Finally, a level playing field for independent pharmacists

As hub and spoke dispensing is set to be unlocked to all of community of pharmacy in January, Mark Pedder, commercial director of HubRx – the UK’s first automated pharmacy created for independent pharmacies – explores why the change to legislation couldn’t come soon enough.

It’s been four years since we first shared our plans to create a state-of-the-art automated pharmacy designed entirely for independent community pharmacists.

It’s a journey that we expected would be lengthy as legislation changes – and rightly so – don’t happen overnight. But we could never have predicted just how long and winding that journey would become.

When the idea of hub and spoke dispensing privileges were first mooted for independent pharmacies it was because they were greatly needed. Four years later and it’s become desperate.

In that time demand for NHS prescriptions has skyrocketed, and the launch of Pharmacy First in England has created additional funding opportunities.

But despite the increase in demand for community pharmacy services, the number of pharmacies is rapidly dwindling.

For too many years pharmacies have been expected to provide more, but with less remuneration.

This was unsustainable before inflationary and minimum wage costs overtook a static funding agreement. Now it’s crippling.

To shore up their future, pharmacies need to move to the delivery of clinical services and move away from labour intensive dispensing processes. Technology is needed to bridge the gap.

Being able to utilise an expert hub dispensing partner will help independent pharmacies release significant dispensing capacity.

Time that could be spent providing clinical services to the local community.

It’s a dispensing benefit only the larger chains have been able to enjoy. But in the new year that will change with much-needed new legislation.

We’ve invested millions of pounds in the creation of HubRx to meet the demand that new legislation will create.

Our fully automated 40,000 sq. ft. facility is capable of dispensing 12 million healthcare items per year and in turn, level the playing field for hundreds of independent community pharmacies.

And we’ve invested again in our own pharmacies to prove the impact of hub and spoke and allow us the opportunity to implement, learn and refine our offering.

We plan to officially announce our HubRx launch soon, but appetite for the service is already considerable – a clear demonstration that independents want, and need, change.

The reality is, if independents aren’t given the same opportunities as the larger chains, more will disappear from our high streets.

After four long years of debating hub and spoke dispensing, the time for action is almost certainly now.

Find out how HubRx can help your pharmacy by following HubRx on LinkedIn here or by visiting www.hubrx.co.uk

 You can also come and visit the team at The Pharmacy Show on 13^th and 14^th October at the RxWeb stand, F45.