Real-Time Digital Transformation: The BD-Pyxis Electronic Medication Cabinet Rollout at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

The rollout is well and truly underway! Over the past few weeks, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has begun installing the first of 11 new BD Pyxis™ Automated Dispensing Cabinets across key clinical areas including A&E, Admissions, Paediatrics, and Critical Care.

So far, 2 of the 11 cabinets are live and it has been brilliant to witness the energy and teamwork surrounding this expansion.

One of the most impressive aspects has been watching our pharmacy technicians rally together to ensure the cabinets are fully stocked and ready for deployment, a huge logistical task, done with such professionalism. The nurses on the wards receiving the cabinets have also been incredibly enthusiastic and willing to support the change, making a tangible difference to how smoothly the rollout is progressing.

🛠️ How It Started: A Transformational Pilot

This wider rollout builds on the success of an earlier proof-of-concept pilot in the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). Led by the Chief Pharmacist, with key support from the IT Systems Manager, the project aimed to test whether automated dispensing could bring measurable benefits to ward-based medication management.

The pilot ran for 12 months, and the results were clear:

☑️ Efficiency gains: Time savings in issuing, replenishing, and checking medications, including Controlled Drugs, were seen across both nursing and pharmacy workflows.

☑️ Patient safety improvements: Notable reductions in missed and delayed critical doses, medication-related incidents, and discrepancy investigations.

☑️ Financial savings: A saving opportunity of approximately £16,662 annually, plus over 2,100 hours/year of staff time released back into patient care.

☑️ Staff satisfaction: 100% of pharmacy staff and 85% of nursing staff preferred the new system, citing improved safety and usability.

The pilot, conducted on Ward D1, a medical admissions ward, was the Trust’s first live test of a Pyxis cabinet and a radical departure from traditional treatment room cupboards still used elsewhere.

Supporting the Change

While I haven’t had a major role in either the original project or the current rollout project, I have regularly joined project meetings to provide support where needed and watched as it progressed. Along with others in the EPMA Team. I even stayed late one evening during the original cabinet go-live week to support the ward, it was rewarding to witness and contribute, even in a small way, to such a meaningful change.

The BD project team has been incredibly supportive and well-organised throughout both the initial pilot and the current rollout. Their structured approach and consistent communication have played a key role in the success of these implementations. From the very beginning, they’ve worked closely with the Trust to ensure smooth delivery and minimal disruption to clinical teams and they’ve continued to provide valuable support ever since.

I think it helped that one of their implementation consultants is a former Bolton NHS FT Pharmacy colleague. Their understanding of local workflows and relationships has made a noticeable difference in helping everything run seamlessly. Nice lad too, good personal friend of mine.

Looking Ahead

With the current rollout gaining pace, I am excited to see how far-reaching the impact of this system will be. The benefits are already clear, and the enthusiasm from frontline teams is encouraging. This isn't just about installing new medication cabinets, it’s about transforming medication management to be safer, faster, and more efficient for both patients and staff.

As the next wave of cabinets is deployed, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how it shapes ward workflows and supports the Trust’s broader digital ambitions. Hats off to everyone making it happen.