Home Patient Communication Material
A selection of frequently asked questions can be found below:
Where can I obtain a copy of the EPS R2 national patient leaflet?
Nationally developed patient communication material can be downloaded from the Connecting for Health website.
Whilst this material was previously available to order in hardcopy at the national level, following the Government’s communications spending freeze, responsibility for patient communications has been transferred to PCTs. Where PCTs have developed their EPS Communications Strategies, more information on an individual PCTs approach to patient communication can be found by requesting this strategy from PCTs.
Before changing a patient’s nomination settings, pharmacies must obtain explicit informed consent from the patient. The nationally developed, ‘summary patient information sheet’ includes the key points that should be passed to the patient when collecting this consent. This information could be passed to the patient in writing, verbally or online, for example if collecting consent via a pharmacy website.
If pharmacies are developing in-house communication materials, Connecting for Health have consented to the nationally produced leaflet being used as a template for local adaption. For locally produced EPS communication materials, pharmacies need to take care to ensure compliance with the NHS Brand guidelines if planning to use the NHS logo and the EPS Release 2 Design Style Guide if planning to use the EPS Release 2 device. As part of the EPS Release 2 design style requirements, pharmacies should only use the EPS Release 2 device in promotional material if they are either operating or due to start operating EPS R2.
PSNC and NHS Employers have agreed an addition to the existing clinical governance requirement to publicise NHS services that are available at or from the pharmacy that clarifies that where a pharmacy advertises NHS essential and advanced services there should be an acknowledgement that these are funded by the NHS. The detail of this change is still to be confirmed, but NHSE and PSNC are working towards the implementation of the change from 1st October 2011, and therefore it would be advisable to ensure that where appropriate, materials include a reference to the service being NHS funded.
Where do I obtain the EPS window sticker?
The EPS sign should be supplied to a site by their system supplier at the time of going live with Release 2 and will be available in three different formats, A5 window sticker, A4 poster or A5 counter-top sign. If this has not been received, it can also be obtained from Department of Health's Publications Orderline while stocks last.