Staffordhsire County Council has taken delivery of 200 automatic pill dispensers in preparation of the first large scale pilot of the devise.
Staffordshire is one of seven local authorities and Primary Care Trusts getting ready to test the dispenser’s effectiveness, safety, and appropriateness for various groups, plus the cost implications for making it widely available.
The dispenser automatically reminds users to take pills when the built-in alarm goes off. Programmed to release tablets at specific times the battery operated container is loaded with tablets by pharmacists and securely locked.
Council staff, health workers and carers’ groups are already familiarising themselves with the way the dispenser works by using sweets instead of pills.
It is being demonstrated across the county in a range of settings including Alzheimer cafes – see Alzheimers Cafés in Staffordshire post.
Assistive Technology Project Lead, Jim Ellam said: “To help carers and colleagues understand how the dispenser works, I load it with smarties, and tic tacs, and set it to go off every few minutes. This shows how the technology works and using sweets demonstrates how easily the pills are dispensed. I am delighted in the tremendous interest being shown in using this to promote independence, improve medication compliance and helping to support carers.”
The dispensers will be given to people with a variety of conditions who may benefit from more independent living.
Other organisations signed up to take part are Dudley MBC, Herefordshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire North PCT, Telford & Wrekin Council, Wolverhampton City Council and Worcestershire County Council.
For informantion contact pill dispenser project manager, Andy Jackson, mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
The pilot is a joint project between the West Midlands JIP, Boots UK, West Midlands NHS, independent pharmacies, and PivoTell the distributors of the device; and supported by funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG).
Staffordshire is one of seven local authorities and Primary Care Trusts getting ready to test the dispenser’s effectiveness, safety, and appropriateness for various groups, plus the cost implications for making it widely available.
The dispenser automatically reminds users to take pills when the built-in alarm goes off. Programmed to release tablets at specific times the battery operated container is loaded with tablets by pharmacists and securely locked.
Council staff, health workers and carers’ groups are already familiarising themselves with the way the dispenser works by using sweets instead of pills.
It is being demonstrated across the county in a range of settings including Alzheimer cafes – see Alzheimers Cafés in Staffordshire post.
Assistive Technology Project Lead, Jim Ellam said: “To help carers and colleagues understand how the dispenser works, I load it with smarties, and tic tacs, and set it to go off every few minutes. This shows how the technology works and using sweets demonstrates how easily the pills are dispensed. I am delighted in the tremendous interest being shown in using this to promote independence, improve medication compliance and helping to support carers.”
The dispensers will be given to people with a variety of conditions who may benefit from more independent living.
Other organisations signed up to take part are Dudley MBC, Herefordshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire North PCT, Telford & Wrekin Council, Wolverhampton City Council and Worcestershire County Council.
For informantion contact pill dispenser project manager, Andy Jackson, mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
The pilot is a joint project between the West Midlands JIP, Boots UK, West Midlands NHS, independent pharmacies, and PivoTell the distributors of the device; and supported by funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG).
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