ePharmacy at NICON: connecting digital transformation with better patient care
The ePharmacy Programme took to the stage at NICON, bringing together perspectives from programme leadership, Community Pharmacy and General Practice in Northern Ireland, alongside valuable experience from the implementation of electronic prescriptions in NHS England.The session provided an opportunity to explore not only the different elements of the ePharmacy Programme, but also what these changes will mean in practice for healthcare professionals and, most importantly, for patients.
Padraic Tunney, ePharmacy Programme Manager, opened the session with an overview of the overall ePharmacy Programme. He outlined the programme structure, the latest timelines and the scope of the individual component projects that together will deliver the wider ePharmacy transformation. His presentation helped set the context for the session, showing how the different strands of work fit together as part of the overall programme. Gerard Greene, CEO of Community Pharmacy NI, provided the Community Pharmacy perspective. He discussed what ePharmacy, and particularly Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (ETP) and Go Pharmacy NI, could mean for Community Pharmacies across Northern Ireland. He highlighted the opportunity to reduce the handling of paper prescriptions and lessen the administration associated with services delivered through Community Pharmacy.
The General Practice perspective was provided by Dr Patrick Stirling, a GP based in Carryduff, who explored the potential benefits of ETP for GP practices across Northern Ireland. His contribution provided an important frontline perspective on how the move towards electronic prescription processes could support General Practice.The session also benefited from the experience of Ann Slee, former SRO for the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Programme in NHS England. Ann shared lessons learned from the rollout of EPS in England, offering valuable insights from the implementation of a major programme of change and the experience gained along the way.
A common thread across all four presentations was the potential benefit for patients. Speakers highlighted how ePharmacy can support the patient journey, with particular importance in out-of-hours and acute situations, when timely access to the right information and services can be especially valuable.
The NICON session demonstrated that ePharmacy is about much more than replacing paper with digital processes. It is about bringing together technology, healthcare professionals and redesigned ways of working to create a more connected experience for patients and those delivering their care.
Other ePharmacy news:
Digital Dispatches, Episode 36: ePharmacy – DHCNI – June 2024