What the doctor ordered

STATE of the art . . . Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, sees the robots in action along with (from left) Joanne Appleton, Philippa Jones and senior pharmacist Mike Weston

A STATE-of-the-art robot, designed to make life easier for hospital patients and staff, has been brought to life in Oldham.

The £350,000 automated pharmacy machines consist of three units which can store 35,000 packs of medication.

The system, controlled by pharmacy staff, can sort any number of drugs by following inputted programs.

The robots are used to fill ward stock boxes for patients at the Royal Oldham Hospital and some local clinics as well as medication for in-patient prescriptions, discharge prescriptions and out-patient prescriptions.

Endorsed by the Department of Health and the Audit Commission, automation of pharmacy has been introduced to many trusts in the North-West. It has been found to free-up staff time for other services, increase productivity, improve stock control and reduce waiting times and dispensing errors.

Philippa Jones, chief pharmacist at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Pharmacy staff will now have more time to focus on seeing patients, advising nurses and doctors and managing medicines.”

So far, the trust has installed two of the pharmacy machines at the Royal Oldham and North Manchester General Hospital.

Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, visited the hospital to see the robots in action.

He said: “This is a very impressive piece of equipment. Any innovation which enables staff to spend more time with patients is a good thing.”