Bids sought for EPS release 2 initial implementer sites
Expressions
of interest are being sought from primary care trusts in England to be initial implementer sites for release 2 of the electronic prescription service, health minister Andy Burnham announced at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee dinner held in London last week.
Release 2, which will include doctors being able to add digital signatures
to electronic prescriptions and patients being able to nominate a pharmacy
to dispense their medicines, is due to start later this year. NHS Connecting
for Health is seeking to recruit initial implementer sites to use release
2 functions so that it can ensure interoperability and data integrity
outside a test environment.
PCTs are invited to apply and to nominate GP practices and pharmacies
that may be willing and suitable to take part. Pharmacies must have some
experience of dispensing repeat prescriptions and have business continuity
plans (data back-up arrangements) in place.
Proposals should be received in writing or electronically by 17 May 2007
and sites are expected to be chosen by the end of June. There is no limit
to the number of sites that PCTs can propose and NHS CfH is encouraging
proposals from users of a broad range of systems, such as multiple and
independent pharmacies, internet pharmacies, appliance contractors and
dispensing
doctors.
A letter and application form have been sent to PCTs and are available
online
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