Raising the Standard: Why Expert MDS Hubs Should Set the Benchmark for Hub and Spoke Dispensing
Introduction
The GPhC’s latest Hub and Spoke Dispensing Review comes at a pivotal moment for pharmacy.
With new legislation now enabling Hub and Spoke models across legal entities (effective 1 October 2025), we are entering a new phase of collaboration that will reshape how medicines are prepared, checked, and supplied to patients across the UK.
The review reflects both progress and challenges seen across hub pharmacies between 2023 and 2025. Improvements in labelling, traceability, and storage for medicines removed from original packs are encouraging. At the same time, more robust SOPs, risk assessments, and stability checks remain necessary.
At PillTime, this area represents daily practice. As a specialist pouch MDS provider, we have spent years refining the governance, processes, and technology needed to safely and efficiently assemble medicines outside of their original packaging. Our procedures are aligned with the European Automated Dose Dispensing (ADD) Guide, a recognised benchmark for quality and safety in pouch-based systems. We believe this expertise has a crucial role in shaping safe, patient-focused Hub and Spoke models.
What the Review Found
The GPhC found that 55% of hub pharmacies store medicines outside their original packs, mostly for compliance aid dispensing. Positively, all recent examples included appropriate labelling, showing product name, batch number, and expiry date.
This marks a real improvement compared with earlier inspections, when medicines sometimes lacked essential traceability information. The data shows that many hubs are now better equipped to handle repackaging safely and meet regulatory expectations.
However, the review also identified gaps in standard operating procedures, risk management, and stability documentation. In a few cases, medicines removed from their packs by hubs on behalf of spokes were not fully compliant with labelling or recall requirements. These gaps highlight why operational experience and specialist attention are essential.
Why Specialist MDS Hubs Matter
Expert MDS hubs already operate at a high level of governance and control because dose dispensing and repackaging are core functions.
At PillTime, our operations focus on:
- Batch-level tracking and barcode systems linking every pouch back to its source pack.
- Dedicated facilities designed for safe handling outside manufacturer packs.
- Robust SOPs regularly reviewed against guidance and inspection findings.
- Trained staff specialising in compliance aid preparation and patient-specific assembly.
- Automated and photographic verification to ensure every dose is correct.
These systems reduce human error and enhance safety for complex dispensing. They also provide a ready-made blueprint for other hub-and-spoke networks to follow.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Integrating MDS governance and traceability frameworks into spoke networks ensures that medication handling remains consistent, auditable, and safe. This becomes especially important as more community and independent pharmacies connect with larger hub partners for dispensing support.
Expert MDS hubs can raise standards for process discipline, training, and risk management. Sharing this expertise strengthens patient safety and builds confidence across the sector as hub-and-spoke models expand.
Conclusion
The GPhC review underlines a simple truth: success in Hub and Spoke MDS dispensing depends on standards, not just technology or efficiency.
The new model can improve patient care, streamline workloads, and enhance access to medicines, but only if every hub handling repackaged medicines operates with diligence, traceability, and control.
At PillTime, we welcome this focus on governance and are committed to working with partners across the sector to share experience, strengthen best practice, and support safer dispensing at scale.
References:
Hub-and-spoke-dispensing-model-a-thematic-review-from-GPhC-inspections-October-2025_0
https://eaadd.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ADDGUIDELINES.pdf