It is the first pharmacy in the UK to have two robots which work in tandem to automatically find different prescription drugs for patients.

Staff type in which prescriptions they need into a computer and the robot picks the correct medicines at speed, cutting down waiting times for patients.

Practice manager for Eskdaill Medical Centre Carol Bryceland said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be able to officially open Prospect House.

"The facilities are excellent and we are delighted that we also have the first pharmacy in the UK to use a tandem machine."

Prospect House, which opened in March, includes 35 consulting rooms and two minor operating suites and training facilities. Richard Alsop, director of strategic development and commissioning for Northamptonshire Teaching PCT said: "Prospect House really is a first class facility and is a great example of the future direction of primary care in Northamptonshire.

"Staff from both the practice and the PCT, as well as contractors, have worked extremely hard to get this fantastic building project off the ground.

"We believe this will be of immense benefit to patients in the Kettering area."

A spokesman for ARX, the company which installed the Tandem Speedcase dispensing system at the centre, said: "This is the first tandem robot installed in a UK community pharmacy, and because of the rising demands of modern day pharmacy ARX envisages this is not going to be the last."