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News & Media

Media Release

Date: 22 June 2017

New Forbes Fraser Pharmacy at leading-edge of cancer therapies

On Friday 23 June, NHS England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Dr Keith Ridge CBE will officially open the Forbes Fraser Pharmacy at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath. The new pharmacy is an integral part of the Trust’s wider redevelopment plans, which include building the Dyson Cancer Centre and the RNHRD & Therapies Centre.

New Pharmacy at RUH Bath
Far from being a simple medicines dispensary, pharmacy is at the heart of the RUH’s activities, covering all aspects of medicine use at the hospital and the new state-of-the-art facility will help us provide an even better and more efficient service for patients.

The new facility includes a five-room aseptic suite, which enables the on-site production of highly individualised cancer treatments, and also boasts a radio pharmacy suite, producing safe and effective radioactive cancer therapies and diagnostic tools – bringing a previously outsourced, specialist service right into the heart of the RUH.

Chief Pharmacist, Regina Brophy said: “The advanced technologies in our new pharmacy will allow us to contribute to a number of cutting-edge diagnostic tests – starting with the production of radioactive imaging agent Gallium-68 which will be used by the hospital’s specialised Positron Scanner to help seek out prostate or neuroendocrine tumours. We expect to be the first Trust in the whole of the South West to provide this diagnostic tool.”

In addition to supporting diagnostic tests and producing specialist treatments for use at the Trust, the intention is for the RUH to manufacture and supply radiopharmaceuticals to other hospitals in the area.

Regina Brophy said: “Not only will we be providing a valuable service to other local care providers, the income we generate will be fed directly back into patient care. Providing innovative services onsite will also help us to continue to attract the brightest and best pharmacists and technicians to the RUH.”

The building itself has already begun receiving accolades within the construction industry. At the South West Built Environment Awards on 9 June, Kier Construction (the building’s designers) picked up awards for Innovation and Value. Part of the success of the building has been the input from staff throughout all stages of the project.

Charlotte Scully, RUH Project Manager for the pharmacy build says: “Building from the ground up meant that the pharmacy team could be involved from the outset. We had a unique opportunity for staff using the facilities to feed directly into the building’s design – which is so important when it comes to getting it right. Due to some careful planning, we were able to transfer services straight over to the new building, so there was no disruption to patient care.”

Regina Brophy adds: “We couldn’t be happier with our new home. We are so proud to have a pharmacy that can fully meet the needs of the hospital and our patients, both now and far into the future.”

ENDS

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