Independents must prepare for EPS to avoid disadvantage
NHS Connecting for Health is advising independent pharmacies to upgrade their computer systems for release 1 of the Electronic Prescription Service to ensure they are not disadvantaged for release 2 of the service.
In an interview
with the online news service EHI Primary Care,
Tim Donohoe, CfH’s group programme director
for EPS, said that, although 42 per cent of pharmacies have been enabled
for release 1, this figure is largely accounted for by the major multiple
pharmacies. “We need to make sure that pharmacy contractors are
pressing their suppliers for a delivery date. You should know by this
point when your supplier is going to deliver the system,” he said.
He added that CfH has received mixed messages about whether delays in
independent pharmacies receiving upgrades are due to suppliers or pharmacists.
The initial implementer sites for release 2 of the EPS (when patients
will be able to nominate a pharmacy and practices can introduce repeat
dispensing) are expected to be up and running in the autumn, with suppliers
becoming compliant in the last quarter and roll-out following as soon
as possible after that, said Mr Donohoe.
Mr Donohoe also revealed that plans to populate the summary care record
with data from the EPS have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.
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