Video game hopes to inspire budding pharmacists

A video game has been created in a bid to inspire the next generation of pharmacists.

Students on the BA Game Design course at The Grimsby Institute designed the game, called Pharmacy Rush.

Players have to look after four virtual patients and get medication prescribed by the virtual doctor, against the clock.

Rachel Craven, from Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, came up with the idea of a game to promote pharmacy roles.

NHS managers recruited students from Grimsby Institute to make the video game

She said: “I was trying to think of ways we could promote a career in pharmacy, which were outside the box, and came up with the idea of a video game.

"I approached The Grimsby Institute and they were delighted to help us with this. The game they’ve designed is absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for people to play it.”

Ms Craven, the trust's pharmacy business, service and performance manager, said pharmacists were in short supply nationally but that the issue was “compounded by our geographical location”.

She said the trust was intent on "growing local talent".

Harmony Wolfe, a third-year student on the course, worked as the art director on the game.

She said: “I have never worked on something on this scale before. I'm going to study a master’s degree in indie game development, so this is great experience.”

Chief pharmacist Simon Priestley said it had been a “really positive collaboration”.

Click here to play the game.

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