Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dundee’s first prescription vending machine arrives at Houston Pharmacy
A NEW VENDING MACHINE – THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN DUNDEE – HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT HOUSTON PHARMACY IN THE CITY TO GIVE CUSTOMERS MORE CHOICE.
The state-of-the-art machine allows patients to key in a pin number to collect their medication and saves them going into the shop or standing in lengthy queues in all weathers.
Houston Pharmacy on Alpin Road installed the automated machine a few weeks ago and since then feedback has been very positive with more than 200 customers signing up for the service.
Pharmacy manager Shauni Noble said: “The response has been really good, mainly with people from the local community, but we are hoping to spread the message a bit wider so people who work out-of-hours – or people who would rather not go into the pharmacy at the moment – use this service.”
Elaine Aggleton, who owns the pharmacy, explained that although this concept is new to Dundee, it was developed in Holland and has already been introduced in other cities across the world. She added: “It has been growing in popularity, particularly with pharmacies in Glasgow, but the nearest one to Dundee is in Perth.
“Ours is the first in Dundee.” Customers using the service are sent a six-digit pin code by text message which they then key into the touchscreen, before their medication is dispensed automatically. There are many benefits of using the 24-hour vending machine as it allows people to collect prescriptions quickly and at a time that is convenient to them.
Elaine added: “It frees up staff time to give more one to one advice to customers about their medicines or any minor ailments they may have through the new Pharmacy First service.”
However, Elaine and Shauni are keen to point out that they don’t want to deter people from visiting the pharmacy, it is important that customers still access the wider range of services community pharmacy offers in person (while adhering to social distancing measures, of course).
And the prescription door-to-door delivery service is still continuing too – the new vending machine has simply given customers another option.
*There are three ways you can sign up to use the prescription vending machine: 1) by calling into the pharmacy; 2) phoning 01382 825880; or 3) registering details online at www.houstonpharmacy.co.uk