News / Pharmacies
AI-powered pharmacy to take part in government pilot
A Bristol-founded online NHS pharmacy has taken part in a government pilot that has been described as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the future of community pharmacy”.
AI-powered pharmacy group, PillTime, has announced the launch of a new Monitored Dosage System (MDS) Hub to support community pharmacies across the UK, following the government’s recent approval of Hub and Spoke dispensing legislation.
The change, which came into effect on October 1, allows pharmacies to outsource dispensing to external hubs, a move expected to relieve mounting pressures on local pharmacists.
PillTime, which has played a key role in government discussions on the legislation over the past 18 months, says the new model will enable pharmacists to focus more on patient care while improving safety and efficiency.
AI-powered pharmacy group, PillTime, has announced the launch of a new Monitored Dosage System (MDS) Hub to support community pharmacies across the UK
A recent PillTime and Chemist + Druggist survey found that 83 per cent of pharmacies already offer MDS services, yet 74 per cent are at full capacity.
Many teams spend up to 30 hours a week managing MDS for around 100 to 140 patients, with nearly half of pharmacy owners exploring outsourcing options.
PillTime’s AI-powered robotic pouching technology offers a 99.99 per cent dispensing accuracy rate, compared with one error in 50 for manual dispensing.
The company has launched a pilot programme inviting community pharmacies to trial the new MDS partnership model, aimed at freeing up time for high-priority services such as face-to-face consultations.
Sophie Bartlett, PillTime’s commercial director, described the legislation as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the future of community pharmacy”.
She added: “Forward-thinking pharmacy leaders now have an opportunity to reimagine their MDS as a professional duty of care — protecting patients and strengthening neighbourhood healthcare under the NHS 10-Year Plan.”
All photos: PillTime
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