Electronic Prescriptions at Our Practice What You Need to Know
Collecting a paper prescription is one of those small jobs that can take more time than expected. It may mean an extra trip to the practice, a wait at reception, or asking someone else to collect it on your behalf.
From 17 September 2026, our current planned go-live date, our practice will begin using the Electronic Prescription Service, often called EPS. This means prescriptions can be sent securely from the practice to a nominated pharmacy, rather than needing to be printed and collected as a paper copy.
For many patients, this will make the process quicker, simpler and more secure. The main step to take before we go live is to choose, or “nominate”, the pharmacy you would like us to send your prescriptions to.
What electronic prescribing means
Electronic prescribing is a secure way for the practice to send prescriptions directly to a pharmacy. Instead of printing a green paper prescription for collection, the prescription is sent electronically through the NHS system.
Once the prescription has been sent, the nominated pharmacy can download it, prepare the medicine and let the patient know when it is ready, depending on the pharmacy’s usual process.
In practical terms, this usually means:
Fewer trips to the practice just to collect a prescription
Less chance of a paper prescription being lost or delayed
A quicker route from the GP system to the pharmacy
A more secure process for sending prescription information
A clearer process for repeat prescriptions
This change does not mean that every prescription will be ready instantly. Pharmacies still need time to process requests, prepare medication and order items if they are not in stock. The main difference is that the prescription itself no longer needs to travel by hand.
Our go-live date
Our current go-live date for EPS is 17 September 2026.
That means we are preparing to start sending prescriptions electronically from that date. In the weeks before we go live, it is helpful for patients to make sure they have nominated a pharmacy.
A nominated pharmacy is simply the pharmacy you choose to receive your electronic prescriptions. For most people, this will be the pharmacy they already use regularly.
If you already collect your medicine from the same pharmacy most of the time, nominating that pharmacy should make the change feel straightforward.
How to nominate your pharmacy
To use EPS in the easiest way, you need to nominate a pharmacy before your prescription is issued.
The simplest way to do this is to speak to the staff at your regular pharmacy. They will be able to help you set up your nomination for electronic prescriptions.
You can nominate:
A community pharmacy near your home
A pharmacy near work
A pharmacy used by a family member or carer who collects medicine for you
A pharmacy that offers services you already rely on, such as delivery, if available
When choosing a pharmacy, think about what works best in daily life. The nearest pharmacy is not always the most convenient. Opening hours, parking, access by public transport and whether someone else collects your medicine may all matter.
Once a pharmacy has been nominated, future prescriptions can be sent there electronically. If you later decide that another pharmacy would suit you better, you can change your nomination. Speak to the pharmacy you want to use, and they can advise on the process.
What will change for patients
The biggest change is that, in most cases, there will be no paper prescription to collect from the practice.
Instead, once the prescription has been approved and issued by the clinician, it will be sent electronically to the nominated pharmacy. The pharmacy can then access it through the EPS system.
This should help reduce unnecessary journeys and waiting time. It may be especially helpful for people who:
Request regular repeat prescriptions
Have mobility problems
Rely on carers or family members to collect prescriptions
Live further away from the practice
Work during practice opening hours
Prefer to go directly to the pharmacy
The change also helps the practice team. When fewer paper prescriptions need to be printed, sorted and collected, staff can spend more time helping with queries that need personal attention.
What will stay the same
Although the prescription process is changing, many familiar parts of care will stay the same.
You will still need to request repeat medication in the usual way. EPS does not automatically request medicines on your behalf. It only changes how the prescription is sent once it has been approved.
You will still need to allow enough time for repeat prescription requests. Please continue to follow the practice’s usual guidance on how many working days are needed.
The GP or prescribing clinician will still review prescription requests where needed. If a medication review is due, or if a request needs checking, the practice may still contact you before issuing the prescription.
The pharmacy will still be responsible for dispensing the medicine, offering advice and explaining any supply issues.
EPS does not change clinical decision-making. It is a safer, faster delivery route for prescriptions, not a change to what medicines are prescribed.
What happens if you do not nominate a pharmacy
Nominating a pharmacy is the best way to get the full benefit of electronic prescriptions. It means the prescription can go directly to the place where you plan to collect your medicine.
If you do not have a nominated pharmacy, speak to your usual pharmacy or ask the practice team for guidance. The exact process may depend on the prescription and the systems available at the time.
If you are unsure which pharmacy to choose, start with the one you already use most often. You can change your nomination later if your circumstances change.
Why this should make prescriptions more secure
Paper prescriptions can be misplaced, collected late, or taken to a different pharmacy by mistake. EPS reduces those risks because the prescription is sent through a secure electronic system.
That does not mean patients lose control. You still choose the pharmacy. You still request medicines in the usual way. You can still ask questions about your prescription.
The main difference is that the prescription information travels directly from the practice to the nominated pharmacy, rather than being printed and physically collected.
This can be helpful when someone else collects medication on your behalf. The person collecting may still need to follow the pharmacy’s usual process, but they should not need to visit the practice first just to pick up a paper prescription.
Repeat prescriptions and EPS
For patients who order regular medicines, EPS should make repeat prescriptions easier to manage.
The request stage remains the same. If you usually request repeat medication online, through an app, by paper form, or another approved route, continue to use the method the practice currently recommends.
Once the request has been reviewed and issued, the prescription can be sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy.
A typical repeat prescription journey may look like this:
Request your repeat medication in the usual way.
The practice reviews and approves the request.
The prescription is sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy.
The pharmacy prepares the medicine.
You collect it from the pharmacy, or use any delivery service agreed with the pharmacy.
Please remember that EPS does not remove the need to order in good time. Pharmacies may need time to prepare medication, and some medicines may need to be ordered in.
If someone collects medicine for you
Many patients have a relative, friend, neighbour or carer who helps collect medication. EPS should still work well in these situations.
The key point is to nominate a pharmacy that suits the person collecting the prescription. For example, if a family member collects medicine after work, it may be more convenient to choose a pharmacy near their route home rather than the one closest to the practice.
The pharmacy may have its own checks before handing over medication. This is normal and helps keep prescriptions safe.
If there are safeguarding concerns, access needs, delivery questions, or unusual collection arrangements, speak to the pharmacy or practice team before the first electronic prescription is sent.
If you use more than one pharmacy
Some people use different pharmacies at different times. EPS works best when one regular pharmacy is nominated.
If you often move between locations, spend time away from home, or need to use a different pharmacy for a particular reason, speak to pharmacy staff for advice.
Changing a nomination is possible, but it is better not to change it too often unless needed. Keeping one regular nominated pharmacy reduces confusion and helps make sure prescriptions go to the right place.
If you are going away, request medication in good time and check where the prescription will be sent before making travel plans.
What to do before 17 September 2026
There is no need to wait until the go-live date. The best step is to sort out your nominated pharmacy ahead of time.
Before 17 September 2026, please:
Speak to the staff at your regular pharmacy
Ask them to help you nominate the pharmacy for EPS
Check that the chosen pharmacy is convenient for collection
Make sure carers or family members know where prescriptions will be sent
Continue requesting repeat medication in the usual way
If a pharmacy says they cannot help, or if there is confusion about your nomination, please ask the practice team for advice.
Helpful videos about the new process
For anyone who would like a simple explanation of how electronic prescriptions work, the following videos may help:
These videos give a helpful overview of the process and may be useful for patients, carers and family members.
A smoother way to manage prescriptions
EPS is a practical change designed to make prescription handling quicker, safer and more convenient. For most patients, the most important action is simple: choose a regular pharmacy and ask them to nominate it for your electronic prescriptions.
Our current planned go-live date is 17 September 2026. Taking a few minutes to set up your nomination before then should help make the switch smooth when the new service begins.
