Work on a large-scale dispensing hub for independent pharmacies is to start “immediately,” the company behind it has said.

HubRx, whose founder Daniel Lee set up distance dispenser Pharmacy2U in the nineties, announced today (May 4) that it has signed contracts to acquire and develop a new 3,000 square metre dispensing facility at Logic Leeds business park. 

Hub Rx claims the facility, which is expected to be completed within 15 months, will “enable hub and spoke dispensing for up to 200 independent pharmacies across the country”. A spokesperson told Pharmacy Network News it will have a monthly capacity of approximately 1.25 million items.

Primary legislation was passed in March that will allow parliament to to amend laws concerning the supply of medicines, with the Government planning a full public consultation on whether these new powers should be used to facilitate hub and spoke dispensing across separate entities. 

Daniel Lee described today’s announcement as a “giant step forward” in helping to free up pharmacists’ time for clinical services, adding: “All of the technology has been tailored to our unique business proposition with the ability to scale up to multiple hubs as our customer base grows – this is just the first phase.

“Key elements are an efficient automated pick system and pack-to-patient labelling line. We are developing processes that will ensure the safe transfer of clinically checked prescriptions to the hub, and efficient and timely delivery back to the pharmacy.

“Working with HubRx, the pharmacy maintains its independence, providing patients with its core NHS prescription service and retaining the EPS patient nomination. 

“Patient relationships, loyalty and goodwill are retained, ensuring the pharmacy has the ability to develop and offer a range of clinical products and services in the future which independents need to embrace to survive. Crucially purchasing margin benefits, based on the entire HubRx capacity, will be passed through to the pharmacy.”