The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7201 p802-803
8 June 2002

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  Nurse prescribing
  Antidepressants
  CPD
  Dispensing
  ETP
  The Profession
  The Society

Letters to the Editor

ETP

Exciting development

From Ms N. Evans, MRPharmS

I was interested to read an article titled "Pharmacy2U starts ETP trial for real" (PJ, 27 April, p557). The introduction of electronic transfer of prescriptions is an exciting leap forward for pharmacy and the National Health Service.

Your article referred to the extension of the pilot to 40 surgeries and 22 pharmacies, which are owned by Co-op Health Care and Pharmacy2U. There appears to have been much confusion within the profession regarding the different consortia running ETP pilots and who the parties involved in the consortia are. I am sure this one is no exception, and therefore believe it may be helpful to clarify this for your readers.

The members of the consortium led by Pharmacy2U are Pharmacy2U, United Co-op Pharmacy Group and Hadley Health Care. Ergton Medical Information Systems (EMIS) is working with the consortium to provide the interface with GP systems. United Co-op Pharmacy is providing the "bricks and mortar" pharmacies for the pilot and a number of our pharmacies in the north west, primarily in Stockport and Macclesfield, are now ready to receive electronic prescriptions. The Hadley Health Care PMR system has been installed in all our pharmacies and the pharmacies involved in the ETP pilot will receive additional training to enable them to process electronic prescriptions.

Patients attending participating GP practices are being offered the chance to take part in the pilot by completing a form available from their Co-op Pharmacy and returning it to the pharmacy where the staff will register them for the service.

This is a significant move for our pharmacies and for patients and United Co-op Pharmacy is pleased to be involved in this exciting trial.

Nia Evans
Professional Development Manager,
Co-op Pharmacy Group,
Congleton,
Cheshire

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