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Centred Solutions has been at the forefront of the pharmacy hub and spoke dispensing in England over the last few years. We have already demonstrated that hub and spoke dispensing is a realistic model of dispensing for pharmacy groups of all sizes. We've seen the massive difference that hub and spoke can make to community pharmacy. With pharmacies struggling to survive, the time has come to stop delaying and to now push ahead with model one of hub and spoke dispensing. In our experience, there is no risk with moving ahead with model one of hub and spoke legislation which would allow medicines to be returned from the hub to the pharmacy ready to be dispensed to the patient. We do however understand the need for more policy discussion around the second model of hub and spoke, where the hub sends the medication directly to the patient. This should not delay the implementation of model one. This model would immediately level the playing field for smaller and independent pharmacies, allowing them to use a hub and spoke model of their choice now to create capacity for clinical services. We feel strongly about this issue and that's why we are working alongside HubRx and PillTime to raise awareness.

Paydens Pharmacy Group, one of the first multiple pharmacies to adopt hub and spoke model last year, revealed that the move has resulted in significant time savings in store. Centralising dispensing of repeat prescriptions relieves pressure in pharmacy branches and releases time to deliver revenue generating services, the group said. The group created a hub in Maidstone, Kent, to service its highest dispensing branches. The hub uses Centred Solution's FLOWRx Hub Auto to dispense their original pack repeat prescriptions. The group put in the first FLOWRx Hub production line in spring 2022 and then added in a second line in the autumn as they increased production and moved more stores to the hub and spoke model. The innovative solution interfaces with EMIS PMR, Omnicell's Robotic Dispensing System and Universal Logistics Management software as well as Victoria OS ordering software. The hub operation runs during the day Monday to Friday and produces an average of 33,289 packs per week for just under 9,000 patients, leaving plenty of scope to ramp up. The hub is currently dispensing 79.7% of repeat prescription original packs requested by the group's busiest stores.

Pharmacy hub and spoke providers gathered at Westminster on Tuesday (November 19) to highlight to MPs the urgent need to implement Model One of Hub and Spoke legislation. This proposed model, aimed at making hub and spoke dispensing accessible to all pharmacies, was initially scheduled for rollout in January 2025, but has been delayed. Representatives from Centred Solutions, HubRx, and PillTime engaged with over 30 MPs at the event, which was organised with the support of former pharmacist and Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan. They highlighted the significant benefits of hub and spoke for community pharmacies and stressed the need to extend its use across different legal entities. Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset and officer for the Pharmacy APPG, expressed his support, saying, "Community pharmacies are a vital lifeline for our high streets and independents have always been at a disadvantage versus larger chains who can employ economies of scale. "Model One of the proposed legislation would allow the benefits of big pharmacies for smaller ones to help them focus on the service provision our NHS needs during this difficult financial time."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has finally published its response to the 2022 consultation on hub and spoke dispensing. Considering the consultation evidence and further discussions, the government has expressed its intention to progress the proposals for enabling hub and spoke models across different legal entities as soon as possible. This will be achieved by using the enabling powers outlined in Part 2 of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (MMDA) to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and the HMRs. Furthermore, the DHSC has decided to proceed with the implementation of the two models of hub and spoke dispensing that it consulted on. The government response to the consultation reads: "Having considered the responses, the government intend to proceed to implement the necessary changes to medicines legislation to remove the current restrictions that prevent the hub and spoke dispensing models from operating across different legal entities found in section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968.

Omnicell Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Omnicell - an American healthcare technology company, has signed an agreement with the shareholders of Hub and Spoke Innovations Limited to acquire Hub and Spoke Innovations. Hub and Spoke Innovations Limited is distributor of the Pharmaself24 prescription collection kiosk in Great Britain. The move will complement Omnicell's total solution technology portfolio for retail pharmacy in the UK, including a pack-pick dispensing robot, automated MDS filling machine and eMAR solution, thereby helping pharmacies to improve workflows and offer a 24/7 access to medications and patient care. It will also help community pharmacies achieve their goals, as they increasingly look at ways to make their businesses more efficient and free up staff to offer more pharmaceutical care and services to patients. In short, the deal would enable Omnicell to offer a wider range of digital technologies to streamline retail pharmacy operations, allowing pharmacists to spend more time with patients and focus on value-added, revenue-generating healthcare services, such as vaccinations.

A new report has suggested that adopting hub and spoke dispensing model could be a realistic and affordable option for many pharmacies across the UK, not just a select few. The report released by Centred Solutions highlighted several evidence-based benefits of this model, including a return on investment (ROI) within two years for an average pharmacy, debunking the skepticism that has long surrounded the model. Analysis by the software and technology company found that the ROI, from setting up a hub and all operational costs (excluding transport), can be achieved through either re-directing time saved into delivering services, improving resource efficiencies, or a combination of both. One of the key findings is the 81 per cent reduction in payroll costs per item-from 99p in a pharmacy to just 19p in a hub. The report also revealed that by shifting to a hub and spoke model, pharmacies could offload 50 per cent of total dispensing volumes (70-80 per cent of repeat dispensing) from their branches, creating much-needed capacity. The report also projected an average stock reduction of 50 per cent in the first year for pharmacy branches moving to this model of dispensing.

Our Totton branch has an incredibly high volume of original pack dispensing, roughly 45,000 items. As we became busier and busier in the dispensary we were finding that our pharmacists, dispensers and other technicians simply didn't have capacity to deliver the services that we needed them to. We all know there is a real emphasis right now on pharmacies doing more services and we knew we had to change the way we operate to survive. So we decided it was time to look into a sound automation solution for our medication dispensing process, one that would allow us to free up the time of the pharmacists and the rest of the team so they could better support patients. After a lot of research we invested in Centred Solutions FLOWRx Hub and InStore solutions which were installed late last year. It provides us with the whole package and has automated our entire dispensing process from picking to packing and labeling to checking. Our situation was quite unique as we bought the system initially for our existing high-volume pharmacy in Totton so the hub and the spoke are actually on the same site. People wouldn't usually look at a hub and spoke solution for that kind of set up but it has allowed us to significantly free up time in store for more services. What it has also done is allow us to look at other opportunities to grow and expand. The pharmacy landscape is changing and there are lots of opportunities coming up. We have found that having your technology and the right infrastructure in place to support your existing footprint before you expand is the ideal way to grow in a safe and controlled way. We never thought that five years ago we would buy another pharmacy, yet we have already bought one and are now in the process of buying two more. I'm not worried about the increase in volume this expansion will bring because I know our technology is going to be able to support it. The pharmacies we are buying are struggling but having our solution already in place m

Pharmacy hub and spoke specialists, Centred Solutions, has further strengthened its team with a key new appointment as the company expands its business. Ashley Kilgas, formerly sales director at Alliance Healthcare, has joined the company's executive team as chief commercial officer. An expert in sales leadership and customer relations with vast experience working in the healthcare and pharmacy sector, Kilgas will be tasked with building a high-performing commercial team to drive value for customers. Having worked closely with Centred Solutions on previous projects, Ashley already has an in-depth knowledge of the business. Expressing his excitement about his new role, Ashley said: "Centred Solutions is a pharmacy technology and automation company, with a tremendous amount of opportunity in front of it. There is currently nobody in the market with the same knowledge, expertise or product offering around hub and spoke. "While the company is still in its infancy, it is growing rapidly, and I am looking forward to working with the team to further strengthen and grow the business to support those working in pharmacy."

Bristol-based Titan PMR, a technology firm specialising in PMR systems for community pharmacies, is set to roll out an innovative platform named 'Titanverse,' that it claims will redefine pharmacy management, offering comprehensive solutions extending beyond prescription management. This new platform takes a versatile approach, efficiently managing all facets of pharmacy operations, from high-level management down to daily tasks, according to top company officials. "Our aim is to reshape pharmacies into genuine health hubs, providing advanced services and harnessing state-of-the-art technologies," said Tariq Muhammad, CEO of Titan PMR. "Titanverse, our latest offering, is positioned to ignite this transformation, revolutionising clinical services in the same way its predecessor revolutionised dispensing. With Titanverse, we have the vehicle to drive this vision forward, placing pharmacies at the forefront of primary care in the future." Titanverse adopts a Teams approach, catering to pharmacies with multiple locations or specific focuses. It furnishes real-time analytics and employs a color-coded rating system for swift performance evaluation. Moreover, the platform eases operations by enabling task delegation, encompassing clinical checks and dispensing, all while backing private services with adaptable templates and workflows.