It’s been two years in the planning, but tomorrow our pharmacy teams at CRH will be moving into their new inpatient pharmacy, back on the ground floor, and with Tom the dispensing robot to help smooth things along.

Last week there was an open day for colleagues to see the area for themselves, and it’s fair to say that colleagues were staggered by what the robot can do, including self-cleaning overnight to keep everything in tip top condition.

Dispensary Manager, Jill Mobbs, said: “Everyone who has come today has been impressed with the new area, and Tom of course. They can’t quite believe everything he can do.

“The whole team are just excited to move back tomorrow. To be fair I’m speechless, and for anyone who knows me, that rarely happens! It’s been such an emotional day.

“After two years and a huge amount of work from the whole team (who need medals for working in their temporary home since October), to see it all come together is just absolutely fantastic.”

It wasn’t just existing colleagues who came along to see what the fuss was about. Former Chief Pharmacist, Alan Dean, pictured below, came along 50 years after first starting his career at CHFT, before retiring in 2001. Alan said: “What always struck me was how all the staff were willing to change to make improvements and it’s clear that attitude is still the same.”

Tom, the new robot, was funded by the Scan4Safety Programme. Programme Lead, Joanna Gadd, said: "This has been an amazing project to be involved in. It has been a real team effort and collaboration with many internal and external stakeholders over the past two and half years - and that's what has made this all possible. The benefits that ‘Tom’ will bring to colleagues, the department and Trust are significant. A huge thank you to everyone that has supported the project at any point during its journey!”

Clinical Director of Pharmacy, Lis Street, has also shared her thanks to Nigel Watson for managing the project. Lis said: "Nigel has done an amazing job. His attention to detail and tenacity to ensure we have kept on track with actions has been fundamental in ensuring the success of the project. Fantastic job Nigel. Thank you."

Main photo left to right: Eleanor Nastini, Katie Matthews, Jill Mobbs, Becky Pollard, Billie Ackroyd, Laura Sinclair and Lis Street.

Just a few photos below of some of our colleagues who attended.

Check out the videos below to watch the robot in action.