James Street Surgery was the first practice in Cumbria to be enabled for electronic prescribing
This means that prescriptions can be sent straight to your nominated pharmacy electronically.
If you see a doctor in the surgery, a prescription can be sent electronically to your pharmacy. By the time you get to the pharmacy, the staff will have had a chance to dispense the prescription.
If you take regular medications, you will benefit from electronic repeat dispensing: you can collect your medication each month from the pharmacy without having to come to the surgery and without having to request the prescription by phone or in writing. Ask the receptionist for a leaflet about this.
To nominate which pharmacy you would like your electronic prescriptions sent to, ask your pharmacist, or inform the receptionist.
Electronic repeat dispensing
If you are on regular daily medication we are now able to move your REGULAR repeat prescriptions for these medicines onto Electronic Repeat Dispensing.
How does Electronic Repeat Dispensing work?
You can obtain your repeat medicines directly from your usual pharmacy every 28 or 56 days for 6 or 12 months without having to contact the surgery to order a prescription.
Your prescription will automatically be sent to your chosen pharmacy every 28 or 56 days.
What you need to do
You just go to your usual pharmacy when you need more medication, or contact them by phone if you usually have your medicines delivered.
The Pharmacist may ask you some questions when you collect your medication to check that there have been no changes and that everything is still needed.
When do you need to contact the surgery?
After you have collected your last Electronic Repeat Prescription your GP will need to review your medication before sending more electronic prescriptions to the Pharmacy. This “reauthorisation date” is printed on the repeat medication slip that is included with your medicines. There may also be a message from the surgery from time to time.
The Pharmacist may give you some information with your last prescription to let you know what action you need to take before you contact the surgery to request a further supply of electronic repeat prescriptions (e.g. you may need a blood pressure check, a blood test and/or a review with the GP or nurse).
What about ‘as required’ medication?
Electronic repeat dispensing will only apply to the medicines that are taken in a regular way, for example “one twice a day”. All other items (for example “take 2 every 6 hours when needed”) will not be sent automatically and will have to be ordered, either by yourself, your carer/relative, or your pharmacist.
If you have any questions about how Electronic Repeat Dispensing will work for you, please do ask the staff at your pharmacy, or contact our Medicines Management Team at the surgery.
What does this mean for you?
If you collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.
You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.
You may not have to wait as long at the pharmacy as there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.
Is this service right for you?
Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:
- don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription.
- collect your medicines from the same place most of the time.
- use a prescription collection service now.
No, if you:
- don’t get prescriptions very often.
- pick up your medicines from different places.
- travel or work away from home a lot.
How can you use EPS?
You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to. This is called nomination. At James Street, you can choose:
- a pharmacy.
- a dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one).
Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your James Street practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.
Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?
Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.
Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?
Yes. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.
Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser.
Follow this link to access more information about EPS , visit your pharmacy, dispensing appliance contractor or James Street practice.
