NHS patients in Devon are set to benefit from a wider range of services as University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust announce it is planning to double the size of its outpatient pharmacy.
The move comes after the trust saw demand for its services increase by 25% with the new facility expected to expand space for both staff and stock, broaden the provision of services, improve patient experience and reduce waiting times.
The new pharmacy will be located in a multistorey car park and will be approximately 155 square metres.
The trust’s chief pharmacist, Kandarp Thakkar, explains more about the benefits of the new facility and the reasons behind its need in the video below.
“A lot of the medications that you get in the outpatient pharmacy are not available at your regular high street pharmacy and therefore the solution to this is not so simple,” Thakkar separately said.
“However, the new facility will be double the size in space and gives us the opportunity to have more staff, better patient waiting areas, offer home delivery and improve patients overall experience and waiting times.”
The new facility, which the trust is expecting to be fully operational by October, will also have extended opening times on weekends.
“I want to thank patients, relatives and friends for their patience and understanding, whilst the outpatient pharmacy is relocated to the new facility,” added Thakkar.
In the meantime, trust volunteers will be deployed to ensure patients can access information around waiting times, temporary seating and refreshments to combat the hot weather.
