ETP Pilots Update - How this affects YOU

*The following information was issued by the Department of Health to all Pharmacies in England on 1st March 2002.

There are three Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP) pilots which will be starting up during the next few weeks and these are generally based around the East Hampshire, Stockport, London and Peterborough PCT localities. However, the way in which prescriptions will be issued will be different in the three pilots and whether or not you are involved in the pilots, you will need to be aware of the changes in these prescriptions.

In some of the pilots, a bar coded prescription will be produced by the GP system and given to the patient to present at the pharmacy of their choice. You, the pharmacy, may therefore receive FP10 forms with bar codes printed on them. There will also be a unique reference number printed in text on the right hand side of the form. There may be either one or two bar codes present on the form - this is an example of what it may look like.

These prescription forms will still be required to comply with all of the regulations relating to the writing of prescription forms. All information you require to dispense the prescription should be present.

If you are participating in the pilots you will receive instructions on how to process these forms. If you are not involved in the pilots then you should ignore the bar codes and process the prescription as normal, sending it with your batch of prescriptions to the Prescription Pricing Authority for payment.

Pilots are expected to start soon and run for at least 6 months.

If you are interested in further information about the pilots, there was a description in the June 2001 edition of "IMPACT" which is issued by the PPA.

In summary:

• The TRANSCRIPT pilot uses direct messaging from the GP to the nominated Pharmacy for repeat prescriptions. Bar-coded prescriptions containing the prescription data will be utilised for acute prescribing; both types will be secured using digital signatures. This pilot will involve GPs and Pharmacies in the East Hampshire area.
  
  
• The PHARMACY2U pilot uses direct messaging from the GP to the nominated pharmacy for repeat and acute prescribing. The Pharmacy2U pilot will only affect those pharmacies taking part as messages are transmitted directly to the pharmacist which the patient chooses to dispense their prescription. There is no paper prescription form produced by the GP in this pilot for dispensing purposes.
  This pilot will involve GPs and Pharmacies in the Stockport and London areas.
  
  
• The SCHLUMBERGER SEMA (FLEXISCRIPT) pilot uses a "relay" approach with prescriptions being sent electronically from the GP (as well as a paper prescription being issued) to a central storage location for both repeat and acute prescribing. The prescription is then called down electronically by the pharmacist when the patient visits the pharmacy & presents the bar coded prescription which contains a unique prescription reference number.
  This pilot will involve GPs and Pharmacies in the Peterborough area
  

If you require further information please visit the following websites:
www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacy/etp.htm
www.schin.ncl.ac.uk/etp/