The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7201 p793-795
8 June 2002

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Pharmacy2u (www.pharmacy2u.co.uk)

ETP pilots go live as deadline nears

Pilot trials testing electronic transfer of prescriptions went live last week ahead of a 1 June start-up deadline set by the Department of Health.

Pharmacy2u is testing ETP in two scenarios. Prescriptions from ten surgeries in Northampton and Kent are being sent for dispensing at Pharmacy2u's central dispensary in Leeds. They are then delivered directly to patients by registered post.

In addition, 20 United Co-op pharmacies in north west England are dispensing prescriptions sent electronically from 20 associated GP surgeries as part of the Pharmacy2u consortium pilot. The first electronic prescription in this group was sent from Park Lane medical centre to the United Co-op pharmacy at 171 Park Lane, Macclesfield, last week. Other pharmacies and surgeries in Stockport, Macclesfield, Hyde, Marple, Glossop, Whaley Brigde, Wilmslow and Poynton will also take part.

The Flexiscript consortium, which includes Boots The Chemists and National Co-operative Chemists, has sent its first electronic prescriptions between a GP surgery and an adjacent pharmacy in Peterborough. The pilot has 1,500 patients enrolled to date and is to be extended to cover 22 surgeries and 30 pharmacies.

Martin Strange, speaking for the TransScript ETP pilot, said that the consortium had been doing a lot of work in the field and was currently waiting feedback from the Department of Health and the Prescription Pricing Authority on a report submitted at the end of last week.

Each of the pilots is to run for six months before an independent assessment is carried out for the Department.