Electronic prescriptions launch in Wales for first time

The system allows GPs to send prescriptions directly to the patient's chosen pharmacy

An electronic prescription service has launched in Wales for the first time.

The system allows GPs to send prescriptions securely online to a patient's choice of pharmacy, without needing a paper form.

The service, launched in Rhyl, Denbighshire, on Friday, is said to make the prescribing of medicines easier, safer and more efficient.

It will have a phased roll-out across the rest of Wales from January 2024.

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The prescriptions can be tracked from the surgery to the pharmacy.

Patients will also no longer need to visit their surgery to pick up repeat prescription forms, as these will be sent directly to their chosen pharmacy.

"I couldn't believe how easy it is," said Barbara McEvoy, a patient at the Lakeside Medical Centre in Rhyl and one of the first in this country to receive an e-prescription.

"I told the pharmacy I wanted to use e-prescriptions and they did the rest - I didn't need to use a computer or fill in an online form.

"This is going to be really useful and will definitely help patients," she added.

Currently in a live testing phase at the centre, prescriptions are sent electronically to the nearby Wellington Road Pharmacy.

Around £12 million will be spent rolling out the service to the whole of Wales over the next two years, expected to save up to 40 million paper forms from being printed each year. 

"We are at the start of an exciting digital transformation that will completely change the way prescriptions are managed in primary care, streamlining a process that has not changed in decades," said Health and Social Services Minister, Eluned Morgan.

Barbara McEvoy, pictured with husband Michael, is one of Wales' first e-prescription patients

She added: "Electronic prescriptions will make a huge difference to the NHS and patients.

"This is a major milestone in our journey towards digitising every prescription in every healthcare setting across Wales."

E-prescriptions have been available in England for some time, but Ms Morgan said the Welsh scheme was designed to be part of a broader "all singing, all dancing" system than the one currently used across the border.

Shafraz Mohideen, Lakeside Medical Centre Operations Manager, called it a "game changer".

"Our GPs will be able to prescribe medicines faster and more securely, giving them more time for patients," he said.

"It will also help patients as they won't need to visit the surgery to collect repeat prescriptions."

Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Russell George MS, said the news was "long overdue" with the availability of e-prescriptions being a requirement for GPs in England since 2019.

"Labour-run Wales is behind the curve, whether that be for e-prescriptions or even a functioning NHS app," he added.

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