An Instagram reel has shown how a Brixton pharmacy is benefitting from an automated robot dispensing medication. 

The video, by NHS England (NHSE) and NHS London, says it demonstrates how NHS London is “already making strides to deliver the 10 Year Health Plan” announced last month. 

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It comes as the government announced that over the “first half” of its new 10-year health plan, more robotics will be introduced in pharmacies to “modernise” medicine dispensing. 

NHS London regional director Dame Caroline Clarke said it’s “encouraging to see so many of London’s NHS services already making significant progress in delivering the 10 Year Plan’s vision”. 

“As we shift our focus from analogue to digital, I’m proud that London is home to some of the most innovative services,” she added. 

Read more: Behind the counter: Pharmacy+Health, Harrogate 

Junction Pharmacy has been in business for over 20 years, but its superintendent pharmacist and owner Bhaveen Patel has recently invested in the robot. 

“It has been a game-changer for us and works really well,” he said.  

“It has helped us to streamline our workflow, so we have become more efficient, and our staff have more time to focus on their patient facing roles.” 

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In the video, Clarke said she’s “never seen a robot in a community pharmacy before” and praised how it is a “really fantastic” example of addressing the three shifts in the 10 Year Health Plan. 

Patel added: “Patients love the fact that we can actually spend more time with them, talking to them, rather than being hidden away in the dispensary.” 

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NHS London regional chief pharmacist Jon Hayhurst said the robot has both “released capacity in the pharmacy team” to deliver clinical services and “reduce pressure on other NHS services”. 

It comes as Scottish independent pharmacy chain M&D Green announced its sponsorship of football team Queen’s Park with a video that sees its new Pharmaself24 auto-dispensing medication machine give out one of the club’s third kit shirts to new striker Michael Ruth.