Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is currently being introduced throughout England and will enable electronic prescriptions to be generated by your doctor, then transmitted, received and dispensed by your pharmacy. EPS enables the NHS to move away from a traditional paper-based system to a modern electronic one. The use of the electronic system will improve accuracy and aid more security as prescription information will not need to be entered by both your GP and your pharmacist, as it will be downloaded directly to the dispensing computer. The EPS will provide healthcare professionals with information on what has actually been dispensed to the patients (subject to consent). 'Smartcards' issued to individual GPs and pharmacists will provide access to the EPS (level of access may differ with each healthcare professional). Upon recieving your prescription from your doctor, you may notice that is has a barcode printed on the side. This contains no personal information but contains a unique code to identify the prescription.

When you present this at your pharmacy, the barcode is scanned and an electronic copy of the prescription appears on the computer. There is no need to re-type the information. Your prescription will then be dispensed, subject to the same level of safety checks by the pharmacist as you would expect with a standard prescription. At Kingsland Pharmacy we are able to dispense bar-coded prescriptions and are currently awaiting the implementation of stage two of the EPS service. This allows your GP to ‘sign’ your electronic prescription without the need for you to personally collect the paper prescription from your surgery. You will be able to nominate your usual pharmacy (providing they have implemented the service) who will download the prescription directly and prepare the prescription in advance of you coming to collect it. If you currently use us to have your medicines dispensed ask the pharmacist for more information about the EPS.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1) Is Nomination suitable for me?

a1) The table below may help you deide:

Q2) How can I Nominate Kingsland Pharmacy?

a2) The easiest way to nominate Kingsland Pharmacy as your choice to receive your Electronic Prescription is by filling out our Online Nomination Form; you may also download a paper-version of the ETP Nomination Form, print it, complete it manually and bring it to us at Kingsland Pharmacy. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to select Kingsland Pharmacy as your nominated pharmacy.

Q3) Can I chage my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?

a3) Yes you can. Nomination is very flexible and can be changed or cancelled at any time. You can do this by either:

• Asking a member of staff at any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers the service.
• Asking a member of staff at your GP practice.

*Make sure you tell them before your prescription is due or your prescription might be sent to the wrong place.

**It is important to remember that you do not have to use nomination on every occasion. If you do not wish to use nomination on a particular prescription, you should let your GP practice know before the prescription is issued.

Q4) What happens if I do not nominate?

a4) Nothing. You can continue to use whichever method of prescription collection you have been using over the years. You can choose to join the EPS system anytime you like.

Q5) Does using EPS mean I see my GP less often?

a5) No. It just means that you do not have to go to the GP just to collect a prescription.

Q6) Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?

a6) Yes. Your electronic prescription will only be seen by the same people that see your paper prescriptions now:

• GP practices
• Pharmacies
• NHS prescription payments

*You can check your nomination status securely and confidentially at any GP practice, pharmacy, dispensing appliance contractors or dispensing GP practice that offers EPS.

**More information about the Electronic Prescription Service, including more common questions, can be accessed on the NHS website at www.cfh.nhs.uk/eps or by phone on 0845 370 0760 or you can ask a member of staff at any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor, or at your GP practice for more information.