Digital / IT

NHSmail

From 9th November 2020, under the NHS Terms of Service, contractors must ensure their staff have access to, and are able to send and receive NHSmail from, the pharmacy shared NHSmail mailbox.  To meet this requirement, contractors must ensure that at least two members of staff at the pharmacy premises have live personal NHSmail accounts that are linked to the shared mailbox.

NHSmail is a centrally funded and managed secure email and communications service which is approved by the NHS for exchanging patient data.  To set up NHSmail, register via the community pharmacy NHSmail registration portal https://portal.nhs.net/pharmacyregistration.  If you work for a multiple pharmacy group please check with your Head Office for their own internal procedures for obtaining a NHSmail address.

 

Pharmacy Helpdesk

If you have any issues during the set up process please contact helpdesk@nhs.net, who will support you through the process.  The team at helpdesk@nhs.net should also be your first point of contact for help with your account, such as unlocking your account or a password reset.

The Community Pharmacy England website includes further information around the set up and use of NHSmail and can be accessed here: https://cpe.org.uk/digital-and-technology/nhs-mail/.

 

Smartcards

The local Registration Authority (RA) supporting pharmacies in West Yorkshire is:

The Health Informatics Service

Email: registration.authority@this.nhs.uk

Website: http://www.this.nhs.uk

Main Point of Contact Telephone: 0845 127 2600.  (Local: 01484 355220).

The Community Pharmacy England website has lots of useful information around Smartcards that can be accessed here: https://cpe.org.uk/digital-and-technology/smartcards/.

 

Update as of 3rd October 2023

On 3rd October 2023, Local Smartcard Unlockers will be able to perform their full unlocker role in Care Identity Management:

  • Search for and view user profiles.
  • Unlock a smartcard.
  • Renew a smartcard, if the card is within its certificate renewal period.

After 3rd October 2023, Unlockers should stop using the Care Identity Service application and start using Care Identity Management instead.

 

Self-service Smartcard Unlock

The new self-service smartcard unlock application is now available to all smartcard holders: https://digital.nhs.uk/unlock.

Smartcard holders can automatically use the new application if they have a valid email address on their Care Identity profile (please see the guide here on how they can add their own e-mail address). This means:

  • There’s no need to register.
  • There are no security questions to remember.
  • Nobody needs to take their card to a Registration Authority to have it unlocked.
  • Everyone can access the application using a regular internet connection.

When a user locks their card, the existing link on NHS Identity Agent will redirect to the new service.For full details of the new application, read our guidance on the new self-service smartcard unlock.  If anyone wishes to reset their passcode, the new format is 6-8 numbers only.

 

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) enables prescriptions to be sent electronically from the GP practice to the pharmacy and then on to NHSBSA for payment.

It has been deployed through two key releases. Release 1 (R1) in which the barcoded paper prescription form remains the legal prescription.  Release 2 which supports the transmission of electronic prescriptions; e-repeat dispensing (eRD); patient nomination of their selected pharmacy; GP cancellation of e-prescriptions; and the electronic submission of reimbursement claims to NHSBSA.  Currently, prescribers can only issue an electronic NHS prescription where it is being sent electronically to a patient’s nominated pharmacy.

Additional information can be found on the Community Pharmacy England website here: https://cpe.org.uk/digital-and-technology/eps/

 

EPS4 Inappropriate Use

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire has heard from several contractors regarding the impact when EPS4 is used by prescribers rather than using nomination (including one-off nomination), especially when the patient is not given details of the prescription barcode.

If you are experiencing issues with the use of EPS4 you should consider:

  • Speaking to the practice manager about the impact of EPS4 use.
  • Share the key messages for GP practices regarding EPS4 in the CPWY Key Messages document.
  • Let CPWY know that you are having issues by emailing info@cpwy.org.
  • If the issue is with an out-of-hour provider, contact CPWY who can help identify where best to raise the issue (keep details of the date, time and prescriber).
  • Consider comparing the use of EPS4 with other practices in the area using the EPS dashboard.
  • Read the Community Pharmacy England information on EPS4 rollout.

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire has raised EPS4 use with the CCGs and we have seen in CCG updates to GP practices reinforcing that whilst Phase 4 does not require patients to nominate a pharmacy, using EPS with a nomination is still the preferred and most efficient option.  We will continue to raise this matter with CCGs on your behalf.

 

EPS Dispensing Tokens

EPS dispensing tokens can be ordered via the Primary Care Support England (PCSE) Online Portal.

Additional information can be found on the Community Pharmacy England website here: https://cpe.org.uk/digital-and-technology/eps/

 

Summary Care Records (SCR)

The NHS Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic summary of key clinical information (including medicines, allergies and adverse reactions) about a patient, sourced from the GP record.  SCRs are being successfully used in many settings across the NHS, such as A&E departments, hospital pharmacies, NHS 111 and GP out of hours services and walk in centres.

More information on access to and use of SCRs can be found on the Community Pharmacy England website here: https://cpe.org.uk/digital-and-technology/electronic-health-records/summary-care-record-scr/

 

Summary Care Record (SCR) – Myth Buster Briefing

CPWY has created an SCR Myth Buster Briefing which explains what SCR can, and should, be used for and hopes to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about SCR use.  It also has links to how to get SCR access authorised on your smartcard if this is an issue.

Summary Care Record (SCR) Myth Buster Briefing – February 2020

 

 

Last Updated: 25th January 2022