Patients in Staffordshire are benefiting from the rollout of automated pill dispensers which have been proven to save more than £5,000 per person per year.
As part of the Government’s 3millionlives campaign to increase the use of assistive technologies, NHS North Staffordshire has joined forces with Staffordshire County Council and local pharmacies to improve medicines management and save cash through improvements in drug delivery.
At a cost of just over £200 each, the PivoTell Plus dispensers ensure pills are delivered at the right time, reducing the risk of an overdose and enabling people to stay independent for longer. The units hold between seven and 28 days’ worth of drugs and come with spare internal cases, which can be pre-filled by family members of carers.
The devices are portable and an alarm tells patients when to take their medicines. The warning will continue to ring for up to an hour or until the tablets are dispensed. The alarm can also be programmed to alert a carer if the medication is not taken. In addition, the dispensers can also be used with the PivoTell Tipper, a built-in aid for patients with a lack of strength of limited dexterity.
The automatic pill dispensers have been proven to improve the quality of life for patients who otherwise would have difficulty remembering to take their medication
As part of the Staffordshire rollout, around 100 patients are benefiting from the devices, with a pilot project showing possible savings of £2,800 per person over a six-month period.
Dr Manir Hussain, head of medicines management at NHS North Staffordshire, said: “This project has been a success, with the automatic pill dispensers proven to improve the quality of life for patients who otherwise would have difficulty remembering to take their medication.”
Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, added: “Helping people to live more independently so they can live as normal a life as possible is really important to us. We want to utilise innovative and exciting technology to help that happen. The difference it is making for so many people is really motivating. We look at just a few of these products and talk to people for whom they’ve made a real difference.”
It is a wonderful piece of technology and gives me peace of mind. I can leave mum knowing she will be able to take her medication safely
One of the people to benefit is Shirley Smout, who cares for her mother, Nancy, who has dementia. She said: “I can fill the dispenser every month with mum’s medication. I set it for 8am every day when it is time for her to take her tablets and the alarm sounds and a light flashes. It will not stop until the pills have been dispensed.
“It has been key to enabling mum to stay in her own house. It is a wonderful piece of technology and gives me peace of mind. I can leave mum knowing she will be able to take her medication safely.”