In 2019, prescriptions across the UK were digitised to make life easier for staff and patients, and after rigorous testing involving hundreds of community pharmacies, the EPS was rolled out nationally, as explained by Jo Churchill:
“Digitising the entire prescription service is a key part of keeping up the drive to make the NHS fit for the 21st century. This will free up vital time for GPs and allow pharmacists to spend more time with their patients, and save millions of pounds a year. It’s another important step towards eventually making all prescriptions paperless. We are continuing to improve technology across the NHS, which will ultimately improve care for patients.
The EPS sends prescriptions electronically from GP surgeries to pharmacies, removing the need for paper prescriptions in a way that saves time and money for the NHS. Unlike paper prescriptions, electronic prescriptions can’t get lost between the GP andthe pharmacy, and if EPS is used to its fullest potential, up to 12.9 million paper prescriptions could be saved across the UK every month - over a year, that adds up to a 7ft tall tower of prescriptions.
Most importantly, the time-saving aspects of the EPS means more time available for patients to use.
Patients have two choices for how the EPS works:
1. Choose a pharmacy to dispense your prescriptions. Whenever you get a prescription from your GP, it will be sent to the pharmacy you have chosen, and you will be able to collect your medicines or appliances without having to hand over a paper prescription
2. Each time you’re issued a prescription, you can choose where it will be dispensed. When you are issued a prescription, you will be given a paper copy that you can take to any pharmacy in England, containing a unique barcode that you can scan to download your prescription from the NHS database.
Dr Ian Lowry, Director of Digital Medicines and Pharmacy at NHS Digital, said:
“Every prescription that is sent electronically saves money for the NHS by increasing efficiency. The system is also safer and more secure, as prescriptions can’t be lost and clinicians can check their status online. This is a huge milestone to reach, and one which benefits patients, GPs, pharmacists and the NHS as a whole.”
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Whether you regularly collect prescriptions from your local pharmacy, or just need to pick up medicines once or twice a year, the Electronic Prescription Service is working to make the process more efficient for you, your local pharmacy team, and your GP - ensuring more time and money for the NHS to dedicate to helping.