Electronic Repeat Dispensing

The Yorkshire & Humber AHSN is supporting a regional initiative coordinated by NHS England and Improvement Regional Office and The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to increase the use of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) in suitable patients as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. GP Practices have been offered practical assistance to support implementation including a series of webinars and a dedicated email.

This page includes links to resources which will support the roll out of eRD.

What is eRD?

Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) enables patients on long-term, stable prescriptions to receive their medication at a pharmacy of their choice for up to 12 months, using the power of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).

The NHSBSA is working with GP practices, using dispensing data to identify patients who have received the same medications in at least 10 of the last 12 months (up to January 2020) and provide NHS Numbers for patients who are potentially suitable for eRD. The initial practice list will identify patients receiving 1, 2 or 3 medications allowing practices to start the process of moving patients to eRD where considered appropriate and where the move is likely to be straight forward.

The GP contract letter released by NHS England on 1st October states that the temporary suspension of the requirement for individual patient consent for eRD will continue until 31st March 2021.”

Below you will find a range of resources which we have collated in one place to help you with this work.

  • eRD saves the time and money by reducing the amount of paper processing required by GPs, pharmacists and the NHS Business Services Authority.
  • Electronic prescriptions will save the NHS £300m by 2021.
  • eRD improves the data captured from prescriptions, to enable better reporting and improved medicines optimization
  • eRD is reliable, secure and confidential

Resources:

eRD is:

  • a simplified the repeat dispensing process
  • reduced need for printed paper prescriptions
  • you can authorise repeat prescriptions for up to a year with just one digital signature patients don’t need to visit their GP practice every time they need to collect a repeat prescription, which could mean more appointments available for patients

Remember to use the following read codes:

On S1-XaJus – on repeat dispensing system- SNOMED code is 414938004 with the same written description

On S1-XaKRX – patient consent given for repeat dispensing information transfer- SNOMED code is 416224003 with the same written description

Resources

eRD means:

  • automated downloads, making prescription processing more efficient.
  • less time spent on administration and collecting prescriptions, which means more time for helping patients
  • reduced waiting times, improving patient satisfaction
  • improved stock control, providing greater accuracy and reduces the number of prescription queries
  • A reduction in the amount of sorting and paper submissions that need to be send to us at the NHSBSA
  • a prescription collection service is no longer needed between the pharmacy and GP practice
  • a simplified repeat dispensing process

eRD means:

  • regular medicines can be prescribed for up to a year
  • prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS database, so they’re ready at the pharmacy each time you need them
  • no need to visit or call the GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription – you can go direct to the pharmacy
  • you can order or cancel your repeat prescriptions online (if your GP offers this service)
  • you don’t need to call or visit your practice to order your repeat prescription

Resources

NHS England/Improvement have hosted a series of webinars to support the implementation of eRD. They also have a dedicated email address to address any issues or questions you may have: england.cnepcn@nhs.net.

The webinars can be viewed here: