Pharmacy IT workstreams update published – IT group

Community Pharmacy England has released a summary of the September 2024 meeting of the Community Pharmacy IT Group (CP ITG).  The group discussed several key topics, including:

• Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) item readiness information in NHS App: This will begin to launch shortly
• Independent prescribing IT for pathfinder sites: CLEO SYSTEMS IP EPS system will begin early rollout
• EPS Tracker design and usage improvements
• Booking and Referral Standards (BaRS) imminent rollout plans
• Original Pack Dispensing (OPD) IT – preparations to enable this to be possible within EPS and NHSBSA systems ahead of next year.
• GP Connect: Update Record and Access Record
• Digital Health Record (DHR) policy proposals from the TBI institute regarding how policymakers might enable each citizen to have a DHR that healthcare workers can use for NHS direct care purposes

Get involved

• Pharmacy First IT system supplier switching: NHS England is conducting user research to ensure service continuity for pharmacy teams considering or undergoing a potential switch of their Pharmacy First IT system. The research aims to understand the impact on pharmacy users and system suppliers, focusing on issues such as data transfer, timelines, Directory of Services (DoS) profiling, choice and technical challenges. The research team will conduct remote discussions via MS Teams, lasting 30-50 minutes. Preferred dates are from Tuesday, 17th September to Friday, 27th September. If you can participate, please email it@cpe.org.uk.
• NHS 111 triage/referral data research: NHS England is researching whether NHS 111 triage and referral data, currently shared with 111 Providers, Commissioners, DoS Leads, and hospitals, could also be relevant for pharmacies.. The user research team is gathering feedback from health and social care organisations, including pharmacy professionals. Pharmacy representatives are encouraged to volunteer for an interview by emailing it@cpe.org.uk to be connected with the research team.
• Next steps for pharmacy IT futures feedback: If you would like to comment on the group’s document, please email it@cpe.org.uk.
• BaRS and GP Connect user research: If pharmacy teams would like to share feedback or speak with NHSE’s TD user research team members about new uses of Booking and Referral Standards (BaRS) and GP Connect IT, please email it@cpe.org.uk. NHS researchers may also conduct remote calls in the Autumn / Winter of 2024. During that period, pharmacy teams within London / Manchester could alternatively receive a visit.

CP ITG topics

To request that Community Pharmacy England and the Community Pharmacy IT Group consider specific IT matters or to request to join the next meeting, please fill out the One-minute IT feedback/comment form.

The Autumn round-up also outlines opportunities for pharmacy teams to contribute to improving pharmacy IT.

To learn more, please refer to:

• IT update one-page factsheet
• Quarterly IT update bulletin (pdf)
• Quarterly IT update bulletin (html website version).

About the CP ITG

Members of the CP ITG are drawn from Community Pharmacy England, NPA, RPS, CCA and IPA. Community Pharmacy England provides the secretariat for the group. The group’s meetings and work also involve pharmacy owners and teams, system suppliers, NHSBSA,  NHS England’s pharmacy team, NHS England’s Transformation Directorate, DHSC and PRSB. Read more about the group and its work on the CP ITG webpage.