The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7233 p103
25 January 2003

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Department of Health (www.doh.gov.uk)

Script transfers will follow NHS network upgrade

The electronic transfer of prescriptions between doctors and pharmacists is a service that will come from the introduction of integrated information technology within the National Health Service, although there is still no agreement for the connection of pharmacies to the NHS network.

Announcing a £45m upgrade to broadband for the NHS network serving general practitioners, hospitals and NHS trusts, the Department of Health said that it will, in the longer term, "enable new services such as digital imaging and the electronic transfer of prescriptions between GPs, hospitals and pharmacists; while electronic health records will ensure patients' details are available to clinical staff where and when they are needed".

However, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's group head of information technology management and strategy, Ian Shepherd, said that there has been no agreement for pharmacy connection to the NHSnet as yet. In his view the upgrade to broadband will simply allow current users faster transmission and better access to imaging, graphics and sound. However, he added that there will be a fair number of GPs who are geographically unable to access broadband at present.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health accepted that community pharmacists are not currently connected to the NHS network but said that the upgrade will enable "key deliverables" that included electronic transfer of prescriptions. She said that the target date for such services is 2004–5.

Mr Shepherd said that he would like to see an agreement for pharmacy connection as part of the New National Network — N3 — a complete replacement for NHSnet due in the next one to three years.

The Department says that the broadband upgrade, which is funded by the NHS Information Authority, will give every GP practice a 256Kbs fixed link NHSnet connection, allowing faster and more reliable connection.

Each trust, including primary care trusts and strategic health authorities will be upgraded to a 2Mbs connection. Roll out for the upgrade is due to be completed by March 2004.