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The Electronic Prescription Service, described by one pharmacist as ‘game-changing’, is now live in more than 50 per cent of community pharmacies in Wales.

The programme, which is led by Digital Health and Care Wales, reached the milestone this month as a phased rollout across Wales continues. The service includes a prescription tracking tool allowing pharmacy and GP staff to see where a prescription is.

Pharmacist Steffan John of Fferyllwyr Llyn in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, said: “EPS has been a massive change for the better and has saved so much time already. We no longer have to call the GP surgery numerous times a day to track down prescriptions. It’s been game-changing, really.”

Seven pharmacy IT systems have been assured to roll out EPS across Wales, supported by one GP system. Fferyllwyr Llyn started using EPS in September 2024 using Invatech’s Titan PMR software.

Steffan added: “Our patients have really noticed the difference and have been surprised by how much quicker it can be. They don’t have to bring over a piece of paper, and by the time they get to us their prescription has been dispensed and is waiting on the shelf.

“Using EPS has allowed us to have a paperless dispensary. Prescriptions are clinically checked on screen, which generates a pick list for dispensing staff on a hand-held device. Labels are then produced by scanning the product barcode. The process is completely paperless as even the claiming is done electronically via the PMR.

“Most of our patients in Blaenau Ffestiniog are local, but we have seven pharmacies in Gwynedd and those on the Llyn Peninsula see a lot of tourists on holiday from England. EPS makes it easier to process their prescriptions when they are visiting.”

The service is currently live in only 15 per cent of GP practices, but numbers are increasing every week. DHCW is working with health boards, GP practices and pharmacies to make EPS available across Wales as quickly as possible.

Gareth Rowe is a pharmacist at Nantymoel and Ogmore Vale pharmacies in Bridgend, which were pilot sites for Optum’s (formerly EMIS) Proscript Connect PMR software. Gareth said: “I think the best thing has been the transparency. Up until now, if we can’t find the prescription we’ve had to phone the surgery, but now we can see exactly where it is at all times on the tracker.

“One misconception among patients is that they no longer have to order their prescription. They do still have to order it in the same way as usual, but the GP then sends it digitally to us. We are also guiding people towards the NHS Wales App so that the order process and prescription process can be virtually paperless.”

In addition to Invatech and Optum, system suppliers Cegedim Rx, Boots, PharmacyX, Positive Solutions and Clanwilliam have been assured to roll out EPS in community pharmacies in Wales.

EPS is supported by the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund, which was established by Life Sciences Hub Wales and Digital Medicines on behalf of Welsh Government.

A full list of practices and pharmacies using EPS can be found at https://dhcw.nhs.wales/eps.