MedPal AI Opens Landmark Robotics Hub, Surpassing Major UK Pharmacy Facilities in Scale and Capacity

MedPal AI plc (LSE:MPAL) has announced the opening of Sarus Court, its largest and most advanced robotic pharmacy dispensing and distribution facility to date, marking a significant expansion in the company’s UK healthcare infrastructure.

The NHS-approved site in Runcorn represents a major milestone in MedPal AI’s growth strategy, combining large-scale automation, AI-driven workflow systems and high-volume dispensing capability within a single integrated facility.

A major leap in scale and automation

Sarus Court spans approximately 23,000 sq ft when fully completed, making it the largest robotic pharmacy facility in MedPal AI’s network. The site is designed to process more than 10,000 prescription items per day at full capacity, scaling from an initial operational level of over 2,000 items per day as commissioning progresses.

Backed by more than £1 million of investment in robotics, automation and proprietary pharmacy technology, the facility is engineered to deliver high-efficiency dispensing at scale, supporting both NHS and private prescription services through a direct-to-patient model.

At full output, Sarus Court will be capable of handling more than 300,000 prescription items per month, placing it among the highest-capacity automated pharmacy operations in the UK.

Positioned among the UK’s most advanced pharmacy hubs

The company highlighted Sarus Court’s scale and design efficiency in comparison with other major UK pharmacy infrastructure developments.

As part of its statement, MedPal AI CEO Jason Drummond said:

“Sarus Court is a major statement of intent for MedPal AI. It is our largest robotic pharmacy distribution facility to date, NHS-approved for the new location, and designed to give us the operational headroom to scale from approximately 2,000 prescription items per day today to more than 10,000 items per day when fully completed.

“We have invested over £1 million in robotics, automation and our pharmacy technology stack to create a platform that we believe can become one of the most sophisticated and lowest-cost dispensing operations in the UK.

“The size and capacity of Sarus Court place MedPal AI firmly among the most ambitious technology-led pharmacy operators in the UK. At 23,000 sq ft when fully completed, the facility is larger by footprint than Boots’ recently opened 20,000 sq ft Basingstoke dispensing hub, while its designed item capacity is significantly above the monthly item levels currently reported by leading individual Well and Boots pharmacy entries on PharmData.

“This facility gives MedPal AI the scale, automation and resilience required to support the next phase of our growth across NHS dispensing, private prescriptions, AI-enabled patient engagement and direct-to-patient pharmacy fulfilment.”

Strengthening a national digital health platform

Sarus Court will operate alongside MedPal AI’s existing Swaffham facility and replaces its previous Runcorn distribution site. The phased commissioning approach ensures immediate operational output while enabling a smooth ramp-up to full capacity.

The facility forms a core part of MedPal AI’s broader digital health ecosystem, which integrates AI-powered wellness tools, clinical services and automated pharmacy fulfilment. Through its MedPal Health OS platform, the company connects user health data from wearable devices and health applications into a unified system designed to support personalised care pathways and efficient medication delivery.

Building future-ready healthcare infrastructure

With NHS approval secured and advanced robotic systems now being commissioned, Sarus Court represents a significant expansion of MedPal AI’s operational footprint. The facility strengthens the company’s position in the evolving UK pharmacy landscape, where automation, scale and digital integration are increasingly central to service delivery.

As commissioning continues, Sarus Court is expected to play a key role in supporting MedPal AI’s long-term growth strategy across NHS dispensing, private prescriptions and AI-enabled healthcare services.

For more information visit https://medpal.co/