The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) in Vision 3

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is the NHS England programme designed to improve patient care and reduce GPs’ workload by sending details of medications prescribed electronically using NHS Spine functionality.

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is currently delivered in one of two ways in Vision 3 depending on your set up:

  • EPSRelease 2 Phase 3 (Deployed Disabled) (EPS2 Phase 3 (Deployed Disabled)) - Which prints a bar code on to a prescription ready for scanning by the patient's chosen dispenser.

  • EPSRelease 2 Phase 3 (EPS2) - Which sends prescriptions electronically to the patient's nominated dispenser making the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff.

Important - All EPS functionality is disabled if the patient is unlinked with the Personal Demographics Service (PDS) system, for example, you have not logged in with your Smartcard or the NHS Spine is down.

There are three main prescribing methods applicable to EPS:

  • Acute Issues

  • Repeat Issues

  • Repeat Dispensing

It is advised that you decide on the best management of each prescribing method for your practice before EPS is enabled. You need to consider the following:

  • How you currently manage prescriptions in your practice.
  • How are you going to manage administrative and clinical roles with EPS replacing the need for paper?
  • How are you going to manage nomination?
  • How are you going to use repeat dispensing?

Most of the EPS functionality in Vision 3 can be found in the following sections in Consultation Manager:

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