Safer outcomes and quicker delivery – a new chapter in medication access
New smart medication cabinet technology has launched today at both Perry Trees and Anne-Marie Howes, transforming how our teams access urgent medication and improving both safety and efficiency for patients.
Traditionally, when a patient requires urgent medication, a handwritten prescription would be issued by a doctor and then dispensed by a pharmacy. However, both Perry Trees and Anne-Marie Howes are nurse-led services with no out-of-hours access to medical prescribers, and only limited availability during the day. This has often led to delays and the risk of missed doses in urgent situations.
To address this, two intelligent electronic medication cabinets have been introduced, offering immediate, secure access to essential medication on-site.
The system is fully integrated with patients’ electronic records (RiO), allowing clinical staff to access medication safely and efficiently when it is needed, particularly in emergency or out-of-hours situations.
These high-tech cabinets are designed for safety and ease of use. When a medication is selected, the system automatically lights up the exact compartment where it’s stored, guiding the user and significantly reducing the risk of selection errors.
The cabinets will be used daily by nursing teams and supported by pharmacists, matrons, and other clinical staff. Every transaction is digitally recorded, creating a full audit trail. Additional features include printed labels, visual prompts, and secure storage for controlled drugs, all helping to ensure that medication is accessed and administered safely.
Rukaiya Bhanji, Medicines Safety Officer and project lead, said:
“This has been a truly collaborative effort involving our integration team, IT, estates, cyber security, information governance, pharmacy colleagues, matrons and frontline nursing staff. With features like secure controlled drug storage and a strong audit trail, this is a great step forward in supporting safe, timely care delivery. It’s exciting to see innovation like this at BCHC.
This rollout also reflects our commitment to Safety-II principles - supporting staff to work effectively in real-world conditions, enabling proactive care, and reducing variation in complex settings.”
We’re excited to see the impact of this new model and will continue to monitor its success, with a view to expanding the technology to other inpatient areas in the future, particularly to support out-of-hours care at sites such as Moseley Hall or West Heath, where the need arises.