The
kiosk, being trialled in Aberdeenshire, will allow the user to speak remotely
to a pharmacist via a webcam – and then safely and securely access either
dispensed or recommended over-the-counter medicines near their home.
The
service has been developed as part of a research project led by the University
of Aberdeen and is part-funded by the Scottish Government.
Professor
Christine Bond, chair in general practice and primary care at the University of
Aberdeen, said: “The role of the pharmacist and the services they provide has
expanded greatly in recent years.
“So
in rural areas, where it is not financially viable to have a pharmacy, the
local community are disadvantaged.
“People
in rural areas are faced with having to travel further to access a pharmacist
and as such there is the risk they may be more likely just to buy medicine
without taking advice from a pharmacist.
“My
research is focused on the safe supply of medicines – both non-prescription and
prescription.
“Originally
we were tasked with exploring whether pharmacy services could be supplied
remotely via a video link, but then we were introduced to [digital services
company] Atos and they were able to bring their expertise to the project.”
The
kiosk has taken four years to develop at a total project cost of about £150,000
and is currently being trialled in the village of Inverallochy, which is linked
to its “hub” pharmacy in nearby Fraserburgh.
In
practice, however, the hub pharmacy could be located anywhere in the country.
The
project has been developed in conjunction with Atos, and in partnership with
medical automation company ARX UK, NHS Grampian and Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Robert Gordon universities.
The
partners believe the technology will feed into and further inform the latest
debate around delivering effective healthcare in rural areas.
David
Green, systems integration business director for Atos in Scotland, said the
kiosk delivered a viable solution to some of the challenges of healthcare in
rural communities.
He
said: “This exciting innovation in patient care will extend existing community
pharmacy and ePharmacy services and offer the chance to test the kiosk’s
potential to provide new additional services which are integrated with existing
NHS Scotland systems and services”.
As
well as being able to speak directly with a pharmacist and collect dispensed
medicines, the kiosk allows users to deposit prescriptions, which can be filled
and collected later, and access other standard pharmacy services such as the
Minor Ailment Service (MAS).
The
MAS allows those who are entitled to them to receive community pharmacy advice
and, in some cases, dispensed prescriptions that would otherwise require a
visit to a GP practice.