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English ETP Information

Please find below questions that have been asked about the Electronic Prescriptions Service. They are not intended to provide a complete overview of the EPS service, only to address specific issues raised to date.

What is the new electronic prescriptions service?

The electronic prescription service will allow a patient's prescription to be sent electronically from their GP to the pharmacy. If a patient wishes to, they may nominate a preferred pharmacy to which their prescriptions can be sent automatically.

What are the benefits of the electronic prescriptions service?

Over time, the benefits of the electronic prescription service will include increased safety, more choice and convenience for patients, better information for prescribers and dispensers and a reduced administrative burden in GP practices, community pharmacies and the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPD). For example, patients who wish will be able to nominate their preferred pharmacy. This will mean that they will not have to return to the GP surgery to collect a signed repeat prescription.

When will the electronic prescriptions service begin to operate?

Release One of EPS has been available since August 2006. CfH expect the pilot of Release Two start in October 2007 and general release is planned for Q2 2008. Cegedim Rx was the first supplier to gain Clinical Approval To Deploy (CATD) for both Pharmacy Manager and Nexphase.

What are the stages of the EPS deployment?

The Electronic Prescription Service will be deployed in phases with two releases (Release One and Release Two) of ETP Compliant pharmacy systems.

Release One

Core accreditation - Pharmacies will be able to draw down electronic scripts and notify the spine once the items have been dispensed. This will save time due to reduced manual data entry whilst improving safety through accuracy of information. This stage will also establish the technology that is the basis of Release Two.

Release Two

This will be the completion of functionality and will lead to significant efficiency increases in the pharmacy. This will include reduction of data input required. But also enables the pharmacy to plan the work schedule, due to looking at the repeat prescription demand.

The roll out of Release Two is led by the PCT.

  • Patients will be able to nominate a preferred pharmacy for dispensing
  • Doctors will be able to set up repeat scripts to save revisiting the surgery
  • Pharmacies will make electronic reimbursement claims
  • Digital signatures will be included making the electronic token the legal entity
What do I need in order to be able to use the Electronic Prescription Service?
  • An EPS compliant pharmacy system
  • An appropriate connection to the Spine (NHS network)
  • Smart Card (staff registration) with the PCT Registration Authority
What is the Spine?

The Spine is the name given to the secure national database of key information about a patient's health and care and it forms the core of the NHS Care Records Service. More detailed information about all of a patient’s contacts with the NHS will be held at the local level, where most healthcare is administered.

The key national information, together with the more detailed local information, is combined to produce the complete Care Record of a patient.

Information held on the Spine allows care providers and patients to benefit from medical care when and where it is needed. It will include the key data crucial for each patient’s care to commence, such as:

  • NHS number
  • date of birth
  • name and address
  • allergies
  • adverse drug reactions
  • major treatment that has been provided, is continuing, or has been completed
Were GPs, community pharmacists and patients involved in the design of the service?

Yes. GP and pharmacy user groups were used in the pilot of the service. These groups reviewed the impact of the service at the initial implementer sites and provided advice and guidance on the development.

The prescription is being sent electronically, will patients still need to collect a paper prescription from the GP?

During the initial stages of the programme, patients will still collect their prescriptions in the same way as at present. However, the ultimate goal is for patients who nominate a preferred pharmacy will no longer need to collect a paper prescription from their GP.

What is the ‘Token’?

The new bar coded prescription now becomes known as the ‘Token’.

Will patients see any change?

Yes, prescriptions printed by a compliant system will have a bar code and numbers down the right hand side of the form. The bar code contains a unique reference number for the prescription. It does not contain any personal information about the patient. The bar code is only there to help the pharmacist identify the prescription on the electronic service.

Will the paper prescription be phased out?

It is intended that the paper prescription forms will eventually be needed only in exceptional circumstances. However, during the transition to the electronic prescriptions service paper prescriptions will be issued in parallel with the electronic prescription message.

Are patients restricted to pharmacies that can offer the new service?

No. The scenarios below show how this will work.

Normal Nominated Dispensing - no GP token

Patients will be able to decide in advance where the prescription will be sent to. Patients will be able to nominate in a pharmacy, in a surgery and eventually on the internet using the NHS ‘healthspace’.

This is similar to the current repeat prescription collection services offered by pharmacies (patients tell a pharmacy to collect their prescriptions' from the pharmacy on their behalf. These are made up in advance of the patient arriving).

Nomination relies on:

  • Electronically signed scripts - Prescribers will be able to digitally sign an electronic prescription meaning there is no requirement for a paper prescription. The pharmacy may be required to print a token for the patient to sign their exemption declaration if required (like an existing paper prescription).
  • Repeat dispensing changes: Repeat dispensing will move to an electronic version - the NHS system will automatically send the pharmacy a repeat prescription in good time to allow the pharmacy to dispense the items before the patient arrives. The pharmacy will also be able to pull down prescriptions in advance of the next anticipated dispensing if clinically justified.

Normal Acute Dispensing with R2 GP token

There will still be circumstances where a patient may choose not to nominate a particular pharmacy or may ask for an acute prescription which will be dispensed at a pharmacy other than their normal pharmacy.

In this situation the GP will generate a token which will not be hand-signed.

There will also continue to be normal paper prescriptions for some things like schedule 2&3 controlled drugs.

Dispense elsewhere with GP token

It will become possible to move prescriptions between different pharmacies on an exceptional basis. This will be monitored during the initial stages of the release.

For example if a patient’s regular pharmacy does not have the items in stock they can return the prescription to the spine to be downloaded by a pharmacy which can dispense the item. This is similar to the process in place in Release One.

Patient presents at non-nominated pharmacy without token

Unlike R1 however it will be possible to transfer the messages electronically so if a patient goes on holiday and forget to collect their prescriptions then these could be transferred to a pharmacy local to the patient as a ‘one off’ change to nomination.

Prescriber Cancels Whole Prescription

The GP will be able to cancel individual items or entire prescriptions as long as they have not yet been pulled down by the pharmacy. If the prescription has been pulled down then the GP must contact the pharmacy by phone etc and instruct them to return the script to the Spine for the GP then to access.

R2 Token handed in at R1 Pharmacy (and vice versa)

Release Two prescriptions cannot be dispensed at a Release One pharmacy. In this instance they must revert to the paper token and use this as they would have done previously.

Can a pharmacy go straight to Release Two?

It is imperative that pharmacies install the EPS software in individual stages as is suggested by CfH and the associated software providers. This is essential so that the pharmacy experiences minimum disruption to the business. By installing the Release One software as soon as possible the pharmacy staff can take time to use the features and develop any new workflows. By the time that Release Two is launched there will be an understanding of the basics within the pharmacy and the introduction of Release Two will not be such a massive undertaking.

ETP Frequently Asked Questions Surrounding Cegedim Rx

Does Cegedim Rx supply EPS compliant systems?

Nexphase v7 and Pharmacy Manager V6 includes the functionality for EPS Release One and is being deployed to pharmacies at present. There are over 2000 Cegedim Rx customers now benefiting from the EPS systems.

What do I need to do?

There are three requirements to operate EPS:

  1. Order your accredited pharmacy system from Cegedim Rx - Pharmacy Manager or Nexphase
  2. Cegedim Rx will Install an appropriate connection to N3 (the secure NHS network/“the spine”)
  3. Register with the PCT for smart cards
How do I get my N3 connection?

A commercially viable N3 connection package is available to pharmacies from Cegedim Rx.

What about the smart cards?

Registration process and provision of smart cards, must be completed directly with your local PCT. Cegedim Rx sell smart card readers and bar code scanners as part of an EPS ready hardware package that meet the specifications as determined by NHS CFH.

More Information

Customers can gain more information on ETP at the following websites: