Do you know that around two-thirds of prescriptions issued in primary healthcare are repeat prescriptions? According to a recent survey, the NHS electronic prescription service accounts for approximately 80% of NHS medicine costs.
Every year, the NHS generates more than 400 million repeat prescriptions. It is reckoned that nearly 330 million of all repeat prescriptions are replaced with repeat dispensing, which could save more 2 million hours of a GP surgery.
The UK government introduced repeat dispensing services in order to offer a more effective and easy way to manage repeat prescriptions. The NHS electronic prescription service (EPS) can be used when both the prescribing and the dispensing systems use EPS Release 2 (R2).
The Electronic Repeat Dispensing service allows a patient to receive their regular medication without having to visits a GP prescriber. The prescriptions are made available for dispensing through a chemist that a patient nominates.
A GP surgery issues an electronic prescription using the EPS R2 prescribing system, which contains:
- the intended interval between each repeat prescription issued
- the number of times the repeat prescription can be issued
Once the GP has prescribed has issued a repeat prescription, it will be sent electronically to the NHS where it is available for download.
Currently, a patient can only use the NHS Electronic Prescription Service after nominating a pharmacy. The pharmacy can access the electronic prescription and dispense your medications so that you can collect them without much waiting. If you nominate an internet pharmacy, you will receive your medication right at your doorstep.
Who can use the NHS Electronic Prescription Service?
Patients who need a repeat prescription are suitable for using the electronic prescription service. This includes a patient with long-term conditions and needs medicines on a regular basis.
Pharmacy Outlet offers the NHS Electronic Prescription Service so that you can get your prescriptions delivered to your home.
