What is the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)?
The Electronic Prescription Service, or EPS, enables prescriptions to be sent electronically from the GP practice to a pharmacy or dispenser of your choice. With EPS, you would no longer need to collect paper prescriptions from the practice as a prescription can be sent securely to your nominated pharmacy where you usually collect your medicines or medical appliances.
EPS is an established service that has been available for many years. It is easy to use, and you don’t need access to a computer or electronic device.
How do I start using EPS?
Firstly, you will need to choose the pharmacy or dispenser that will dispense your prescribed medicines. Your pharmacy of choice will be referred to as your nominated pharmacy and this nomination can be added to your record by the GP practice or the pharmacy. If you have registered for online access at the practice, you may also be able to add a pharmacy nomination yourself.
By increasing the number of prescriptions that are processed electronically via EPS we will be helping to reduce exposure to COVID-19 for both our patients and healthcare staff. Someone from the practice may contact you to discuss EPS and your preferences for a nominated pharmacy. In the meantime, please feel free to ask your pharmacist about pharmacy nominations, or record it yourself if you use an online access app.
If you are not sure which pharmacy you would like to nominate, you may wish to use the link below to identify pharmacies and dispensers available for to you: www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/pharmacies/
You can change or cancel your nominated pharmacy or dispenser at any time. Simply speak to the practice or pharmacist before you order your next prescription. Your nomination will only be added or changed at your request. If you currently use both a pharmacy and a dispensing appliance contractor, it is still possible to use EPS and have two nominated dispensers for your prescriptions.
Who can see my prescription?
Electronic prescriptions sent via EPS are reliable, secure and confidential. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people who currently process your paper prescriptions. If you are on repeat prescriptions, the dispenser of your medicines will also see the items on your re-order slip.
Electronic Repeat Dispensing
If you get regular or repeat prescriptions, you could save time by switching to electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD).
eRD sends your prescriptions electronically from your GP surgery to a pharmacy of your choice. It’s easy to use and you don’t need a computer or electronic device. Ask your GP or pharmacist to set it up for you.
eRD allows your GP to prescribe your regular medicines for up to a year. It’s reliable, secure and confidential. Your regular prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS database, so they’ll be ready at the pharmacy each time you need them.
Using eRD you can:
- save time by avoiding unnecessary trips or calls to your GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription
- order or cancel your repeat prescriptions online (if your GP practice offers this service)
- pick up your repeat prescriptions directly from your pharmacy without having to visit your GP
- spend less time waiting for your prescription in the pharmacy or GP practice
- save paper – you won’t need a paper prescription to collect your medicine from the pharmacy
For more information about eRD and how it works, ask at your GP surgery or pharmacy, or visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/eRD
