Home R1 Arrangements
Release 1 of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) requires community pharmacists (including locums) who provide NHS Pharmaceutical services to be issued with smartcards.
As EPS Release 1 does not provide access to any part of the NHS Care Records Service repositories, it is not subject to the same user policies as the NHS CRS applications. A simplified application form and process was introduced for Release 1. Different arrangements apply for Release 2.
Who needs to Register for Release 1?
For Release 1, only community pharmacists and locum pharmacists are required to register.
The Registration Process
PCTs are responsible for issuing the smartcards required to operate the Electronic Prescription Service. Pharmacists can choose to register to receive a smart card either in the PCT area that they live or in the area that they work. Different PCTs are putting in place different arrangements for issuing cards, for example in some areas RA agents are visiting pharmacies, in other areas RA agents are attending local events such as LPC and RPSGB local branch meetings and in some areas, pharmacists may be required to visit their PCT.
PSNC is encouraging PCTs to work closely with LPCs to ensure that the arrangements are fair and manageable for all contractors in a locality.
In all cases pharmacists must meet a Registration Authority Manager/Agent in person and show identification such as a passpot or driving license. PCTs may have specific identification requirements. All pharmacists must also have their details confirmed and application approved by another appointed individual known as a 'sponsor'.
The smartcards issued for Release 1 can be used in any PCT area in England. They are not PCT specific.
The smartcards issued for Release 1 are not issued linked to accessing the system in a specific pharmacy. Smartcards should work in any pharmacy.
To find out what arrangements apply in your locality, please contact your PCT or LPC. Guidance may be available on your LPCs Website or where it has been provided to PSNC, in the local arrangements section of this site.
Forms
For EPS Release 1, the 'EPS01' Form must be completed. Click on the links below for a copy of the form:
EPS01 Registration Form
NB: A face-to-face meeting with the Registration Authority Manager/Agent is required to obtain a smartcard. Do not send Form EPS01 to a PCT unless specifically requested to do so
EPS01 :Supporting Notes
Audit Trail of use of EPS Release 1 Cards
During Release 1, only one smartcard is required in a pharmacy to provide access to the Electronic Prescription Service via all networked computers. The smartcard user policy requires that the custody and use of an EPS smartcard and passcode is at all times the responsibility of the Community Pharmacist to whom it is issued. The EPS smartcard may be used by any staff within the pharmacy as necessary for example dispensing technicians and dispensing assistants. It is recommended that pharmacists keep a note of individuals that use their card on a particular day. However, this is not a mandatory requirement.
Contingency
During Release 1, you will be able to continue dispensing prescriptions against paper prescription forms. If you forget your card on a given day, you will not be able to download the prescription message electronically from the spine but you will be able to create a label for the product by manually typing in the prescription details.
More information on how to deal with lost/broken/locked cards is available in the smartcard administration section of this site.
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