Phase two EPS accreditation due within months

The first pharmacy and GP system suppliers expect to receive technical accreditation for release two of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) in April and May this year, according to Connecting for Health (CfH).

The IT agency has published the status of GP and pharmacy systems currently progressing through the compliance process for release two of EPS.

Five pharmacy suppliers including Cegedim Rx and AAH expect to receive technical accreditation for their systems in April and predicted dates to receive roll-out approval range from June 2008 to February 2009. The two major high street chains Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy have yet to announce dates for either technical accreditation or roll-out approval.

On the GP side the existing supplier with the earliest predicted approval date is TPP which hopes to receive technical accreditation for SystmOne in May, followed by roll-out approval in July.

EMIS expects to receive roll-out approval in September, INPS in February 2009 and iSoft in October 2008 for its Synergy system and April 2009 for its Premiere system. The new supplier entering the GP market, Waveform, has predicted that it will receive technical accreditation in April and be able to roll-out its system from August.

CfH is already running at least six months late with implementation of release two of EPS but says it is preparing for initial implementations by selecting sites within the chosen PCTs, distributing dispensing token stationery and preparing communication and guidance material.

About 80% of GPs and pharmacy system suppliers are now able to use release one of the EPS according to CfH which is working with pharmacy organisations to encourage pharmacists to use release one of EPS as much as possible.

This week the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee urged all those pharmacists who have done so already to upgrade to release one of EPS.

It added: “Once enabled it is advised that pharmacists use the EPS service to dispense prescriptions where practical to ensure that any problems with the system are identified and can be resolved before EPS becomes business critical. Problems should be reported to pharmacy system suppliers who can escalate the issue to NHS Connecting for Health where necessary.”

Fiona Barr