Doctors To Ditch Pen And Paper For E-Prescription Services To Save £300 Million Over Next Three Year

END OF DODGY HANDWRITING?

Patients will cut their waiting time in GP surgeries and pharmacies as new services are rolled out



DOCTORS will ditch pen and paper prescriptions to help save the NHS £300 million over the next three years.

Patients will cut their waiting time in GP surgeries and pharmacies as new e-prescription services are rolled out.

Repeat orders for medicine or tablets will be available on automatic collection from a chemist without having to visit the doctor first.

Only one per cent of such prescriptions were sent electronically in 2010 but that has soared to 63 per cent – more than 6,800 out of 7,300 practices - in June this year.

Ministers will save hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayers’ cash by pressing ahead with the move from this autumn.



As well as saving millions, waiting times will be reduced in pharmacies

It comes after the government announced their multi-year plan for the NHS where spending is increased by £20.5 billion annually by 2023/24.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We need to harness technology across the NHS to improve care, save time for patients and make the lives of hardworking staff easier.

In an NHS where thousands of GP surgeries already enjoy the benefits of electronic prescriptions, it can’t be right that there are occasions when archaic paper prescriptions still have to be used.



Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock is behind the move

“As part of our long-term plan, I want the NHS to become the most advanced healthcare system in the world.

“Electronic prescribing both saves GPs’ time and helps to give patients a better, more seamless experience and ensures every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent effectively.”

Not all prescriptions are sent electronically which would include controlled drugs.

Hancock, who was appointed to his post last month, he promised a “technological” transformation of the NHS.

He introduced the Matt Hancock app to keep his constituents in West Suffolk up to date with his news and contact him directly.

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