A service which makes the prescribing process easier, safer and more efficient for patients and healthcare staff is marking its first year in Wales.
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) was launched in Rhyl, Denbighshire, on November 17th 2023. Since then, it has been rolled out to some patients in every health board in Wales, with hundreds of thousands of prescriptions being dispensed without the need for the traditional paper form.
The first prescription in Wales was sent electronically from Lakeside Medical Centre to Wellington Road Pharmacy, a milestone marked by a launch event with the then Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan MS.
In the last 12 months, we have rolled out the service to the first GP practices and community pharmacies in every health board in Wales. In addition, a number of dispensing appliance contractors (DACs) in Wales are offering the service to patients who get medical devices and equipment on prescription.
Roll out will continue across Wales in phases, with other GP practices and dispensers coming on board as quickly and as safely as possible.
Jenny Pugh-Jones, Programme Oversight Chair for EPS in Wales, said:
“EPS brings benefits to patients, prescribers, community pharmacies and other dispensers. It is also good for the environment as we aim to reduce the amount of paper printed by NHS Wales.
“During the last year, we have been incredibly pleased to see EPS benefiting people across Wales. We will continue to work as hard as we can to roll it out to every community as soon as possible.”
EPS is a key part of the Digital Medicines national transformation programme, managed by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW).
The service is free, more efficient and secure. Prescriptions can be tracked from the practice to the dispenser, meaning staff can see at all times where it is.
Patients who want to use EPS do not need to go online or use a laptop or smartphone. They simply tell staff at their chosen pharmacy or dispenser that they would like to use the service.
The first electronic prescription was sent using software developed by system supplier Invatech, with support from the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund (CPSIF). The fund is jointly delivered by DHCW and Life Sciences Hub Wales (LSHW) on behalf of Welsh Government.
In total, seven community pharmacy system suppliers were awarded funding, with one further supplier developing EPS without applying to the fund. Invatech, Boots, Positive Solutions and Clanwilliam have been fully approved to receive prescriptions from a GP practice digitally, while EMIS, Pharmacy X, Cegedim and Apotec are progressing through the assurance process.
Cari-Anne Quinn, Chief Executive Officer at LSHW, said:
“Reflecting on the first year of the Electronic Prescription Service in Wales, we’re proud of how EPS has transformed prescription management and access. To date, more than 290,000 prescription items have been dispensed using EPS in Wales. Earlier this week, the EPS team was a finalist at the UK IT Industry Awards for its role in implementing one of the most significant changes to prescribing in Wales in decades.
“At Life Sciences Hub Wales, we remain committed to supporting these advancements, fostering a more efficient healthcare experience for everyone, and benefitting both patients and healthcare staff across the nation.”
To find out more visit DHCW.
