A PHARMACY boss has installed a robot called Big Rab which he says has cut waits for patients and allowed staff to spend more time speaking to customers.

The £180,000 machine at Mackie’s Pharmacy in Cardonald can sort prescription drug stock and put it away on shelves as well as checking dates.

It can also pick stock when the prescription bar code is scanned and performs an additional date and accuracy check in addition to those carried out by staff.

Managing director John-Paul Mackie said: “This saves the pharmacy team 70% of their time so that they can concentrate on delivering face to face patient care

“It has also allowed us to reduce our average prescription waiting times down to around five minutes.”

While it’s not the first pharmacy to use the technology, Mr Mackie says his branch is using the newest version of the robot.