Electronic Repeat Dispensing

 

Learn about the benefits of Electronic Repeat Dispensing and how to set it up.

What is an eRD?

If you take the same medication regularly and your treatment rarely changes, eRD could save you time and reduce the need for frequent visits or calls to your GP surgery.

eRD is a convenient way to manage repeat prescriptions. Rather than requesting your medication every month, your prescribing clinician can authorise a batch of prescriptions in advance.

Once authorised, your prescriptions are securely uploaded to the NHS national spine - a secure digital system. Your nominated pharmacy can then download each issue up to 10 days before it is due, giving them enough time to prepare your medication without you having to place an order every month. This system is safe, reliable and helps to ease the pressure on NHS services. If anything changes with your medicines, you can still contact your GP or pharmacist at any time. For most people, eRD makes managing long-term prescriptions simpler and more efficient.

 

How eRD can Benefit You?

If you're on regular repeat medication, you could benefit from eRD. It can help you:

  • Save time by avoiding unnecessary trips or phone calls to your GP
  • Collect medication directly from your pharmacy without needing to visit your GP each month
  • Reduce waiting time at the pharmacy or surgery - helping you save time
  • Cut down on paper usage, as no paper prescription is needed to collect your medication
 

Who Can Use eRD?

Most people who take regular, stable medication are eligible. If you think this could be helpful, speak to us to see if eRD is suitable for you. Further information is available via the NHS Business Authority website

 

How can eRD be set up?

Step 1

Talk to your GP or the person who prescribes your medicines and ask them if you can use electronic repeat prescriptions. Your prescriber will usually be your doctor or practice nurse. You can also discuss this with your clinical pharmacist at the practice.

If your prescriber thinks that you could use electronic repeat prescriptions for your regular medicines, they will ask you for permission to share information about your medication with your pharmacist. This will help your pharmacist to give your prescriber feedback about your treatment and provide you with useful advice.

Your GP or prescriber will then authorise a number of electronic repeat prescriptions. This will be based on your circumstances and clinical need. These electronic repeat prescriptions will then be supplied to you by your pharmacy at regular intervals.

Step 2

Collect your first electronic repeat prescription from your pharmacy.

Step 3

When you need more medicines, go back to your pharmacy. Before dispensing the next issue of your prescription, your pharmacy will ask:

  • Have you seen any health professionals (GP, nurse or hospital doctor), since your last repeat prescription was supplied?
  • Have you recently started taking any new medicines - either on prescription or that you have bought over the counter?
  • Have you been having any problems with your medication or experiencing any side effects?
  • Are there any items on your repeat prescription that you don't need this month?

If you don't need all of the medicines on your prescription, let the pharmacy staff know, so that they only supply the medicines you need. This will help to reduce waste and save the NHS money.

Step 4

When your pharmacy supplies your final electronic repeat prescription in the series that your GP has authorised, they will advise you to contact your GP practice. Your doctor or practice nurse may want to see you to review your medication before they will authorise more electronic repeat prescriptions.