Satellite pharmacies improve hospital discharge times
Remote 'satellite' pharmacies are helping improve discharge times in local hospitals.
The pharmacies, staffed by Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians and assistants, dispense prescriptions on hospital wards in as little as 25 minutes.
They replace the need for nurses or porters having to collect medicines from the main pharmacy which often meant longer delays for patients.
To date, four satellites are operational at Northwick Park, two in Ealing and one at Central Middlesex.
Northwick Park has three satellite pharmacies covering the acute wards, medical wards (James and Jenner), maternity wards as well as a mobile trolley-based dispensing service covering the stroke ward.
Ealing offers a trolley-based dispensing service covering gastro and surgical wards on 7 North and 7 South, while the Acute Medical Unit is served by a larger room-based satellite dispensary.
Central Middlesex has one satellite area that dispenses discharge prescriptions for the surgical wards on Abbey and G4.
Malcolm Smith, Principal Pharmacy Technician, said: “The satellites help ease pressure on our busy main pharmacies as well as helping free up much needed bed space by getting discharge medications to patients faster.
“It also means greater interaction between the pharmacy team and other clinical staff so they have a better understanding of what one another do.
“The feedback from patients and staff on the wards has been very positive and we’re looking at opening more satellite pharmacies in future.”