If you get regular prescriptions, the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) may be able to save you time by avoiding unnecessary trips to your GP.
EPS makes it possible for your prescriptions to be sent electronically to the pharmacy or dispenser of your choice.
Choosing a pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor to process your EPS prescription is called nomination.
This means you’ll no longer have to collect a paper repeat prescription from your GP Practice – instead, you can go straight to the nominated pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor to pick up your medicines or medical appliances.
Repeat Dispensing (eRD)
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) allows your GP to send a series of repeat prescriptions to your pharmacy in one go, so there is no need for you to order them each time. It is realiable, 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.
You might be suitable for eRD if you receive regular or repeat medicines that do not change regularly. How eRD can help you:
- Your GP can authorise your medicines to be collected monthly or two monthly from your pharmacy
- There is no need to contact your GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription – you can go straight to your pharmacy
- Your pharmacist will check it is still safe for you to receive the medicine every time you collect
- Your pharmacist will let you know when you need to contact your GP to review your medicines
Step 1
Talk to your GP or the person who prescribes your medicines and ask them if you can use Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD). Your prescriber will usually be your doctor or nurse practitioner. If your prescriber thinks that you could use eRD for your regular medicines, they will ask you for permission to share information about your treatment with your pharmacist. This will help your pharmacist to give your prescriber feedback about your treatment and provide you with useful advice. Your GP or prescriber will then authorise a number of eRD prescriptions. This will be based on your circumstances and clinical need. These eRD prescriptions will then be supplied by your pharmacy at regular intervals.
Step 2
Collect your first eRD prescription from your pharmacy.
Step 3
Next time you need more medicines, go back to your pharmacy. Before dispensing the next issue of your prescription, your pharmacy will ask you the following questions:
Have you seen any health professionals (GP, nurse or hospital doctor), since your last repeat prescription was supplied?
Have you recently started taking any new medicines – either on prescription or that you have bought over the counter?
Have you been having any problems with your medication or experiencing any side effects?
If you don’t need all of the medicines on your prescription, let the pharmacy staff know, so that they only supply the medicines you need. This will help to reduce waste and save the NHS money.
Step 4
When your pharmacy supplies your prescription, they will advise you to contact your GP practice to arrange for your medication to be reviewed and if it is clinically appropriate to issue another eRD prescription. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may want you to make an appointment to see them, or they may need you to have some blood tests or a blood pressure check before they will authorise more eRD prescriptions
