03 May 2024
Health and Community Services has implemented a new electronic prescription system
which will reduce waiting times at the Hospital Pharmacy and improve patient safety.
From 1 May most prescriptions written in HCS will be submitted electronically to the
Hospital Pharmacy via the Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA)
system. Most patients will no longer receive a paper prescription.
This change is part of an ongoing commitment to streamlining processes and
improving medication safety and operational efficiency throughout HCS.
This shift to electronic prescriptions offers several advantages to patients:
- Patients no longer need to drop off their prescriptions Because prescriptions
are transmitted electronically to the Hospital Pharmacy, Islanders no longer
need to queue to drop off paper prescriptions.
- Reduced wait times It’s easier for the Hospital Pharmacy to identify urgent
prescriptions and start processing these before patients arrive to collect them.
- Enhanced medication safety Electronic prescribing reduces the likelihood of
prescribing errors, as well as alerting clinicians to risks related to drug
interactions and other potential medication problems through clinical decision
support.
There are a few exceptions where paper prescriptions will continue to be issued, and
the relevant services within HCS are aware of what exceptions apply.
Kevin Smith, Pharmacy Services Manager, said: “The Pharmacy dispenses around 800
items a day, with up to 250 people attending at the outpatient pharmacy every
working day. For our small, dedicated Pharmacy team, electronic prescribing makes it
easier and safer to screen, process, and supply medication. And because Pharmacy
staff are not trying to decipher handwritten prescriptions, the risk of medication errors
is reduced.”
Professor Enda McVeigh, Consultant Gynaecologist – Sub-Specialist in Reproductive
Medicine and Surgery, said: "This transition to electronic prescribing and medicines
administration is a significant milestone in our digital health transformation
programme, which aims to provide Islanders with a safer and more efficient healthcare
experience.”
Islanders who need to collect non-urgent prescriptions are reminded to call the
Hospital Pharmacy in advance on 442627 for confirmation that they have received the
prescription and when it will be ready for collection. It’s also worth noting that the
busiest times are between 12.00 and 14.00.
In addition, for the small number of Islanders who are given paper prescriptions, a
prescription drop-off box is located in front of the Pharmacy counter.
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