Two advanced robot medication dispensers have been installed in Basildon Hospital's pharmacy store.

The state-of-the-art robots replace a decade-old system and promise to deliver medicines much faster.

The smart devices are capable of storing nearly twice as many medications as the previous system and provide comprehensive information on each item, including production and expiry dates.

Nina Webb, pharmacy operations manager at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re thrilled to have commissioned the new robots. They will hugely improve our ability to accurately dispense medicines, helping them reach patients in the wards more quickly.”

The new robots will also ensure items with the earliest expiry dates are used first, reducing waste. In the event of recalls, specific batches can be easily identified.

The robots decide on the best location to store each medicine based on its demand, ensuring quicker dispensing times.

They also automatically reorganise items when orders are not being processed, making room for as many as possible.