Monitored dosage systems (MDS) can play an important role in helping some patients manage their medicines. For pharmacies providing the service, however, preparing those packs can involve a significant amount of repetitive work. Each patient’s medication needs to be reviewed, selected, organised and packaged correctly, with the finished MDS checked before it reaches the patient...
Welcome to the AcornRx pharmacy technology blog, where we cover what’s actually changing on the ground in UK pharmacy automation. Rather than abstract industry commentary, you’ll find write-ups on real installations, practical comparisons between dispensing systems, and updates on the automation trends shaping how pharmacies handle rising prescription volumes.
Because the pressures on community pharmacy are constantly shifting — from staffing shortages to growing dispensing volumes — we try to keep this blog grounded in what pharmacies are actually dealing with day to day, not just product announcements.
What you’ll find on this blog
- Installation stories — real examples of automation going into working pharmacies, like our recent write-up on a pack dispensing robot installed at McKay Pharmacy
- Industry context — pieces looking at how pharmacy automation has evolved and where it’s likely heading next
- Practical guides — coverage of specific automation types, such as prescription collection systems and 24/7 prescription collection
Why we write this
As dispensing volumes across the sector keep climbing, pharmacies are having to make sharper decisions about where automation actually pays off — an issue the wider pharmacy press has covered extensively. This blog is where we try to make that decision easier by sharing what we’re seeing work in practice.
What Should Pharmacies Consider Before Investing in a Dispensing Robot?
For pharmacies considering automation, the first question is often about speed. How quickly can a system dispense a prescription? How many packs can it handle? How much faster could the pharmacy process medication? These are useful questions, but they are only part of the decision. A dispensing robot does not operate in isolation. It becomes...
How Dispensing Automation Can Create More Capacity in Your Pharmacy
As pharmacy teams take on more responsibility, automation can help reduce repetitive workload, improve workflow and create more time for patient care. Pharmacy teams are being asked to do more than ever. Dispensing prescriptions remains at the heart of community pharmacy, but pharmacies are also delivering clinical services, supporting Pharmacy First, providing vaccinations, managing deliveries...
What Is Original Pack Dispensing? A Guide for UK Pharmacies
What is original pack dispensing? Not every pharmacy automation system repackages medication. Original pack dispensing (OPD) robots do the opposite: they store medicines exactly as the manufacturer packaged them, then retrieve the correct box the moment a prescription is processed. There’s no repackaging step at all — the robot simply knows where every pack is...
How Prescription Management Software Can Save Pharmacy Time
How Prescription Management Software Can Save Pharmacy Time Better organisation can reduce front-counter pressure, improve workflow and create more capacity for pharmacy teams. For many pharmacies, prescription collection is not simply a matter of handing a bag to a patient. Behind the counter, teams need to know where prescriptions have been stored, whether they are...
How MedLocker Is Helping Pharmacies Create Capacity and Improve Patient Convenience
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24/7 Prescription Collection
AcornRx Technologies: Powering the Future of Pharmacy Automation with MedLocker™ In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, community pharmacies are under more pressure than ever. Rising prescription volumes — NHSBSA reported a record number of prescription items dispensed across England last year — alongside increasing clinical responsibilities and growing patient expectations have created a perfect storm,...
Original pack dispensing Robot Installed at McKay Pharmacy
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Automating Pharmacy Prescription Collections
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Pharmacy automation evolution
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