the SLA where applicable.
OPS does not manufacture these products or generate the primary stability data itself. Formal product quality evaluation sits with the manufacturer or licence holder. OPS’s assurance is based on supplier qualification, review of the relevant product and stability information during onboarding, GDP-compliant storage and stock rotation, expiry monitoring, and agreed shelf-life controls within customer SLAs.