Home Smart Card Administration
Certificate Re-newal and Re-seting Passcodes
Smartcards contain two digital certificates for the purpose of authentication. As a security measure, to support protecting against unauthorised access to patient information, certificates must be renewed every two years. Pharmacy staff can use the self-service portal to re-set passcodes and re-new certificates. Click on the link below to download the CFH guide to the self-service portal:
Guide to using the Self Service Portal to: Set your Passcodes and Renew your Smartcard Certificates
If you are unable to access the Self Service Portal you should check with your system supplier. This function is available through the majority of pharmacy systems.
You can renew your certificates twice without visiting your Registration Authority, at the third renewal you must visit your Registration Authority who will verify your identity and renew your certificates. If certificates on a smart card are not re-newed before expiry, it will no longer be possible to use their card to access the Electronic Prescription Service. In this situation, a face-to-face meeting with the Registration Authority is required to renew the expired certificates. Contact the PCT RA for more information.
Unlocking Smartcards
The Smartcard Service Centre (SCSC) allows you to unlock your Smartcard should it become accidentally locked.
Guide to Using the Smartcard Service Centre to Unlock your Smartcard
If you are unable to access the Smartcard Service Centre you should check with your system supplier. This function is available through the majority of pharmacy systems.
Frequently Asked Question
I don’t have an NHSmail address or access to a mobile phone. Is there any other way to remotely unlock my Smartcard without having to visit the RA Offices?
If an incorrect pin has been entered more than 3 times, the smartcard is locked and needs to be 'unlocked' to be used.
Where a staff member has access to the online Smartcard Service Centre (SCSC) and has either an @nhs.net email account or mobile phone number listed in the Spine User Directory, the system can be used to support unlocking an individual’s smartcard remotely, without the need to visit the RA Office. If an individual does not have either a mobile phone or an @nhs.net email account, it may be possible to use the pharmacies landline if the following apply:
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The telephone line accepts text to voice conversations (this is available through a number of telephone providers including BT and Virgin and modern VOIP telephone systems)
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An auto-attendant is not in use (i.e. the message will go straight through to a human)
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The telephone number has previously been listed on the Spine User Directory
To list a number in the Spine User Directory or to update a telephone number, please contact the local RA.
A sponsor can also unlock smartcards if they have been given this authority by the RA, have access to a computer with 2 Smartcard readers attached and have access to the online card management system. More information about sponsors can be found in the sponsor section of this site. PSNC is recommending that for the initial implementation of EPS Release 2, to ensure ready access to sponsors, a representative in each pharmacy premises is given sponsorship responsibility, for example the pharmacist-in-charge or branch manager.
I have recently been issued with a smartcard to operate the EPS Service but this does not appear to be working. What should I do?
Problems with Smartcards should normally be referred to the PCT RA in the first instance.
There is a known issue around a recently introduced batch of Smartcards. Affected cards can be identified by the serial number on the back that includes the number 5. These new cards are only compatible with the latest version of the Identity Agent Software (known as Identity Agent Version 11). Older smartcards are not affected.
A number of system suppliers have indicated that they are waiting until the deployment of EPS Release 2 to roll out the new Identity Agent Software nationally but may be able to provide an upgrade on an individual basis. Contractors are therefore advised to contact their system supplier directly to request this upgrade.
Version 11 of the Identity Agent Software is also required to access the self-service portal which supports the self re-set of passcodes.
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