MPs call for block on ETP ‘nomination’ plans
A cross-party group of MPs has backed calls for prescribers to be prevented from nominating pharmacies when electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) is rolled out. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) is already lobbying the government to stop the National Programme for IT’s plans to allow prescribers’ to nominate pharmacies. The PSNC claims prescriber nomination […]
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NPfIT defends its ETP plans
The National Programme for IT has defended its plans for electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) which it says will enhance rather than restrict patient choice. The programme’s proposals to allow GPs and other prescribers to nominate a patient’s pharmacy were criticised by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and an all party group of MPs […]
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MPs told ETP plans may jeopardise patient choice
Pharmacist representatives have told MPs that plans to allow GPs and other prescribers to nominate a patient’s pharmacy for electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) will jeopardise patient choice. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) is lobbying the Department of Health and the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) to change the system so that choice of […]
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First ETP pilot goes live under the national programme
Ling House Medical Centre and Co-operative Group Pharmacy in Keighley, West Yorkshire, have become the sites to use Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP) under the National Programme for IT. A limited initial ETP service, which uses the Patient Demographic Service of the NHS Spine, went live on 21 February allowing patient prescriptions to be electronically […]
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Cegedim Rx says it is on track for ETP
Cegedim Rx has announced that it is on track to deliver a version of its Pharmacy Manager solution that will support the delivery of Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (ETP) from May this year. The firm, which supplies around 2,500 independent and regional and chain pharmacies, and owned by the same company as primary care systems […]
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InPS acquires retail pharmacy IT solution
Healthcare IT systems specialist, In Practice Systems (InPS), has announced the acquisition of the UK arm of NDCHealth whose Pharmacy Manager solution is used in over 2,000 pharmacies, representing nearly 20% of the UK market. The sale, completed at the end of October, was made to Cegedim SA, InPS’s Paris-based owner, and NDC Health Ltd will […]
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Pharmacies may soon open online, says DH
The Department of Health have announced that solely internet-based pharmacies may soon be allowed to open in the UK and process prescriptions. A paper published by the DH regarding deregulation of pharmacy services in the UK promises an exemption to mail-order or internet-based pharmacies as long as “such pharmacies provide a fully professional service within […]
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New alliance could be US e-prescribing’s cup of tea
A group of IT companies involved in providing healthcare solutions have started up Café Rx, an open alliance devoted to championing the adoption of electronic prescribing across the US. The organisation, announced last week at the National Council for Prescription Drug Programmes’ (NCPDP) Educational Forum in San Francisco, promises to support and lobby for electronic […]
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University Hospital Aintree wins pharmacy IT award
The pharmacy department at University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool has won the 2004 First DataBank Guild of Healthcare Pharmacist Information Technology Award for its effective electronic transfer of discharge prescriptions pilot. The University Hospital Aintree pharmacy department was chosen for its development of a system to transfer patient discharge information securely and quickly between the hospital […]
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FDBE aims to cut drug dosing errors
First DataBank Europe (FDBE) has announced that it is working with the National Patient Safety Agency on a project to improve the safety of patients on drugs requiring unusual dosage regimes. The NPSA, established as a Special Health Authority in July 2001, aims to improve the safety of patients taking oral methotrexate by incorporating new, […]
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