Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP)

"Transfer of prescription data between GPs, pharmacies and the prescription Pricing Authority will be carried out electronically, using the NHSNet, in the large majority of cases by 2008, or even earlier"

Three consortia were chosen by the DH to pilot the concept of ETP. In conjunction with the PPA, the three pilot consortia of Pharmacy2U, SchlumbergerSema and TransScript are implementing three different business models which will be evaluated by an independent evaluation team, the Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at Newcastle (SCHIN). The results of the evaluation will be used to determine how best to roll out ETP across the NHS.

The Consortia

i)'TransScript' is the name of a consortium comprising the following members:-

• British Telecommunications plc
  
• Gehe UK plc (AAH/LloydsPharmacy/PharMed)

This model uses direct messaging from the GP to the patient nominated Pharmacy for repeat prescriptions. Bar-coded prescriptions containing the prescription data and digital signature will be utilised for acute prescribing.

Transcript model

ii)The consortium led by Pharmacy2U comprises:

• Pharmacy 2U
  
• North West Co-operative
  
• Health Global Worldwide
  
• PWC beTRUSTed Security
  
• Hadley Healthcare

This model uses direct messaging from the GP to the patient nominated pharmacy for repeat and acute prescribing. If the nominated pharmacy is P2U then medicines will be delivered directly to patient's home or place of work.

Pharmacy2U model

• SchlumbergerSema
  
• Boots the Chemist
  
• National Cooperative Chemists
  
• Cable & Wireless
  
• Microsoft

This pilot is known as "FlexiScript" and uses a relay approach with prescriptions being sent from the GP to a central server for both repeat and acute prescribing. The prescription is then downloaded by the pharmacist using a unique reference provided on the prescription form.

SchlumbergerSema model

ETP Workstream

Rollout of National Prescription Service (including the electronic transmission of prescriptions - ETP), is a key component of the new National IT Programme for the NHS, which was announced in June 2002. Details of the new programme are available at
www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/deliveringit/index.htm. The ETP workstream is currently being established and a key objective will be the development of the business case for national rollout. This will consider the options for a preferred national model taking into account the work of the pilots and the need for integration with the objectives of the overall programme. More details about the workstream and its project structure will be available soon from the DH and PPA websites.