DON’T BE AFRAID TO INNOVATE. THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE, AND PATIENTS ARE READY FOR IT
virtual triage and digital health monitoring. These setups support Independent Prescribing Pharmacists to deliver services that would otherwise fall to overstretched GPs.
A growing number of pharmacies have also implemented 24/7 prescription collection robots, reducing the need for face-to-face pickup and freeing up staff time. Patients can collect their medication at any time, improving adherence while reducing queue congestion and operational pressure during business hours.
Improving Access and Reducing Waste Digital tools save time and improve the quality and consistency of care. By standardising consultations and triaging patients more effectively, pharmacies can ensure only appropriate cases are escalated to GPs, reducing unnecessary referrals and duplication of effort. This helps the NHS save on both staff resources and prescription waste.
Moreover, patients report improved satisfaction due to the convenience of a choice of consultation format, including in-person or
remote access to trained healthcare professionals. In rural or underserved areas - common across parts of Northern Ireland - this kind of accessibility is especially valuable, helping to bridge health inequalities for those without access to transport facilities.
Leading Through Innovation Northern Ireland's community pharmacies are proving that innovation does not have to be complex or expensive - it just needs to be smart. By embracing digital tools, investing in automation and redesigning their workflow and premises for maximum efficiency, they are becoming vital partners in reducing the burden on the NHS.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the lessons from Northern Ireland offer a clear roadmap: empower community pharmacy through digital innovation and the savings - both financial and operational - will follow.
Stephen Toland, who was recently awarded the ‘Northern Ireland Pharmacist of the Year’ in this year’s Pharmacy in Focus awards is embracing
digital innovation as a co-founder of ConsultTed. This digital consultation platform allows patients access to timely care for ‘Everyday Common’ conditions that are self-treatable and do not require the patient to see a GP. ConsultTed structures and standardises these types of consultation, ensuring pharmacies are better able to treat, advise and refer where appropriate.
Courage to change We asked Stephen what advice he would give to colleagues in the Pharmacy Industry who are apprehensive about starting on their journey to digital: “Don’t be afraid to innovate. The technology is here, and patients are ready for it. Digital consultations are a powerful tool to free up clinical time, reduce pressure on surgeries and improve access for everyone. Furthermore, solutions designed and created by community pharmacists with experience of the current pain points will inevitably prove very useful, because the creators and founders have a passion for community pharmacy and want to make life easier for pharmacy staff. This comes from living and breathing pharmacy every day for so many years.”
Delivering Value to the NHS The combined impact of these innovations is significant. Reduced consultation times, improved patient engagement and better use of pharmacist expertise all translate into direct savings for the NHS. When digital platforms prevent unnecessary GP visits, support early intervention and streamline service delivery, the wider system benefits.
Additionally, the move toward digital record- keeping and integrated systems strengthens clinical governance, simplifies audit processes and enables data-led decision making at both local and regional levels.
As demand on the NHS/HSCNI grows, community pharmacy needs to take on a more central clinical role. Through automation, redesign of premises and workflow as well as the creation of innovative apps, local pharmacies and staff are helping to future-proof the NHS. Digital platforms will be essential to making the Health Service sustainable in the long term. Innovations like ConsultTed offer a glimpse into a more agile, efficient and patient-focused future - one where digital tools and personal care go hand in hand.
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