RPS (Royal Pharmaceutical Society) in Wales welcomed the Welsh government’s announcement to plan a national electronic prescribing programme, building a robust digital platform to bring together primary, community and secondary care.
Plans for this programme will be made and implemented over the next three to five years. It will also include setting up a medicines data repository to support clinical and prescribing decisions.
The announcement follows the findings of an independent review of options for electronic prescribing arrangements in Wales. The review recognised the need to modernise medicines management and administration across the NHS.
The need for an e-prescribing system in Wales has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Electronic transfers of prescriptions and secure access to patient medication information plays a key role in improving patient experience by increasing convenience and reducing footfall to health care premises.
Commenting on the announcement, Cheryl Way, chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board, said: “This is an important development which will not only improve the information availability and efficiencies for health professionals but will drive up patient safety and put patients in greater control of their medication regimen.
“We are also conscious it will take time to deliver. We are keen to understand more about how the delivery plans can be taken forward at pace and where the RPS can support our members and the implementation of digital prescribing solutions.”
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre