The electronic prescription service is now available in some GP practices and community pharmacies in every health board in Wales, according to the authority tasked with rolling it out.

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) today said it was “working hard to roll it out to every community across Wales as quickly and safely as possible.” It said 15 GP practices and 58 pharmacies in Wales have been using EPS to date.

DHCW also said more than 160,000 prescription items have been dispensed through the service, having gone live in all seven health boards, most recently Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda University health boards. EPS first launched at Betsi Cadwaladr in November 2023.

Sarah Bradley, director of primary and community care at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, said: “This marks a big step forward in enhancing efficiency and accuracy in patient care.

“By streamlining the prescribing process, we not only reduce the potential for errors but also ensure that our patients receive seamless and coordinated care.”

The service, which was launched in November last year in Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, is part of the digital medicines national transformation programme that is managed by DHCW. 

Kelly Jones-Lewis, deputy head of primary care at Swansea Bay UHB, said: “The roll-out of the electronic prescription service at our first GP practice and pharmacies in Swansea Bay UHB is an exciting time.

“EPS will make the process of collecting prescriptions easier for patients and there will be efficiencies for GP practice and pharmacy staff as well.”

Jones-Lewis said her health board “looked forward to rolling out EPS to more GP practices and pharmacies over the coming months.”

Owain Williams, lead pharmacist for primary care and community pharmacy at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “We are thrilled and excited about the implementation of EPS within our health board. It’s one of the biggest changes to prescribing practice for years and represents a significant leap forward in modernising healthcare delivery within our area.”