Community Pharmacy Research Initiative
CHEMIQ
Reducing stock enquiry phone volume for Greenwich independent pharmacies
A local pilot exploring whether simple stock visibility can reduce daily interruptions for independent chemists.
The Scale of the Problem
of pharmacists report increased workload
Over 90% of UK pharmacists report significantly higher workload in the past year, with patient requests and operational tasks rising sharply.
experience daily out-of-stock items
Over 80% of pharmacies report out-of-stock items from wholesalers daily — many several times a day — driving phone enquiries.
of patients contact pharmacies by phone
NHS GP Patient Survey data shows nearly half of patients (49.7%) still use the phone to contact pharmacies for services.
About the Initiative
Built locally in SE3. Designed for independents.
I'm a Greenwich-based software developer researching whether medicine availability enquiries are disrupting dispensing workflow in community pharmacies.
This pilot is focused on one question:
If patients could check stock availability before calling, would it reduce daily interruptions?
The Problem
Independent pharmacies are under pressure. Every call adds up.
calls/hour
Repeated stock enquiries
Phone calls are the most common type of interruption in community pharmacies, with several stock enquiries occurring each hour.
h/day
Time spent sourcing stock
Pharmacies often spend 1–2 hours daily trying to procure stock or alternatives due to shortages, pulling staff away from dispensing.
pharmacies
Patients calling multiple pharmacies
During medicine shortages, patients often call three or more pharmacies before finding the medication they need, compounding staff workload.
Operational pressure
Over 90% of UK pharmacists report increased workload in the past year, highlighting the growing stress on community pharmacy operations.
Sources
- Pharmacist workload & consultations — PSNC Pharmacy Pressures Survey; Community Pharmacy England workforce data, 2024.
- Phone calls as primary interruption — Scoping review on interruptions in community pharmacy practice, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2023.
- Stock shortages & procurement time — National Pharmacy Association (NPA) & Community Pharmacy England medicine shortage surveys, 2023–2024.
- Patient contact methods (49.7% by phone) — NHS GP Patient Survey, NHS England, 2024.
The Platform
Simple. Transparent. Real-time.
Pharmacies update availability with a single toggle. Patients see real-time stock status before picking up the phone.
No NHS integration required. No patient data collected. Just simple, manual stock visibility.
Availability Signal Protocol
The 60-Day Pilot
We're inviting 3–5 local pharmacies to participate.
The system is intentionally simple. No training required, no software to install, no ongoing cost during the pilot.
Manual toggle
Simple availability switch -- no NHS system integration required.
Seconds to update
Staff update stock status between dispensing, not as a separate task.
Zero patient data
No personal information collected. No login required for patients.
Visibility only
Focused purely on showing what is available. Nothing more.
There is no obligation — this is a local workflow research initiative.
Get Involved
Express your interest in the pilot
Fill in the form below to register your interest. It takes less than 2 minutes.