Letters

Pharmacy technology information web page available from NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

From Ms J. Finesilver

Automated dispensing series

The Hospital Pharmacist automated dispensing series:

· February — An overview of the types of systems available

· March — Developing a business case to support investment

· April — Procuring automated picking and storage systems

· May — Practical tips on managing implementation

· June — Hospital pharmacy staff attitudes towards automated dispensing before and after implementation

May I applaud your series on “Automated dispensing” in Hospital Pharmacist as being both timely and appropriate in today’s climate.

Your readers may be interested to know that the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency have just launched a new web page devoted to technology in pharmacy, which is available here. This site includes a section on robotics and automation and I would urge those interested in this subject to investigate what is on offer.

We have included a database of where robots are currently installed, a question and answer document comparing the three systems in use in the UK today, supporting material for writing a business case and links to recent articles including those in Hospital Pharmacist and the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.

The technology pages also include details about electronic trading, identifying suppliers and NHS trusts trading in this way; together with links to papers illustrating the benefits to trusts. I would appreciate any feedback, to facilitate keeping the information up-to-date.

Also included is background information about the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), which incorporates links to the dm+d website and a background paper on coding for NHS trust use.

Judie Finesilver
e-commerce pharmacist,
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
Judie.finesilver@pasa.nhs.uk

Letters to the editor

Hospital Pharmacist welcomes letters from readers in response to any material published, and on other relevant matters of interest to hospital pharmacists.

Letters should not normally be of more than 400 words. Hospital Pharmacist reserves the right to edit and abridge them. A contact telephone number should always be supplied.Where letters are critical of individuals, organisations or companies, details of the criticisms may be sent to the person or body concerned so that their response may appear in the same issue as the letter.