A FUTURISTIC robot has changed the face of the pharmacy at Warrington Hospital, giving pharmacists more time to spend on the wards with patients.

It means they spend less time collecting medications and can now have a more visible presence in the hospital.

The robot, which cost around £250,000 to buy and a further £250,000 to install, works by reading bar codes on medications and then storing the packets.

Then, when a pharmacist inputs a list of medications needed, it collects the boxes and puts them in the right distribution areas.

It is distributing around 1,000 packs of drugs every day of the week, some of which are regularly stocked on wards, like pain killers, and some which are sent to the dispensary.

Its speed has had a knock-on effect on the wards, as drugs for discharge and outpatients are received more quickly.

There are two robotic arms in the system, so if one breaks down there is another able to carry on.

Principle pharmacist Janice Cameron said the robots have made a massive difference to the department.

“We went through so much to get where we are now; we’ve changed our ways of working so it would be almost unimaginable to go back.”