Hema Patel, a pharmacist from Benfleet, says her pharmacy sees on average about 30 patients a day. In light of increasing demand, Patel’s pharmacy has implemented an advanced robotic device to automate the dispensing process within its stock room, helping to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system.
Patel was passionate about this technology and the promise it holds, calling it “one of the best applications of our expertise” as physicians. Now with the automation in place, her team has more time to spend on patient care and less on routine tasks. That change is important. To help with the growing demand from patients looking for more help than just filling prescriptions, Patel’s pharmacy recently doubled its footprint, adding more consultation rooms.
While acknowledging the myriad benefits of automation, Patel warned that financial realities make deeper implementation difficult. She mentioned that the price of this type of technology is far too expensive for her three other pharmacies. “I can’t afford to hire another [robot], but as long as funding is right, this can absolutely support healthcare and the NHS and the ever-growing population,” she added.
All of these factors have combined to make the current financial environment for pharmacies incredibly challenging. Patel drew attention to escalating business rates and minimum wage costs. He was right to highlight the big jump in the national insurance contributions and electricity bills. “Business rates are going up, minimum wage going up, national insurance contributions went up, electricity went up,” she explained. She told us that dispensaries should receive additional financial support from the federal level. This funding is crucial for them to be able to continue successfully freeing up healthcare and relieving pressure on GP surgeries.
Patel’s experiences seem to be part of a national trend in the pharmacy industry, which is said to be “on its knees with funding.” The Department of Health and Social Care maps out the essential role community pharmacists have to serve. They are key to transitioning care from hospitals back to communities. A spokesperson stated, “Community pharmacists have a crucial role to play as we move more care out of hospital and into the community.”
Acknowledging these issues, we have committed to growing investment into the essential community pharmacy contractual baseline. The core new funding is £3.1 billion over the 2025-26 period. This new support is intended to bolster the important services that community pharmacies across the country offer.
And while Patel swirls still through these complexities and tough questions, she wouldn’t be anywhere else and in her mind, doing nothing else. “We are making positive changes to people’s lives every single day, and so I feel great that I’m able to do this in my career,” she shared.