Pharmacy2U consortium wins NHS e-prescribing pilot
The consortium consists of Pharmacy2U; 93 GP's from across the United Kingdom; 133 community pharmacists; GP, pharmacy and security software providers; independent academics; and IT consultancy Better Health Global.
The pilot proposal is designed to handle repeat prescriptions at the pharmacy and will allow the consortium to trial the electronic reordering of prescriptions and home delivery. According to Pharmacy2U the proposal will enable patients to benefit from free delivery of their prescription to their chosen address, whenever the repeat medication is due. In addition, dosage reminders and lifestyle information will be made available via text messages, phone calls or email.
The pilot model is built on the existing NHS messaging infrastructure and is designed to send encrypted prescriptions across NHSNet directly from GP to pharmacist.
"Pharmacy2U is helping to lead the modernisation of the NHS. The NHS Plan
called for the electronic transmission of prescriptions and Pharmacy2U is
responding to this challenge," said Daniel Lee, Managing Director and Pharmacy Superintendent of Pharmacy2U. "The Department of Health has recognised the
benefits available to the patient by having their medicines managed
electronically. The consortium seeks to deliver a trial that offers patients
the ability to order repeat prescriptions online, by phone, or even on their
mobile phone.
"We look forward to providing the NHS with an open standard for the
electronic transmission of prescriptions. This will be the first step in
delivering the Prime Minister's promise to have all NHS GPs writing
electronic prescriptions by 2004," he said.