Pharmacy automation hub opens in Leeds

A Leeds-based pharmacy service is revolutionising prescription dispensing across the UK.

HubRx has launched the country’s first large-scale automated dispensing hub for independent high-street pharmacies, following a £15 million investment. 

The 40,000sq ft facility at Logic Park uses advanced automation technology, powered by Knapp technology and RxWeb pharmacy software, including barcode and optical recognition, to ensure accurate processing of more than 12 million prescription items annually.

By freeing up dispensing time, local pharmacy teams can focus more on patient care, supporting services such as NHS Pharmacy First, which treats common conditions including shingles, sore throats, sinusitis and earache.

Alongside the technology investment, the project has also created 40 new local jobs.

Daniel Lee, founder and chief executive of HubRx, said: “It’s a very proud moment to see the first prescription items for our pharmacy customers coming off the conveyor belt and to realise the investment we’ve made here in a city that’s become a real hub for healthcare innovation. 

“Few patients know just how much work goes into dispensing their prescription behind the pharmacy counter. 

“Especially for local, independently owned pharmacies who dispense around 70 per cent of all NHS prescriptions – which last year included over a billion items. 

“Manual dispensing is time intensive and often carried out at a financial loss for the pharmacy due to fluctuating medicine costs. 

“Our aim is to work with pharmacies to provide access to dispensing automation technology so they can focus on providing more patient care, while also taking advantage of improved, at scale buying margins.” 

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