Push for ETP roll-out in Scotland
NHS boards in Scotland were told this week to check up on local implementation of electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP), as part of a push by the Scottish Executive to keep the ePharmacy programme on track.
ETP underpins two services in the new
community pharmacy contract — the
acute medication service (AMS) and the chronic medication service.
This week’s NHS circular explains that the timetable for roll-out
of GPs’ ETP systems has slipped. However, because some slack was
built into the implementation programme, the delay should not affect
community pharmacy, where ETP roll-out is still scheduled
to start in September (PJ, 28 April, p502). It states: “Pharmacy system suppliers
are currently developing their ETP/AMS software and a number of pharmacy
system suppliers will be ready to start beta testing in late July or
early August.”
The circular asks NHS boards to identify an individual to be a single
point of contact who will take responsibility for local implementation
of ETP and eAMS.
It says: “The Scottish Executive Director General Health attaches
a high priority to the early introduction and implementation of ETP functionality
across the GP and community pharmacy sectors, and looks to health boards
and primary care contractors to support and facilitate its early introduction.”
Part of this will require boards to communicate with local groups, including
community pharmacists, about progress on implementing ETP.
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