A MAN who has shed four stone in just six months and got his health back on track says it is all thanks to going online.

Rocky Si Robinson, from Shipley, is a new man after signing up to a new free-to-use NHS online pharmacy service that delivers his repeat prescriptions to his door and even texts him to say they are on their way.

The 52-year-old, who has dropped from 20 stone to 16 stone, has to take 14 tablets a day, but kept forgetting or just “could not be bothered.”

But things changed when he saw a web advert for PillTime.

“I never took good care of myself. I used to dread going to the chemist each month to collect my prescription, the chemist would never have all my medication in stock so it meant making multiple visits. I have a mobility scooter or use a walking stick and the chemist is a mile and a half away,” said Mr Robinson, who is a familiar face in the area as one half of Team Fat Blokes, raising funds for charity German Shepherd Dog Rescue.

He added: “I used to cut my fingers on all the packets I had to open and I just couldn’t be bothered to sort it all out. I used to have half empty packets left and never took it correctly and ended up with really bad health. It was a nightmare.”

Mr Robinson’s ailments included Type 2 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with 20 years ago, arthritis, angina, widespread body pain, sleep apnoea, depression and anxiety.

“Worrying about all the packets made my anxiety worse, but finding out about PillTime has turned my life around. Now I’m taking all my tablets on time and not missing any of them out. I’m a new man but I still want to lose another five stone. My anxiety has improved, I feel lifted and more up for getting my health in check. I’ve even shaved the beard,” he said.

PillTime delivers his medication by tracked mail direct to his door. His tablets are packed by the dose, in easy to open pouches, clearly marked with the date and time and come out of a box in the order that the dose needs to be taken.

“It does everything for me. I have a terrible memory so it’s a system that works for me and would work for a lot of other people who are on multiple medications. It’s a massive help.”

As well as taking his medicines on time, Mr Robinson has also give up his five take-aways a week and turned vegan. His blood sugars have halved so he is no longer in the diabetic range, his kidney damage is improving and there has been a drop in his blood pressure and cholesterol.

NHS Clinical Commissioning groups also funds a home service called MESH, giving medicines management support to people across Bradford.

The service, which started in April 2017, is aimed at people who regularly take 10 or more medicines, are unsure of what their medicines are for, regularly forget to take their medicines or are not feeling the benefit of taking the medicines they are prescribed.

Medicines waste is a big issue across the NHS, costing around £300m every year.

Go to pilltime.co.uk to find out more.