Watlington Medical Centre’s prescription dispenser plan could allow patients to pick up medications out of hours

A village pharmacy is hoping to install a prescription collection automated dispenser which it says will help improve facilities for patients.

A planning application has been submitted to West Norfolk Council for the new dispenser at Watlington Medical Centre along with CCTV cameras and other associated work.

Details with the application state the dispenser is a self-contained, secure machine fitted flush to the premises. It is vandal-resistant and would be fitted securely to the surgery.

The opening automatically locks when prescriptions are not being collected and the dispenser can cater for 180 dispensing bags.

Application documents explain the machine will give patients the chance to collect prescriptions at their convenience - out of hours - and will help prevent peak time traffic and queues at the medical centre, allowing staff to spend more time with patients, “benefitting the whole community”.

“In addition, the collection point also allows the surgery to reduce the need for home deliveries which leads to a reduction in its carbon emissions,” the application says.

The surgery, at Rowan Close, proposes two CCTV cameras, a new concrete path access to the dispenser which will be lit, and the installation of two bollards.