NHS Digital Services for Integrated Care (NHS DSIC)
Published on: 12th November 2025 | Updated on: 1st October 2026
Pharmacy teams rely on digital systems every day to deliver NHS services safely and efficiently. The NHS Digital Services for Integrated Care (DSIC) programme helps ensure that pharmacy IT systems are developed in the right way—so they support your work, align with NHS pharmacy services, protect patient data, and connect smoothly with the wider NHS.
This page explains what DSIC is, how it supports pharmacy, and what it means for your pharmacy system.
DSIC is a national NHS framework that helps IT suppliers build and improve systems used across health and care. It sets out clear standards for digital safety, security, and interoperability—making sure systems can talk to each other and work reliably.
For pharmacy, DSIC helps ensure that the systems you use for prescriptions, services, and patient care are:
- Safe and secure
- Connected to the wider NHS
- Built to support your daily work
- Ready for future NHS services
Community Pharmacy England and the Community Pharmacy IT Group (CP ITG) are working with NHS England to make sure pharmacy systems are part of DSIC. This means:
- Pharmacy IT suppliers can align with NHS priorities and standards.
- New and existing systems can be developed in a coordinated way.
- Pharmacy teams benefit from systems that are easier to use, more resilient, and better connected.
Current pharmacy-related DSIC workstreams include:
- NHS Booking and Referral Standard (BaRS) – for seamless referrals and appointments.
- GP Connect – for viewing and updating patient records.
- NHSBSA Manage Your Service (MYS) APIs – for submitting claims and service data.
- NHS Care Identity Service 2 (CIS2) – for secure login without Smartcards.
Community Pharmacy England and CP ITG are also calling for more pharmacy digital projects to be included in DSIC in the coming years.
Pharmacy teams and owners often ask for systems that:
- Reduce workload and paperwork
- Support NHS services like vaccinations and consultations
- Connect with GP and hospital records
- Help patients access care and information digitally
DSIC helps suppliers deliver these features by providing a clear framework and support. CP ITG has published a list of suggested system features that align with DSIC and NHS priorities. These include:
- Interoperability – e.g. GP Connect, Shared Care Records, NHS App integration
- Security and resilience – e.g. backup systems, downtime alerts, data protection
- Usability – e.g. intuitive interfaces, mobile access, training support
- Patient tools – e.g. appointment booking, reminders, access to health records
You can read more about these features and your assessment of solutions: Making your system work for you.
It is still important to assess the IT systems which you use and consider digital clinical safety factors.
DSIC-related technical standards
Visit the technical standards: DSIC capabilities and standards home
See also our A-Z index of technical standards.
Community pharmacy is playing an increasingly important role in NHS care delivery.
The NHS is expanding care closer to home, increasing its use of digital technology and supporting the delivery of new clinical services by pharmacy teams. This creates opportunities for suppliers that can provide innovative, interoperable and user-centred solutions that support pharmacy teams and improve patient care.
Community Pharmacy England does not assure systems, but works closely with DHSC, NHS England, suppliers and pharmacy representatives to help shape the development of digital solutions and frameworks that enable community pharmacy teams to deliver NHS services safely, efficiently and effectively. Community Pharmacy England also provides the secretariat for the Community Pharmacy IT Group.
About Community Pharmacy IT Group (CP ITG) and how to join
The Community Pharmacy IT Group (CP ITG) is a national forum that brings together stakeholders from across the pharmacy and health technology sectors to discuss digital developments and the future of pharmacy IT. The Group provides a respected environment for collaboration across all parts of the sector.
Participants include:
- Pharmacy IT suppliers, including established and emerging suppliers that either operate within, or are seeking to support, the community pharmacy sector;
- Community pharmacy representatives from across the sector, including pharmacy owners, pharmacists and pharmacy team members; and
- NHS, government, policy and technical representatives.
The Group’s purpose involves:
- Discussing new technologies and developments that may impact pharmacy practice
- Supporting user-led recommendations for IT suppliers and NHS IT
- Providing a respected forum for engagement
More about the Group and how to join can be found out at the CP ITG webpage.
What NHS and pharmacy teams are looking for from IT solutions
Digital solutions should support:
- Safe and efficient delivery of NHS community pharmacy services;
- Integration with NHS systems and records;
- Reduced duplication and administrative burden;
- Improved patient experience and outcomes;
- Flexible and competitive pharmacy system choice;
- Secure and resilient ways of working; and
- Future innovation across the community pharmacy sector.
These ambitions align with both community pharmacy IT objectives and the NHS move from analogue to digital services.
Standards and assurance
The NHS Digital Services for Integrated Care (DSIC) team can advise suppliers on the relevant technical, interoperability and assurance requirements for individual workstreams.
Suppliers should expect increasing emphasis on:
- Open standards and interoperability;
- Usable and user-tested solutions;
- Effective information sharing;
- Cyber security and resilience; and
- Alignment with NHS strategic priorities.
Procurement and future opportunities
NHS England and its procurement partners periodically engage with the supplier market to support the development of community pharmacy IT solutions.
Suppliers interested in future opportunities should monitor:
These channels provide information about future procurements, market engagement exercises and application opportunities.
Future opportunities within DSIC workstreams
Future DSIC opportunities may be available to suppliers that can demonstrate compliance with NHS requirements and alignment with community pharmacy IT priorities.
The expected direction of travel is towards solutions that support NHS service delivery, meet agreed baseline standards and demonstrate effective interoperability with wider health and care systems.
As NHS clinical services continue to develop, suppliers that can help pharmacy teams access, record and share information efficiently will be increasingly important to the successful delivery of patient care. This aligns with wider NHS ambitions for integrated records, digital transformation and neighbourhood healthcare services.
Useful links
- NHS England procurement
Information about NHS England procurement activity, supplier engagement and tender opportunities. - eCommercial System (Atamis)
NHS procurement and supplier engagement platform used for many NHS opportunities. - Find a Tender service
UK Government tender portal for public sector procurement opportunities. - Digital Services for Integrated Care (DSIC)
Information about NHS Digital Services for Integrated Care and the programme’s approach to supporting integrated digital services. - Community Pharmacy IT Group (CP ITG)
Learn more about the Community Pharmacy IT Group, its priorities and its work to support the development of NHS and pharmacy IT.
Community Pharmacy England will continue working with NHS England, DHSC, and suppliers to:
- Expand pharmacy IT workstreams within DSIC
- Promote supplier alignment with NHS standards
- Support pharmacy teams to get the most from their systems
For more information on this topic please email it@cpe.org.uk
