Delivery of an Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) in Wales is gathering pace, with healthcare IT supplier Clanwilliam testing its technology to support the programme.
Delivery of an Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) in Wales is gathering pace, with healthcare IT supplier Clanwilliam testing its technology to support the programme.
Clanwilliam is the fourth pharmacy system supplier to develop software to enable pharmacies in Wales to receive prescriptions electronically.
On-site testing of the company’s pharmacy system RxWeb has begun at Sully Pharmacy and MW Phillips in Cadoxton, Barry, the pharmacies that will be going live alongside Sully GP surgery.
If the test is successful, its software will be rolled out at further pharmacies across Wales from later this year.
The work is supporting the delivery of an electronic prescription service which is being led by the Digital Medicines programme in Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW).
The service enables GPs and prescribers to send prescriptions digitally to the patient’s nominated community pharmacy, without the need for a green paper prescription form. This makes the prescribing and dispensing of medicines safer and easier for patients and healthcare staff.
Invatech and Boots were the first pharmacy system suppliers to complete the testing of their electronic prescription functionality for Wales. Positive Solutions and Clanwilliam are currently undertaking testing of the technology. Several further pharmacy system suppliers are also developing e-prescription technology for use in Wales, which will undergo the same testing process.
Jenny Pugh-Jones, DHCW’s lead for e-prescriptions, said:
“We’re delighted to see Clanwilliam supporting the delivery of electronic prescribing in Wales and we welcome them as the latest pharmacy system supplier to reach this stage.
“As we have already seen from early adopter live test sites, e-prescriptions are making a big impact, helping to transform the way GP practices work and offering a more convenient service for patients.”
Eileen Byrne, Clanwilliam’s managing director, said:
“We are excited to be delivering EPS for our customers in Wales, and the benefits it will bring to both them and their patients. Our aim over the last few years has been to free up time for pharmacy staff through innovation, and we see the introduction of EPS as the enabler for this.”
Clanwilliam received funding from the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund to help develop its EPS technology. The Fund is led by Life Sciences Hub Wales in partnership with DHCW on behalf of Welsh Government.
Cari-Anne Quinn, Life Sciences Hub Wales Chief Executive, said:
"We're thrilled to see Clanwilliam joining the ranks of pharmacy system suppliers advancing electronic prescribing in Wales. This collaborative effort underscores our collective dedication to leveraging technology for improved healthcare outcomes and sustainability."
The first live use of electronic prescriptions with patients took place in Rhyl, Denbighshire, in November 2023 and at further locations in north and south Wales this year. Phased national roll out of this new digital service begins this summer.
Electronic prescribing in Wales is one of four programmes and projects supported by Digital Medicines that will deliver the benefits of a fully digital prescribing approach in all healthcare settings in Wales. It will also save up to 40 million paper prescription forms from being printed each year in Wales.
For more information and to sign up to the Digital Medicines newsletter, please visit www.dhcw.nhs.wales/dmtp.
