The electronic prescription service (EPS) is an NHS service. It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.
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 a paper form of your prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.
You will also 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.
The waiting time at the pharmacy may be shorter than otherwise because there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.
However, you must still order your medication either through your GP, pharmacy or online. This is for collecting medication only.
Is this Service Right for you?
Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:
- Don’t want to go to the GP practice to get your prescription every time.
- Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time or use a prescription collection service now.
No, it may not be if you:
- Don’t get prescriptions very often.
- Often pick up your medicines from different places.
How can you use EPS?
You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to, which is called nomination.
You can choose:
- A pharmacy
- A dispensing appliance contractor
Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your GP practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.
Can I Change my Nomination, Cancel it, or 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 prescriptions 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. Dispensers will also see all of your items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.