UK. 'First' pharmacy-based needle exchange vending machine in UK

A pharmacy in Lincolnshire has become the first in the UK to offer a needle exchange service using a vending machine, according to a charity.

Drug, alcohol and mental health charity Addaction approached Riverside Pharmacy in Sleaford about installing the vending machine, the organisation said in a statement last week.

The charity helped superintendent pharmacist Chris Mulimba acquire the custom-fit machine from injection equipment suppliers Orion Medical Supplies, it said.

The service operates from the pharmacy's consultation room, where patients can place any used needles in a bin before operating the vending machine with a plastic token given out by the pharmacy staff.

Mr Mulimba told C+D last week that the semi-automated machine “halves the time” taken by staff to complete a needle exchange, bringing it down to five minutes.

“A traditional method takes 10 minutes – you have to assemble the indvidual [pack],” Mr Mulimba explained. “The [vending machine] has everything pre-packed; the only time it takes is talking to the client about harm reduction.” (chemistanddruggist.co.uk, UK, 23.01.2018)

https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacy-needle-exchange-vending-machine-uk