Global IT Outage Causes Disruptions
A significant global IT outage caused major disruptions worldwide on Friday. Despite the chaos, a new recruit named “Amanda” kept working smoothly.
IT Issues Hit Local GP Surgeries and Pharmacies
Problems at GP Surgeries
In Peterborough, general practitioners faced serious disruptions as their IT systems failed. They had to revert to traditional methods, writing prescriptions by hand and asking patients to deliver paper prescriptions to the Graham Young Pharmacy on Lincoln Road.
Amanda Keeps Working
Pharmacy Robot ‘Amanda’ in Action
Despite the global IT outage affecting the connection between the pharmacy and local GP surgeries, Amanda, the pharmacy’s robot dispenser, continued to operate without issue.
Pharmacy Manager Abby Chadwick Explained:
“The IT system linking us with GPs failed, so prescriptions had to be handwritten and delivered to us manually. We then entered the details into our internal system and instructed Amanda to fulfill the prescriptions. While our process was slower, Amanda continued working as usual.”
About Amanda
Robot Dispenser Details
Amanda, a robot dispenser just over a year old, was named in honor of NHS boss Amanda Doyle. The robot efficiently moved up and down shelves to pick and dispense medications based on manual instructions.
Recovery from the IT Outage
The global IT outage began around 07:00 BST and started to return to normal before 17:00, allowing Amanda and the pharmacy team to manage effectively through the disruption.
Despite the significant global IT outage, Amanda’s seamless operation showcases the potential of robotic assistance in healthcare. Stay informed on how technology continues to adapt and overcome challenges in the healthcare sector.
