Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) now available in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Some patients in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board are benefitting from a convenient digital service which allows GP practices to send prescriptions electronically to the community pharmacy or dispenser of their choice.
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is now being used at a number of surgeries and pharmacies within the health board area as part of a wider roll out across Wales.
The service marks one of the biggest changes in decades to the way prescriptions are managed in NHS Wales, making prescribing easier and safer for patients and healthcare professionals.
EPS means that prescriptions can be sent electronically from a GP or other prescriber to a pharmacy or dispenser without the need for a paper form. It is helping to improve patient care and aims to reduce the amount of paper forms printed by NHS Wales.
New Surgery in Pencoed was the first in our health board to start using EPS in September. The implementation was supported by two Sheppards pharmacies in Pencoed. Since then, it has gone live at further sites and you can see the full list here.
Sarah Bradley, Director of Primary and Community Care at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, said: “This marks a big step forward in enhancing efficiency and accuracy in patient care. By streamlining the prescribing process, we not only reduce the potential for errors but also ensure that our patients receive seamless and coordinated care.”
Jenny Pugh-Jones, EPS lead for Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), said: “I’m incredibly pleased to see EPS live and benefitting communities in Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB. We are now working hard to roll it out to every community across Wales as quickly and safely as possible.”
EPS is a key part of the Digital Medicines national transformation programme, managed by DHCW.
With EPS, patients no longer need to visit their surgery to pick up a repeat prescription form. Prescriptions can be tracked from the practice to the dispenser, meaning staff can see at all times where a prescription is and eliminating the risk of a piece of paper being lost.
The service is free, more efficient and secure. Patients who want to use EPS do not need to go online or use a laptop or smartphone. They simply tell staff at their GP practice or nominated pharmacy or dispenser that they would like to use the service.
To find out more visit https://dhcw.nhs.wales/eps.
Healthcare staff with an NHS email address can also access the EPS Sharepoint site at https://nhswales365.sharepoint.com/sites/DHC_EPS.
29/10/2024