Following the acquisition of the Professional Services division of Pharmacy2U Ltd by Meridian Pharmaservices a sister company to Healthcare at Home Ltd the enlarged company was renamed Applied Dispensary Services Ltd. Whilst retaining all the existing business relationships including service provision for Roche Homecare, the intention is to develop a new business entity which sees as its mission the ability to provide homecare services for the total range of products used by contracting hospital Trusts. This will allow NHS Trusts to negotiate the contract supply prices for Products of their choice whilst also having the benefit of a single service provider to all patients within a clinical speciality. The new business trades as Applied Dispensary Services (ADS), operating from purpose-designed premises in the Yorkshire region and benefits from sophisticated call and patient management support tools.

The approach taken by ADS is of particular benefit to hospital pharmacy departments who need to adopt a more flexible approach to workflow planning. The outsourcing of routine dispensary work for outpatients is one way in which the clinical assistance provided by hospital pharmacists can be maximised. The recent NHS report "A spoonful of sugar" concluded that the number of adverse incidents could be reduced by better integration of pharmacists into the clinical team. We believe that this approach will give NHS Trusts the ability to coordinate patient care regardless of product prescribed. This approach has been market tested and shown to provide clear benefits to hospital Trusts. Recent tender awards have led to partnerships being developed with two of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK.

Examples of the kind of service currently provided include the following;-

-A dispensing service provided to 125 patients of a renal unit – deliveries are timed to coincide with dialysis visits so minimising patient inconvenience. Dispensing Volume approximately 1200 items per month covering around 250 drugs.

-A dispensing service to a major Transplant Centre for 650 patients. Prescriptions delivered direct to patients 98% within 2 working days of clinic visit. Dispensing Volume 1900 items per month covering around 350 drugs.

-Dispensing services also provided to HIV clients using a variety of deliver methods. Clear ability to maintain patient confidentiality is the primary concern in this service.