This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
New robot to transform services at NHS hospital
A state-of-the-art robot will be helping to transform services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this year.
Medication in the hospital’s pharmacy will be picked, dispensed and labelled in just seven seconds thanks to a new robotic system.
The Automated Dispensing System (ADS) will be speeding up the dispensary process and is hoped to improve the patient experience by helping them to get home quicker.
Work to install the £600,000 project is due to begin this month.
The ADS, which will look like a computer, incorporates a conveyer belt system and will be used to dispense discharge prescriptions along with preparing medication for inpatients.
Medication will be stored within the main body of the robot and is picked using barcode technology.
As the robot is able to manage a large volume of medication, it will also ensure that the hospital is getting a cost effective use of its stocks.
Nicola Berns, chief pharmacist, said: “We are really excited about the introduction of this exciting new technology and the opportunities it presents.
“The Pharmacy Robot is going to help speed up the process of dispensing medication, which will make a difference to our colleagues on the wards, but it will also improve the experience for our patients.
“Sometimes patients and their relatives have had to wait for their medication to be dispensed before they can go home. However, we are hoping that new robot will prevent those delays from happening and enable people to get home faster.”
Nick Lyons, medical director, said: “As a forward-thinking hospital, we are always open to new technology and the introduction of a robot in pharmacy is an exciting step forward for us.
“Providing high quality care and a good experience for patients are our top priorities and the launch of the robotic era will support that.
“While it is a significant investment for the trust, it will pay dividends in supporting our staff to provide high quality to care to our patients and wider community.”
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