New pharmacy improves access to medication at Newham Hospital
Patients on wards are now getting prescriptions faster meaning that they can go home sooner, and outpatients have improved access to over the counter medicines.
Barts Health NHS Trust is working in partnership with Celesio UK, which includes LloydsPharmacy, to provide additional outpatient dispensary services at Newham University and Whipps Cross hospitals. This means LloydsPharmacy now operates all four outpatient pharmacies within Barts Health NHS Trust.
The LloydsPharmacy at Newham University Hospital officially opened in February 2018 at a special event.
Andy Burton, director of community services at Celesio UK said: “The outsourcing of outpatient dispensing has proved to be a successful model, not just for Barts Health, but for many Trusts across the UK. Our partnership has demonstrated an enhanced service for outpatients, as well as staff and visitors, by reducing waiting times for prescriptions and providing a range of associated services such as over the counter medicines.
“Crucially, though, it has released clinical capacity for the Trust resulting in efficiencies for the NHS. The hospital’s pharmacy team are able to spend more time on the wards helping inpatients and clinical staff and reduce waiting time for medicines when patients are being discharged. We’re delighted to have won this contract and look forward to extending the benefits of the model to new sites.”
The additional site at Whipps Cross Hospital will open officially in March. LloydsPharmacy has also provided outpatient dispensary services to St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals for the last two years.
Obafemi Shokoya, Chief Pharmacist at Barts Health NHS Trust, added: “The provision of a high quality and efficient pharmacy service for all patients is integral to our work at our hospitals and our trust values. Working in partnership with LloydsPharmacy allows us to provide excellent direct clinical pharmacy care to patients on wards and in specialist areas, whilst ensuring the continued provision of a first-rate dedicated pharmacy service to our outpatients.”