State-of-the-art robotic pharmacy systems at Randwick and Westmead’s new buildings will be a shining example of how medicine automation can enhance safety, efficiency, and ultimately, the patient experience. 

Installed with support from specialist technicians from Germany, the robots will work behind the scenes in the hospitals’ central pharmacies. Their job? To store, track, and dispense medications with precision.  

Instead of manually searching through shelves, pharmacists and technicians can rely on the robots to deliver medications straight to their workstation, saving time and reducing the chance of human error.  

SCHN Pharmacy Application Manager, David Luo explains each item is identified and tracked via its barcode, ensuring that the right medicine is delivered to the right patient, every time. 

“That means it always picks the right medication and sends it directly where it’s needed, quickly and accurately,” David said. 

Helping pharmacists spend more time with patients 

By automating repetitive tasks like stock handling, the system will free up pharmacists to focus more on their clinical role at the bedside. 

“By having more automation in the pharmacy, pharmacists can spend less time grabbing and checking stock, and more time on the wards reviewing medications and supporting patients,” David said. 

That shift means clinicians and patients can benefit from faster access to medicines, reduced wait times for prescriptions, and greater confidence in the accuracy of dispensing. 

Real-time inventory, less waste 

Another game-changer is the robots’ abilities to manage inventory in real time. Each medication loaded into the system will be logged with its expiry date, giving the pharmacy teams a clear view of stock levels and helping them rotate supplies efficiently. 

“Over time, we’ll be able to get better usage data of the medications we store in the robots, which allows us to optimise our inventory. That means we always have enough stock for patients without over-ordering or letting medicines expire,” David explained. 

Pharmaceuticals across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network currently contribute to 13% of the networks carbon emissions. The optimisation of inventory which reduces the wastage of medications will help bring down the carbon footprint leading to more sustainable pharmacy departments and the delivery of the net zero pathway for the network.

Supporting a connected pharmacy network 

The robotic system also plays a key role in SCHN’s Pharmacy model of care, focused on integration across both Randwick and Westmead. When fully connected with Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) on the wards, the robots will provide real-time visibility of accurate stock levels across both hospitals. 

This level of integration will strengthen stock management and give patients at both hospitals the same timely access to critical medications. 

Looking ahead 

“We’re hoping patients will feel the benefit because medications will be more readily available on the wards, and nurses will spend less time retrieving them,” David said.  

SCHN’s robotic pharmacy is more than just a machine – it’s a new partner in patient care, ensuring that every child receives safer, faster, and more reliable treatment when they need it most. 

Learn more about the pharmacy robots: