Lord Hunt's announcement

The electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) between GPs, community pharmacies and the Prescription Pricing Authority is one of the key elements of 'Pharmacy in the Future', the programme for pharmacy announced by Lord Hunt earlier this year.

The programme pledged that by 2004 electronic prescriptions will be introduced in the community. Significant benefits for patients are expected, including a safer, more convenient and secure supply of medicine.

Lord Hunt said:

"In December we announced a short list of seven pilot proposals. I am pleased to announce that three of these have now been approved"
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"ETP has huge potential to bring real benefits to patients, and will make a real contribution to the modernisation of primary care in the NHS."

The approved proposals are from the TransScript consortium, a consortium led by Pharmacy2U, and a consortium led by SchlumbergerSema.

Lord Hunt added:

"Pilot approval has been an open and fair process which has been supported by the GP and pharmacy professions."

"Pilots will start later this year and run for at least six months. An independent evaluation of the pilots will test benefits, risks and costs of ETP, and will inform the business case on how best to roll out ETP across the NHS."