The adoption of pharmacy dispensary automation is low in Ireland. The benefits in terms of safety, stock management, accountability, security, speed and efficiency are now well understood and have been implemented elsewhere. This tweet celebrates the replacement of automation at a well known London hospital. They have enjoyed the benefits of this central piece of infrastructure for 14 years and are now replacing with updated and upgraded hardware.
We are in a beneficial position where hospital pharmacy in Ireland has largely missed out on the developmental and refinement pitfalls due to the low uptake and could now purchase mature offerings from vendors, if resources were made available.
The ever increasing adoption of pharmacy dispensing automation is allowing the redeployment of hospital pharmacy teams away from traditional dispensary based activities and in to near patient clinical activities. By providing these ward based services pharmacy teams are generating both increases in the quality of patient care and ensuring the maximum return on the financial investment in costly medicines.
After all if patients are treated optimally with their medicines and get the support to ensure they are taking them correctly they stand to get the best outcomes from treatment.
This increasing use of specialist pharmacists in ward environments, using their in depth knowledge of pharmacotherapy is supported by the HPAI in their negotiations to enable specialist pharmacists to be recognised and supported by the largest employer of hospital pharmacists in the state.
With a robust structure for expanding services and investment in developing hospital pharmacy around the country both patients and the taxpayer alike stand to benefit.
If you are a hospital pharmacist member of the HPAI we are negotiating on your behalf to ensure that practice is supported and developed.
