Q: Hi Martin, as Ashtons’ longest-serving team member, you’ve been a vital part of the company for the majority of its 40 years. What are your earliest memories of Ashtons when you first joined?
Martin: When I joined, Ashtons was a late-night community pharmacy in Brighton, which stood out at the time because there were very few out-of-hours pharmacies around. Ashtons has always been known for being innovative, and I joined just as we started offering services to care homes in the Brighton area.
I remember the owner back then, Laurence Sprey, taking me to America to research how they were delivering services to care homes. We came back inspired and introduced our own system for dispensing medications in blister packs. It helped care home staff administer medications safely and efficiently, leading to fewer errors. We also developed printed medication administration records (MAR sheets), and Ashtons became the first UK pharmacy to offer colour-coded charts specifically designed for our clients. Before long, we were serving over 100 care homes, offering not just medication but also a visiting pharmacist and out-of-hours support. It really positioned Ashtons as a pioneer in pharmacy service provision in the UK.
Q: What was the initial vision for Ashtons back then, and do you think it still resonates today?
Martin: The vision has always been to provide a high-quality, responsive service to our clients. We had a dedicated dispensary focused on producing blister packs and MAR sheets. It was clear early on that some of our clients needed more specialised care, like hospices and independent hospitals, so we tailored our approach to better serve them. That drive to offer quality service and adapt to the needs of our clients is still very much part of Ashtons’ DNA.
Q: Speaking of independent hospitals, what impact did that move have on Ashtons?
Martin: In the 1990s, there was a shift towards making the regulation of care homes and independent hospitals more consistent across the UK. New national standards were introduced, and as a result, independent hospitals and hospices needed more clinical input and medicines management support from pharmacists. That’s where we came in. Ashtons started providing these services, and I was involved in setting up some of the earliest outsourced pharmacy services for hospitals and hospices. It was a game-changer for us and the sector.
Q: Ashtons grew rapidly during that time. How did these new services develop?
Martin: Laurence and I worked closely to innovate and evolve our services. One of our first big developments was creating prescription charts for hospitals, based on feedback from clients who were struggling with regulatory inspections. We were always responding to client needs, whether that meant designing new charts or introducing a visiting pharmacist service.
Q: What would you say put Ashtons on the map as a leading pharmacy service provider?
Martin: Initially, it was our focus on independent healthcare providers, particularly mental health hospitals and hospices. We developed a level of clinical expertise that was specifically tailored to their needs. Our reputation grew through word of mouth, and hospitals started approaching us for pharmacy services.
Q: What’s been the most significant challenge Ashtons has faced during your time here?
Martin: The most significant challenge has been navigating the complexity of healthcare and developing services from scratch. Independent healthcare providers have different regulatory requirements compared to the NHS, so we had to create something entirely new that catered specifically to their needs. Healthcare is inherently high-risk and heavily regulated, so it’s a challenge we’ve embraced from day one.
Q: Over the last decade, Ashtons has increasingly moved towards digital solutions. What led to that shift?
Martin: It started with our Ashtons Live View clinical audit and communication tool, which evolved out of the need for better communication between our pharmacists and hospital staff. Initially, we relied on paper records, but as the need for real-time communication became apparent, moving to an electronic system was the natural next step. The system allowed us to send emails directly to all the necessary parties, improving communication and feedback. Soon, 100% of our hospital clients were using Live View. This is now a key part of our service, having been proven to reduce prescription chart errors by up to 56%.
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see Ashtons continuing to evolve with the digital transformation in healthcare?
Martin: The way we interact with clients through digital solutions like Live View and our electronic prescribing system, Ashtons e-Works, will continue to evolve. We have developed ways to integrate these systems with hospitals’ own electronic health records, which would streamline communication even further. The Department of Health’s push towards a paperless environment is something we’re keen to support. Ultimately, these innovations will improve patient safety and outcomes, which is our primary goal.
Q: How do you think pharmacy services will change over the next decade?
Martin: Since the launch of our Ashtons e-Works electronic prescribing and medicines administration system in 2021, we’ve realised that it’s now clinically possible for pharmacists to review a patient’s prescription charts and administration records remotely. Digital solutions open up new opportunities for how we deliver services. For example, we can now offer remote training webinars, allowing us to reach more staff across multiple hospitals at the same time.
Q: Finally, what are you most proud of when you reflect on Ashtons’ journey?
Martin: I’m incredibly proud of our commitment to providing high-quality services to healthcare providers that enhance patient safety and improve patient care. For example, when the Carter Review was published in 2015, looking at efficiencies within the NHS, we found that our services already met the requirements. That felt like a huge validation of the work we’d been doing for years. It’s been a privilege to be part of Ashtons’ journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
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This conversation with Martin highlights how Ashtons has continually adapted and innovated to meet the evolving needs of its clients over the past 40 years. Here’s to many more years of excellence in pharmacy services!
