THULA SOFTWARE LIMITED

Alfa CD, Electronic Controlled Drug Registers

Alfa CD e-register service is a secure, paperless solution for managing controlled drugs in full compliance with UK legislation. It streamlines digital workflows, improves governance, and enhances patient safety through electronic registers, real-time discrepancy checks, and seamless integration; freeing clinical teams to focus on patient care.

Features

• Paperless CD Management - Eliminates paper, supports NHS sustainability goals
• Compliance Reporting Suite – Ensures governance and regulatory confidence
• Discrepancy Alerts – Real-time notifications prevent medication errors
• Advanced Audit Trail – Full traceability for safety and compliance
• Digital Signature Certificates – Secure, trusted electronic approvals
• Secure Document Storage – Protects sensitive data and prevents loss
• Integration Ready – Works with eMAR, automation, prescribing systems
• Role-Based Permissions – Controlled access for accountability and security
• Two-Factor Authentication – Enhanced security for critical transactions
• Built-In Training Tools – Simplifies onboarding and ensures compliance

Benefits

• Optimised Supply Chain – Reduce waste, improve stock efficiency
• Better Workflow Efficiency – Free staff time for patient care
• Real-Time Stock Visibility – Instant insight into inventory levels
• Faster Document Turnaround – Speed up approvals and reduce delays
• Improved Compliance – Meet legislative and organisational standards
• Barcode Scanning (Scan4Safety) – Accurate identification, reducing medication errors
• Greater Staff Satisfaction – Simplified processes reduce stress and workload
• Sustainable Digital Transformation – Eliminate paper, support NHS Green Plan
• Loss Prevention & Security – Protect sensitive data end-to-end
• Lower Transaction Costs – Streamlined digital processes save money

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at thula.uk@thula.is. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

357252671617114

Contact

Adele McAllister
07888401308
thula.uk@thula.is

About your service

• Service categories:

  Applications

  Production and operations

  Service industry and public sector operations

  • Healthcare
  • Public Order and Safety
  • Police
  • Defence
• Multi cloud support: Yes

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: There is no service constraints that need to be considered.
• System requirements:
  • Needs a Chromium browser with minimum resolution.
  • Needs Microsoft Active Directory for authentication.
  • Needs on-premise IIS for single sign-on.
  • Needs PAS integration for patient details and admissions.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Standard Response Times; Initial Acknowledgement: Within 4 business hours of receiving your request.; Resolution for Standard Queries: Typically within 1–2 business days, depending on complexity.; ; Urgent Issues: Prioritised with immediate escalation and response within 1 business hour.; ; Weekend and Holiday Coverage; Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 (UK time).; Weekends & Bank Holidays: Requests received outside operating hours will be acknowledged on the next working day.; ; Emergency Support: Available for critical issues via designated escalation channels.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: We provide a structured, tiered support model to ensure operational continuity and swift issue resolution. First-Level Support is delivered by the customer’s internal team or designated super users, focusing on basic troubleshooting and assisting end-users. Second-Level Support is managed by the customer’s IT department, addressing intermediate technical problems. Third-Level Support is supplied by our organisation under the Support and Maintenance Terms, covering software error resolution, complex incident troubleshooting, and corrective actions. Service delivery is governed by agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs).; All support services, including Third-Level Support, are covered under a Maintenance Fee, which forms part of the Subscription Fee. This fee is based on the number and scope of licensed software modules and aligns with our current price list. Adjustments may be made if the licensed scope changes, ensuring predictable costs and comprehensive coverage without hidden charges.; Our support framework is supervised by a Product Engineering and Service Manager to maintain SLA compliance and proper governance. A Technical Account Manager or Cloud Support Engineer is not included by default, but enhanced account management can be arranged through a customised support agreement to suit specific needs.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: The user has options from a tool kit that consists of a various aids - user guide web pages, tutorials videos, training packages, live web demos and onsite training.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
  • Other
• Other documentation formats: Vimeo/Video Training Package
• End-of-contract data extraction: Only limited built in support such as reports that can be exported. Any more extensive data extraction is add-on service.
• End-of-contract process: End-of-Contract Process Service Termination: All system access is revoked and credentials securely deactivated.; Data Handling: Via an add-on service customers can download their data before contract expiry; compliance checks ensure secure deletion.; Optional Services: Knowledge transfer sessions or migration support available at extra cost.; Asset Recovery and Compliance: Any physical or digital assets provided under the contract are returned or securely deleted.; Data is securely deleted and compliance checks are performed to ensure data privacy obligations are met.; ; Included in Contract Price; Core service delivery and standard support.; Access to all contracted features during the term.; Ability to download user dashboard reporting data before termination.; ; Additional Costs; Bulk data export or migration to third-party systems.; Specialist offboarding support or compliance audits.; Early termination fees, if applicable.
• Documentation accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the documentation is accessible: The documentation is provided on-line through a controlled web access.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Chrome
• Application to install: Yes
• Compatible operating systems: Windows
• Designed for use on mobile devices: No
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: None or don’t know
• Description of service interface: The service provides a web-based user interface accessible through chromium based browsers. It is built on the .NET framework and allows users to manage and interact with the service via a secure, responsive web application. Additionally, APIs can be provided for integration purposes e.g. PAS/ADT
• Accessibility standards: None or don’t know
• Description of accessibility: Requires both mouse and keyboard to interact with. Browser can be resized and zoomed but requires certain minimum resolution for optimal user experience.
• Accessibility testing: User interfaces have been designed in cooperation with our customers, validated by internal QA teams and gone through acceptance testing by the customers.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: In general all user operations are performed through a web based UI. However, users can perform limited set of business operations via an API. Operation such as stock extraction, place orders, receive deliveries, admit, transfer and discharge patients.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • PDF
  • Other
• API sandbox or test environment: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: The system can be customed in various ways through our configuration manager tool i.e. for supporting different work processes such as barcoding, blind count and secondary witness signatures. Some customization can be done by service admins and some configuration requires service provider to customize.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Our server infrastructure monitors real-time load capacity and has significant load-balancing and redundancy measures

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations:
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Data Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Degaussing
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Some data within the system can be exported as Excel and CSV formatted files.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats:
  • Excel (xlsx)
  • PDF
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats:
  • Excel (xlsx)
  • CSV
  • XML

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The SLA and associated terms do not specify a guaranteed percentage of uptime (such as 99.9% availability). Instead, the SLA focuses on how Thula will respond to and resolve software errors, with defined response times and processes for different severity levels (Priority 1, 2, and 3). There no compensation or refunds should Thula fail to provide these guarantees.
• Approach to resilience: The service has built in fail-over at every level including database and applications servers, through clustering and load balancing capability.
• Outage reporting: Via e-mail alerts

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Other user authentication: User authenticate against Active Directory. Additionally, users will be requested to provide a PIN number in some cases. This enables two step authentication
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Access is controlled by privileges. Users can be assigned elevated privileges. Typical setup is creating role-based access groups which users are then members of. Such groups can be created for elevated access
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Description of management access authentication: Users authenticate against Active Directory.

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
• Other security governance standards: CyberEssentials; ORCHA Assured; DTAC/DCB0129; We maintain formal, ISO 27001-aligned policies, including Information Security, Acceptable Use, Data Handling, and Device Management, approved by our Security Committee/relevant management. Policies are communicated/acknowledged by staff, supported by mandatory training. Compliance is monitored through an internal audit program to ensure adherence and continuous improvement
• Information security policies and processes: We maintain formal, ISO 27001-aligned policies, including Information Security, Acceptable Use, Data Handling, and Device Management, approved by our Security Committee or other relevant management. Policies are communicated and acknowledged by staff, supported by mandatory training. Compliance is monitored through an internal audit program to ensure adherence and continuous improvement.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Service components are tracked throughout their lifecycle using version control, documented configurations, and controlled environments. Changes are managed in accordance with Thula's formal change control and secure development processes, including assessment of security and data protection impacts, with changes tested in staging before approval and release.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Our vulnerability management process is part of our ISO 27001-certified ISMS. We assess potential threats through various ways such as penetration testing, and risk analysis. Critical patches are deployed "as soon as possible", with other updates applied according to severity.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Our protective monitoring process is governed by our ISO 27001-certified ISMS. We identify potential compromises through continuous log collection, automated alerts, and regular security reviews. When suspicious activity is detected, our incident response plan is activated immediately to contain and investigate the issue. Critical incidents are addressed within hours, and all responses are documented and reviewed to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
• Incident management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v4.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Incidents are reported via our ticketing system and allocated to the relevant person. They are then thoroughly investigated and addressed. Reports are completed in an incident report log and preventive action taken where required.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v4.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 0%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 0%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 0%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 0%
• Over £5,000,001: 0%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: BSI
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Tuesday 26 August 2025
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: None
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: E65eee81-4bdf-418b-9c7e-a614c3a60347
• Cyber essentials plus: No
• Cyber Essentials Alternative: None of the criteria
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: ORCHA Assured Bronze

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Plans for an appropriate income replacement policy for staff who are required to spend time away from work to care for a sick dependent or close relative
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Introducing transparency to pay and reward processes
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at thula.uk@thula.is. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.