Supporting the wider deployment of electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) by working with primary care
At the start of the pandemic, we began to support the wider deployment of eRD to reduce footfall into GP practices and pharmacies, create efficiencies and provide an easily accessible supply of medication for patients.
Two-thirds of prescriptions issued in primary care are repeat prescriptions. Nationally, 410 million repeat prescriptions are generated every year – equivalent to an average of more than 375 per GP per week.
eRD allows up to twelve months of repeat prescriptions to be issued electronically if it is safe to do so. It is suitable for patients who are stable on their regular medication. All issues of the eRD prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS Spine (a digital central point allowing key NHS online services) and automatically downloads them to the patient's nominated community pharmacy when their next prescription is due.
This saves GP and reception staff administration time and allows the patient to collect their prescription directly from the pharmacy when it is due, without waiting for the request to be processed. It also helps the community pharmacy to build a relationship its patients and helps them with stock control and a more predictable workload. It is helping to reduce medicines wastage as pharmacy staff are required to check with patients if all prescription items are needed, before each issue.
