Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) allows prescriptions to be sent electronically from your GP practice directly to a pharmacy or other dispenser of your choice.

More than 95% of prescriptions in England are now produced electronically. EPS makes getting your medicines more convenient and means that, in most cases, you do not need to collect a paper prescription from your GP practice.

How does EPS work?

When your prescription is issued, it can be sent electronically to your chosen (nominated) pharmacy.

Your pharmacy can then download the prescription securely and prepare your medicines for collection or delivery, depending on the services offered by the pharmacy.

Benefits of EPS

Using the Electronic Prescription Service means:

• You usually do not need to visit the GP practice to collect a paper prescription.

• Your prescription can be sent securely and electronically to your chosen pharmacy.

• It can make collecting repeat prescriptions more convenient.

• You can choose the pharmacy that is most convenient for you.

• You can change your chosen pharmacy whenever you wish.

• You can use the NHS App to manage your chosen pharmacy and view information about your prescriptions.

• You may also be able to track the progress of your prescription through the NHS App.

Choosing a pharmacy

You can choose a pharmacy to receive your electronic prescriptions. This is sometimes called nominating a pharmacy.

You are free to choose the pharmacy that is most suitable for you. Your GP practice or pharmacy should not influence you to choose a particular pharmacy.

You can choose or change your pharmacy:

• through the NHS App

• by logging in to your NHS account on the NHS website

• by asking your GP practice

• by asking a pharmacy that uses EPS

You can change your chosen pharmacy whenever you wish.

If you change your pharmacy while you have an outstanding prescription, the prescription you have already requested may still be sent to your previous pharmacy. It is therefore a good idea to check where your prescription has been sent.

If you want to remove your chosen pharmacy completely, please contact your GP practice. This cannot currently be done through the NHS App.

What if I do not choose a pharmacy?

You do not have to choose a regular pharmacy to use electronic prescriptions.

If you do not have a chosen pharmacy, you can use the digital prescription barcode in the NHS App.

You can show this barcode at a pharmacy of your choice so that the pharmacist can download your electronic prescription.

Please be aware that if the pharmacy has not received your prescription in advance, you may need to wait while your medicines are prepared or ordered.

Using the NHS App for prescriptions

The NHS App provides several useful prescription services.

Depending on the services available to you, you can use the NHS App to:

• request repeat prescriptions

• see medicines you have requested

• check whether your GP practice has approved or rejected a repeat prescription request

• view your approved prescriptions

• choose or change your pharmacy

• access a digital prescription barcode if you do not have a chosen pharmacy

• track the progress of your prescription where this service is available

Tracking your prescription

Prescription tracking is being introduced through the NHS App.

Where available, you may be able to see updates about your prescription, such as whether your pharmacy is preparing it or whether it is ready to collect.

Please note: prescription tracking is being introduced gradually and may not yet be available for every patient or pharmacy.

Your pharmacy, your choice

The choice of pharmacy is yours.

A pharmacy nomination should only be set, changed or removed at your request. You can change your nomination at any time and as many times as you wish.

You do not have to choose a pharmacy, and you should not be persuaded or offered incentives to nominate a particular pharmacy.

Is EPS secure?

Yes. EPS is an NHS service and prescriptions are transferred electronically using secure NHS systems.

Only authorised healthcare professionals involved in prescribing and dispensing your medicines can access the information they need to provide your care.

Need more information?

For the latest official information about the Electronic Prescription Service, please visit:

NHS England – Electronic Prescription Service
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/electronic-prescription-service

For help choosing or changing a pharmacy using the NHS App:

NHS – Choosing a pharmacy
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/prescriptions/nominating-a-pharmacy/

For help requesting and viewing prescriptions:

NHS – Prescriptions in the NHS App
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/prescriptions/