The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
Patient Choice can receive digital prescriptions using the Electronic Prescription Service.
The EPS in an NHS system in the UK that allows healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurse prescribers, to send prescriptions electronically to Patient Choice (or other pharmacy/Dispensing Appliance Contractor (DAC)). It is a digital alternative to the traditional paper-based prescription process that makes the prescription and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for both patients and healthcare providers.
How EPS works
- Nomination: To use the Electronic Prescription Service, patients need to nominate a specific pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor where they want their prescriptions to be sent electronically. This nomination can be done directly through Patient Choice or through your GP practice.
- Prescription generation: When a healthcare professional prescribes an appliance or device for you, instead of writing a paper prescription, they create an electronic prescription in their clinical system. The prescription includes any necessary details for us to identify or customise the appliance and your patient information.
- Electronic transmission: The electronic prescription is securely and electronically transmitted from the healthcare professional’s system to the NHS Spine, which is a secure and encrypted network that connects various healthcare services in the UK.
- Delivery by Patient Choice: Patient Choice (as your nominated dispenser) can access and download the electronic prescription securely. We can then prepare the order and prepare it for home delivery.
Benefits of the Electronic Prescription Service
- Convenience: You do not need to worry about losing paper prescriptions in the post.
- Efficiency: Electronic prescriptions can be processed faster, reducing waiting times for patients.
- Flexibility: Patients can choose any pharmacy or DAC in the UK to be their nominated dispenser.
- Safety: Electronic prescriptions reduce the risk of errors that can occur with handwritten prescriptions.
- Environmentally friendly: EPS helps reduce paper waste associated with traditional paper prescriptions.
The Electronic Prescription Service has become widely adopted in the UK, streamlining the prescription process and improving patient experience and safety.
How to nominate Patient Choice
By registering on this website you will automatically be able to nominate Patient Choice as your DAC.
You can also nominate Patient Choice directly through your healthcare professional, so they know where to send prescriptions.
You can then use this website to find the appliances and products you need, and place a prescription order with us. We will then contact the GP/clinic and get the prescription for you, typically using the EPS system – although some paper prescriptions are still sent to us manually.
