If a medication is unavailable, the dispenser will be able to return that item back to the Spine and the prescriber will receive a message/task in their system to inform them. However, this can only be done as a single medication. If there are multiple items on the prescription, then the entire prescription needs to be pushed back to Spine for single items to be cancelled or for it to be downloaded at another EPS-enabled pharmacy.
An alternative can also be written and sent back to the dispenser via the Spine.
Once a prescription is brought down from the Spine by a community pharmacy, it is no longer available for another pharmacy to dispense, unless that pharmacy returns it to the Spine. The only situation where this may be possible is if an electronic prescription is created, signed and sent to the Spine and a second prescription is done the same way or printed and signed with a pen. Just as now, the responsibility of preventing this would lie with the prescriber to check that they are not duplicating prescriptions.
Yes. Practices have now all been provided with digital and non-digital EPS comms available in both English and Welsh materials.
EPS is now live across a number of sites in Wales. The EMIS Web GP system and the pharmacy systems currently used in Wales have now all been assured for roll out across Wales. The national roll-out schedule, which identifies the next sites which could go live with EPS, is based on an equitable formula across all Health Boards in Wales. These sites are contacted 16-20 weeks ahead of their scheduled go-live date and, if the site agrees to take part in implementing EPS, readiness activities are started with the sites, with close guidance from the implementation team.
* To find out more about EPS, visit the Digital Medicines web pages and sign up to our newsletter.