Citation
Morris, B. (2001), "Electronic transmission of prescription pilots", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214aab.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Electronic transmission of prescription pilots
Electronic transmission of prescription pilots
According to UK Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt interest from the commercial sector in running electronic transmission of prescription pilots has been overwhelming. The electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) between GPs, community pharmacies and the Prescription Pricing Authority is one of the key elements of "Pharmacy in the Future", the programme for pharmacy announced by Lord Hunt at the British Pharmaceutical Conference on September 12, 2000. ETP will enable GPs to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacists directly, leading to a better service for patients.
Lord Hunt said:
Over 70 organisations have expressed an interest in running a pilot, and as a first stage in the process, have been invited to submit preliminary proposals to the NHS Executive. Although we will only be taking forward up to three proposals, which will be approved by next March, we are encouraged by the large number of companies willing to work with us in developing pharmacy services for patients. Pilots will start in 2001 and run for at least six months.
An independent evaluation of the pilots will inform the development of a set of open standards to ensure full national integration when ETP becomes available routinely from 2004.
The document, Pharmacy in the Future: Implementing the NHS Plan can be found on the Internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacyfuture