Fife pharmacy plans automated prescription dispenser

Barrie Dear pharmacy submitted plans for the machine which have now been approved by Fife Council.

The site in the High Street is currently a vacant unit – it was, most recently,  occupied by Poundworld.

The new dispenser will also welcome a new shopfront and is in conjunction with the reoccupation of this part of the site by Dears Pharmacy.

It  will provide a 24/7 service seven days a week and  aims to be installed within three months

The new machine will have a collection drawer and a user-friendly screen to log prescriptions.

The machine works as a ‘collection point’ for patients who will receive an automated text with a unique pin when their prescription is ready. They then enters their pin which will open up the drawer to their prescription.

A Medpoint spokesperson said: ” For the patient, it is more convenient allowing prescription collection anytime– removing the need to wait in for a delivery or stand in queue’s to collect from the shop.

“In the pharmacy,  a reduction in the number of people collecting prescriptions allows for more time to speak to those patients that need it, signposting them to other profitable services provided by the pharmacy directly such as flu Jabs or blood tests. Our experiences so far have shown that installing a Medpoint increases item number growth by more than 5%.”

In the report of handling, Fife Council stated: “The proposal respects the character and appearance of the building and is compatible with its surrounds in terms of finishing materials and design and would not cause any detrimental impact on its setting and appearance of Dunfermline Conservation Area.”

Hannah Brown , Local Democracy Reporting Service