Image

eMAS

What does the Minor Ailment Service (eMAS) cover?

eMAS enables eligible people, who are exempt from prescription charges, to register and use their community pharmacy as the first port of call for the consultation and treatment of a common condition on the NHS without needing to visit a GP.

How do pharmacies and patients benefit from eMAS?

The option of going straight to a pharmacy rather than having to make an appointment with a GP benefits patients in terms of more immediate and convenient access to a healthcare professional and GPs, who will have more time to devote to patients with more serious conditions.

It also benefits the NHS by fully utilising the skills and expertise of community pharmacists as part of the solution to modernising NHS services and improving services to both patients and the public. In addition, it provides a very firm foundation for community pharmacy to play its part in shifting the balance of care.

What were the initial findings of eMAS?
  • Patients valued the convenience of visiting a community pharmacy over making an appointment with their GP.
  • Head lice was the most frequent condition brought to community pharmacies, followed by pain and coughs.
  • The majority of the consultations were by those exempt by age, particularly the under 16's, followed by the over 60's. Patients with income related exemptions accounted for 19% of the consultations.
  • Community pharmacists managed the consultations satisfactorily and coped well with the additional workload.
  • GPs were supportive of the service.
Do Cegedim Rx products provide this functionality?

Cegedim Rx was the first PMR supplier to provide eMAS functionality. Pharmacy Manager and Nexphase provide fully operational functionality for eMAS.

Return to ePharmacy Programme homepage.