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The NHS is in the process of introducing the Electronic Prescription Service, (EPS), which is a new and more convenient way for you to order and pick up your prescriptions from a pharmacy.
On November 30, 2011 the service launched at Sun Valley Medical Practice and the aim is to roll it out to all GP practices across Oldham.
You can decide to use EPS once your GP practice has begun offering the service and this will vary depending on the IT system your practice uses. Your GP practice will let you know once they begin using the service and you can also keep checking this web page for details.
You do not have to use EPS if you don’t want to and can make a decision about whether you would like to, once you have read the information below.
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) involves a GP electronically sending a prescription to your chosen pharmacy, or a place that dispenses appliances such as stoma bags.
The EPS is most suitable for you if you receive repeat prescriptions for a stable medical condition and you:
• Don’t want to go to your GP practice every time you need a repeat prescription.
• Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time
• Currently use a prescription collection service
It is not suitable if you:
• Don’t collect prescriptions very often
• Pick up your medicines from different places
• Travel or work away from home a lot
• You will not have to go to your GP practice to collect a paper prescription. Instead your GP will send it automatically to the place you choose, with less chance of it getting lost
• Nearly all pharmacies will be connected to the service, so you will have a wide range of places where you can collect your prescription – whether it’s near your home, work, or where you shop
• You may be able to collect your prescription more quickly. Often your pharmacy will be able to get your medicines ready before you arrive to collect them. If any of the medicines on your prescription are out of stock, they can be ordered in ready for you. You will need to contact your chosen pharmacy to see how this will work for you.
The service works in a similar way to a prescription collection service, where the pharmacy collects your prescription from your GP practice for you.
The main difference with EPS is that your prescription will be sent electronically and you don’t have to choose a place that is near to your GP practice.
No. If you wish, you can continue to pick up paper prescriptions, or continue to use the prescription collection service as you do now.
Yes. Your electronic prescription will only be seen by the same health professionals who see it now - GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies.
The EPS uses the latest technology to ensure that your information is kept secure and confidential.
Once your practice has begun offering the EPS, you will need to do two things before you can begin using it:
1. Decide which pharmacy and/or dispensing appliance contractor, you would like to collect your prescriptions from and then check they are connected to EPS. You can check this in two ways: • By checking with the pharmacy/ dispensing appliance contractor – those offering it will have the following symbol in their window:
•Or, by visiting the NHS Choices website at: www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx - those offering EPS will have ‘Electronic Prescription Service available here’ next to their name.
2. You then need to complete a form at your chosen pharmacy and/or dispensing appliance contractor. This is known as ‘nomination’.
Once you have completed the two steps above, you don’t need to do anything. You will order your prescriptions in the same way as you do now and your GP will send all your future prescriptions electronically to the place you have nominated. Your GP or pharmacy will let you know when your prescription is ready.
You can only nominate one pharmacy at a time (but you can change – see below for details). If you receive appliances such as stoma bags, you can also nominate one dispensing appliance contractor.
You can change your chosen pharmacy and/or dispensing appliance contractor at any time, by telling your GP, or the newly nominated pharmacy / dispensing appliance contractor. You need to tell them before your next prescription is due, or it may be sent to the place you originally nominated.
You can change your mind about using EPS and begin to receive paper prescriptions again. You need to tell your GP, or the pharmacy / dispensing appliance contractor that you wish to cancel your nomination, before your next prescription is due.
More information about the EPS is available from your local pharmacy, GP practice or online at: www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/eps
You can also contact NHS Oldham’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on:
Freephone: 0800 389 8679 Tel: 0161 621 3618 / 3619 / 3620 / 3836 Text: 07971 307723 Fax: 0161 621 3837 Email: olp-pct.pals@nhs.net