Most prescriptions for medicines and essential supplies are now signed, sent and processed electronically. Essential supplies include things like catheters and colostomy bags.

You have 2 choices for how this works.

• You can choose a pharmacy to dispense all your prescriptions. Trent View patients who use Keadby or Crowle and who are eligible to use the practice dispensary may choose not to use the dispensary but to nominate a pharmacy. When you get a prescription, it will be sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy or, for those eligible, the in-surgery dispensary. You can collect your medicines or essential supplies without having to hand in a paper prescription.

OR

• You can decide each time you are issued a prescription where you would like it to be dispensed. When you are issued a prescription, you will be given a paper copy that you can take to any pharmacy. The paper copy will contain a unique barcode that will be scanned to download your prescription from the secure NHS database.

Paper prescriptions will continue to be available in special circumstances, but almost all prescriptions will be processed electronically.

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. Dispensers will also see all the items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.

Choosing a pharmacy or other dispenser

If you get regular prescriptions or are already using a prescription collection service (where a pharmacy collects prescriptions from your GP practice for you) then choosing a pharmacy to dispense all your prescriptions may save you time by avoiding unnecessary trips to your GP.

You will still order your repeat prescriptions in the same way as you do now, but your prescriptions will be sent electronically to the pharmacy or dispenser of your choice. You will not have to collect a paper repeat prescription from your GP practice.

Cancelling or changing your choice of pharmacy or dispensary

You can change or cancel your choice of dispenser at any time. Simply contact us or your pharmacy before you order your next prescription. You should allow time for the update to take place to avoid your next prescription being sent to the wrong place.

What can I do if I'm unhappy with the process?

You should be provided with information about electronic prescriptions and give your consent before your choice of dispenser is recorded. If you're unhappy with your experience, you can complain to the dispenser, or complain to your GP practice, or to your local integrated care board (ICB).

Order a repeat prescription