Reminder: Respecting EPS nomination principles and patient choice
Community pharmacy teams are reminded of the importance of aligning with the EPS nomination principles and upholding patient choice at all times.
EPS allows patients to nominate a preferred pharmacy where their prescriptions will be sent electronically for dispensing. This system is designed to offer convenience and flexibility—but it must be used responsibly.
Key principles to follow
Patient-led nominations
Nominations must only be set, changed, reversed or removed at the patient’s request. Patients can update their nomination at any time—either at a pharmacy, GP surgery, or themselves via functionality and advice within the NHS App.
Informed consent
If a patient is invited to change their nomination, they must be clearly informed about:
- What EPS is
- What a nomination means
- Their right to change or cancel their nomination at any time
Written confirmation
It remains a best practice to obtain written confirmation of a patient’s nomination choice and maintaining a record of this in line with your SOP, before making any changes to nomination settings. We recommend the digital or paper form aligns with the nomination template.
Refreshing on the four core nomination principles
We recommend pharmacy teams refreshing themselves by reviewing our factsheet:
