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Electronic Prescription Service for dispensing doctors

Find out about using the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), the benefits it offers to dispensing doctors, along with advice and support on using the service.

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The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is available for dispensing doctors. It makes the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff. If you're interested in using EPS in your dispensary, contact the suppliers below.

Supplier Product name Status
Optum ProScript Connect Available
Invatech Titan Available

Using EPS as a dispenser

Here are some resources to help you get the most out of using EPS.

Some of our guidance information is on the FutureNHS collaboration platform - log in with your existing account, or register first.

Generating and signing an electronic prescription

You can apply electronic signatures to prescriptions. The signature is unique to individual doctors and applied using the user's smartcard credentials.

Read more about generating and signing an electronic prescription.

Dispensing

Electronic prescriptions must be downloaded from the NHS Spine before being dispensed to the patient.

Read more about dispensing electronic prescriptions.

Electronic repeat dispensing

Find out about electronic repeat dispensing and how you could benefit from using it. Note that a dispensing doctor cannot use eRD for their dispensing patients but they can use it for their prescribing only (non-dispensing) patients.

Read more about electronic repeat dispensing.

Cancelling an electronic prescription

You can cancel the whole electronic prescription or individual item(s) on the prescription at any point until it's dispensed to the patient. A reason for cancellation is requested and then a cancellation message is sent to EPS.

Read more about cancelling an electronic prescription.

Prescribing and dispensing tokens

Paper copies of electronic prescriptions are called 'tokens'. They act as a hard copy of the details contained within the electronic prescription. Tokens will need to be made available under certain circumstances.

Read more about prescribing and dispensing tokens.

NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices and prescribing systems

The NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) provides a standardised reference for medicines and medical devices for use by different clinical systems.  

Read more about the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices and prescribing systems.

Using EPS for patients with both a pharmacy and appliance contractor nomination

Patients who use a Dispensing Appliance Contractor (DAC) for some of their items can set a DAC nomination, as well as their pharmacy nomination. 

Using EPS for patients with both a pharmacy and appliance contractor nomination. 

Endorsement and claim messages

You can manage your submissions of reimbursement endorsements electronically. These must be selected and submitted electronically using the specific codes provided, with any supporting information.

Find out about NHS Business Service Authority's guidance for endorsements.

Reimbursements

Read our information on claiming reimbursement for electronic prescriptions to find out more about how to send an Electronic Reimbursement Endorsement Message (EREM) when you have dispensed a prescription, sent a dispense notification and want to claim reimbursement.

Submitting monthly reimbursements

You can manage the submission of reimbursement endorsements electronically for electronic prescriptions, rather than sorting and posting them at the end of each month.

Find out about NHS Business Service Authority's guidance for endorsements.  

Benefits of EPS for dispensing doctors

Prescriptions are processed more efficiently
  • Electronic prescriptions contain the patient's prescription information, so there is less need to type this into your dispensing system.
  • Sign individual or multiple prescriptions electronically.
  • Use a standardised drug dictionary to complete electronic prescriptions, improving prescription accuracy and reducing the risk of patients receiving the wrong medication.
  • Receive fewer reimbursement queries due to electronic prescription endorsement.
  • Reduced risk of duplicate prescriptions as electronic prescriptions can't be lost.
Less paperwork
  • Only signed tokens need to be sent to the NHS Business Services Authority in the month end prescription submission without the need to file and sort them as when using FP10s.
Better stock control
  • Electronic prescriptions can be integrated with stock control modules to further reduce administration.
Improved patient satisfaction
  • Electronic prescriptions allow you to order and prepare prescriptions in advance, reducing waiting time for patients and ensuring stock is available.
  • Notes can be added to electronic prescriptions, allowing messages from prescribers to be passed on to patients.
  • Visibility of the current status of prescriptions via the NHS Prescription Tracker and the Prescription Tracking Service for Patients.

Contact us

What else would you like to see here? If you have any ideas on how to improve our website please get in touch. For more information about EPS, contact:

Enquiry Point of contact
EPS implementation queries (for NHS organisations) Digital Partnering Hub
Email: [email protected]
EPS onboarding enquiries EPS Onboarding and Assurance team
Email: [email protected]
EPS support enquiries (live services) EPS Live Service Management Team
Email: [email protected]
Any other enquiries Digital Medicines Programme
Email: [email protected]

Further information

internal EPS clinical prescription tracker

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Prescription Tracker allows staff working at prescribing and dispensing sites to check the status of a prescription.

internal Reimbursement model guidance

Our reimbursement model guidance seeks to support API consumers with populating prescriptions with the necessary details needed for reimbursement.

external

Last edited: 9 April 2025 1:33 pm