Siân Hopgood is embracing her new responsibilities as an ACT at independent pharmacy group Masons Chemists, including managing the operation of a high tech dispensing robot

Since embarking on a pharmacy career six years ago, Siân Hopgood had always dreamt of getting the opportunity to take on a highly responsible role involving new technology. So, when Masons Chemists invested in a state-of-the-art dispensing robot and Siân was selected to train up to manage it, her wish was granted.

Every course going

Joining Masons Chemists when she left school in 2008 was a natural step for Siân. The small, independent, family-run pharmacy group has developed something of a tradition of employing members of the same families and Siân’s mother had worked for the company for four years.

Siân started out in the dispensary of the Whitwick branch of Masons Chemists and feels that from day one she was encouraged to “do every course going”, including gaining her NVQ2 and 3 in pharmacy services – qualifying as a both medicines counter assistant and a pharmacy technician.

CPD (continuing professional development) is essential to Siân’s role as a pharmacy technician and she has got into the good habit of making a note every time she comes across an unfamiliar medicine or patient query, researching the topic as soon as she can and filing a CPD entry on it each month.

“It’s good practice to do CPD every month as it helps keep your knowledge up-to-date and you never know when your folder might be called up for inspection,” she says.

Embracing technology

In an attempt to boost business, improve medicines optimisation and get the most out of the company’s skill mix, Masons Chemists recently purchased a Robotik Technology medicines dispensing robot, manufactured by Medication Management Solutions. Installed at the group’s Coalville branch, the computerised system produces clear strips of individual pouches of medicines as an alternative to blister trays, with each pouch containing the patient’s exact dose and displaying the patient’s name, a description of the contents and the time of day the medicine should be taken.

While the robot, named ‘Flobot’, is designed to save time for the pharmacy team, it requires someone to manage all the processes and workflow around it, separate to the branch operations, and group pharmacy director Jane Lumb recruited Siân for the role. However, before she was able to take the helm, Siân needed one more qualification, that of accuracy checking technician (ACT), which she attained on 9 July.

At present, Siân programmes the patient’s prescription details into Flobot’s computer and fills its containers with medicines, before it produces the medicines pouches. A pharmacist then carries out the final accuracy check. However, once Siân has completed her obligatory probation period as an ACT, she will assume the accuracy checking role.

“It saves time, as we no longer have to make up medicines trays manually, and there is less chance of errors because it will alert you if anything has been entered incorrectly,” says Siân. “It’s better for patients too, as the pouches are less bulky and easier to handle and transport. It’s a very efficient process.”

Siân loves the fact that she’s been given this opportunity to progress

Patients really appreciate being put in greater control of their condition. It benefits everyone as they have fewer problems and are less likely to need to go to their doctor or be admitted to hospital

Meeting patient needs

One of just five pouch dispensing robots of its kind currently in use in the UK, Flobot is used to dispense all kinds of prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions, those for patients using weekly monitored dosage systems (MDS) and prescriptions that come into the pharmacy via the electronic prescription service (EPS2). Although the pouches are less cumbersome than MDS boxes, patients can understandably be a little confused the first time they receive their medicines in them, which is why Siân makes an effort to explain the changes in person, sometimes even visiting patients in their own homes.

Besides having the responsible job of running Flobot, Siân also helps deliver the diabetes swap over scheme. This free service involves supporting people with diabetes to use new devices to monitor their blood glucose (BG) levels more efficiently. If Siân suspects that a diabetes patient is struggling to get the most out of their BG monitor, she will invite them into the consultation room, where she will go through all the different meters available and help them to pick one to suit their needs. Under the scheme, the monitor is then provided to the patient free of charge.

“People may mention that their device isn’t working or they aren’t sure about how to use it and we provide them with the correct knowledge,” she says. “Dexterity is a big factor as some monitors are easier to use than others, while the very high tech monitors may not be suitable for some members of the older generation, but can be very useful to younger people. Patients really appreciate being put in greater control of their condition. It benefits everyone as they have fewer problems and are less likely to need to go to their doctor or be admitted to hospital.”

Making progress

It’s not just Siân’s patients who are grateful for her dedication and hard work. Her pharmacists are very glad to be able to leave the bulk of the dispensing work in her capable hands so that they can spend more time interacting with patients and improving services.

“Siân is brilliant; she is great at making sure the customers are comfortable with their medicines,” says Christine Gaskell, pharmacist at Masons Chemist. “I think that having someone like her on the team is vital to the running of a pharmacy now and in the future.”

But for Siân, getting the chance to keep training and taking on new responsibilities is all the thanks she wants. “I love the fact that I’ve been given this opportunity to progress and it’s great to be doing something a bit different,” she says. “Masons Chemists is a really lovely company to work for; in fact it’s an honour to work here.”