Portsmouth CCG reaches electronic prescription milestone

Portsmouth has become the first area in the country where prescriptions for all patients can be sent electronically.

NHS Digital has revealed that NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been piloting the latest improvement to the Electronic Prescription Services (EPS), known as Phase 41, which allows prescriptions for all patients to be sent using the more efficient digital system and not just those who have chosen a regular nominated dispenser.

It has now become the first in the country to have 100 per cent of their GP practices able to use EPS. The technology saves the NHS time and money by reducing the amount of paper processing required by GPs, pharmacists and the NHS Business Services Authority. Once the NHS Digital system is rolled out across England, it is estimated it will save the NHS £130 million a year.

Simon Cooper, director of Medicines Optimisation at NHS Portsmouth CCG, said: “Implementing EPS Phase 4 across the city has been a very straightforward process for us and we are already beginning to see the benefits. Moving from what was essentially a paper-driven process to an approach which is primarily digitally-focused means much greater efficiency for our GP practices and dispensing pharmacies in terms of time and accuracy, and this can only be positive for patients, too.

“It’s also helping to create a much more accurate picture for us in terms of assessing prescribing data, which we can now do more quickly and with a greater degree of confidence in the information we are reviewing.”