A new video game has been designed to help recruit the next generation of pharmacists to work in hospitals.

Players have to do their best to look after four virtual patients, getting them the medication that they have been prescribed by the virtual doctor, so that they can go home – and it’s all against the clock, just like a real hospital.

The idea was the brainchild of Rachel Craven, pharmacy business, service and performance manager at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, who wanted to find a way of inspiring more people to join the team.

After speaking to The Grimsby Institute, students on the BA Game Design course set about making Craven’s concept a reality. They worked over the course of 12 months and came up with the finished product – Pharmacy Rush.

It can be played on a computer, mobile phone or tablet, making it ideal to take out to careers events at local schools and colleges.

Craven said: “Pharmacists are in short supply, which appears to be a national issue, compounded by our geographical location.

"As a hospital pharmacy service, we’re focusing on our future supply pipeline and growing local talent. We regularly attend local careers events to talk about our hospital pharmacy careers, as we have a variety of different roles which are quite different to how a community pharmacy operates.

"Engaging students at careers events can be challenging when competing against other career stands."

Harmony Wolfe, a student on the year 3 BA Game Design course, worked as art director on the game.

She said of the design: “I was heavily influenced by the artwork for a video game called Overcooked and KENJI, which sells products inspired by Asian-inspired culture."

The game can be used by both NLaG and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. You can play it via this link.