Patients in Conwy are the second community in Wales to use the exciting new electronic prescription service (EPS).
Electronic prescriptions are now being sent from Llanfairfechan’s Plas Menai Surgery to two local pharmacies, Boots in Llanfairfechan and Gwynan Edwards in Penmaenmawr.
EPS allows GPs and other healthcare prescribers to send prescriptions securely online to a community pharmacy chosen by the patient.
Clinicians no longer have to print and sign the familiar green paper prescription form, which has been used to dispense medicines in Wales for more than 60 years. There is also no need for patients or pharmacy staff to pick up their prescriptions from the surgery – instead, the GP sends it directly to the pharmacy by computer.
Jenny Pugh-Jones, Senior Responsible Owner of the Primary Care Electronic Prescription Service, said: “I am incredibly pleased that we have now gone live at our second site in Wales. This is a significant milestone and heralds a massive digital transformation. Testing the service in a live setting is a crucial step and makes sure it meets patient needs.
“Electronic prescriptions have real benefits for health staff and for the community. They are easier and safer and, with 40 million paper prescriptions printed each year in Wales, they are good for the environment too.”
Sarah Michaelson, Plas Menai Surgery Practice Manager, said: “We were excited to be selected as the second site for the Electronic Prescription Service in Wales. There has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes, and the team here at the practice has been working collaboratively with Digital Health and Care Wales and NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership to ensure a smooth implementation.
“With a few tweaks and issues to resolve, the move to live testing was a success overall. We are now looking forward to the full benefits of EPS, including a smoother service for patients as we will now be able to follow their prescription throughout its electronic journey. Thank you to our staff, the teams at DHCW and NWSSP, and system supplier EMIS for their support throughout the process.”
Lee Browne, Superintendent of Camella Healthcare Ltd, which owns Gwynan Edwards Pharmacy, said: “Following our involvement with the first Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) test in Wales, at our Wellington Road Pharmacy in Rhyl, we are now delighted to be involved with Plas Menai Surgery and Boots.
“Our team has worked closely with DMTP and Titan PMR (Invatech) to ensure we keep to a timetable to reach this stage. The whole experience has shown that collaboration between different organisations in Wales can work extremely well to benefit patients.
“We already have a good relationship with the surgery and EPS will help enhance this. Given the geography of the area, electronic transmission will mean a better experience for patients in Penmaenmawr and the surrounding villages.”
Electronic prescriptions in Wales were first launched in Rhyl in November last year, with an extensive testing phase taking place between the town’s Lakeside Medical Centre and Wellington Road Pharmacy. Early feedback from staff is positive, with patients appreciating the ease and convenience the service offers.
A phased national roll out of EPS across Wales is now taking place as quickly and safely as possible.
Once a pharmacy is live with electronic prescribing, patients register simply by telling pharmacy or GP staff they want to use electronic prescriptions. The patient does not need to use a computer, smartphone or laptop as staff will be able to arrange this for you.
