Electronic Prescription Service (EPSr2)
Introductions -Anna Cochrane – GPIT Programme Manager (CCG’s) & 2 Project Manager’s (EPS) John Bayley & Georgina (George) Jones.
History
2 CCG’s in Suffolk (Ipswich & East Suffolk CCG & West Suffolk CCG)
Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provide IT Services including RA services within Suffolk
Suffolk CCG’s are currently engaged in the process of procuring a new IT Service Provider. A separate RA Service is being procured which is expected to be in place by this September.
The CCG’s EPS Project Managers have been working with the Suffolk LPC representatives(Tania & Hannah), NHS England, HSCIC (EPS Lead – Andrew Hathaway), NSFT RA Service GP Practices to plan EPS roll-out.
------
- Felixstowe EPSr2 Pilot (1st Stage) went LIVE in March 2014 with 3 Practice Go Lives/Associated Pharmacies (EMIS Web – Haven Health) & (TPP SystmOne – Walton 72%, Howard House 61%)
- 1 yr ‘PlannedPause’ before the completion of the Felixstowe Pilot – due to TUPE of GPIT Team (Trainers & Project Management) from NSFT to CCG’s & Restructuring of NSFT including RA Services provided by them) & Issues around RA services providing the required level of BAU (Business As Usual) support to Suffolk Pharmacies)
- Felixstowe Pilot (2nd Stage) completed March 2015 – Grove Medical Centre 38%
- Suffolk roll-out of EPSr2 to all GP Practices was planned to recommence in June via monthly geographically localised tranched GP Practice Go Lives – starting in Ipswich- East, as the current RA Service was based in this area & this would in theory make RA support to Practices & Pharmacies easier in the early stages of roll-out. This plan was agreed by the Suffolk LPC & NSFT RA Services who promised to provide the necessary level of BAU Service to Pharmacies & to resolve any outstanding Pharmacy issues.
- However the LPC reported via Tania & Hannah that Pharmacies were still experiencing issues with the level of service for BAU work provided by NSFT’s RA Service & therefore the tranched roll-out of EPS to Suffolk Practices which was due to resume in June was put on ‘HOLD’ by the CCG’s Joint GPIT Programme Board as a stable efficient RA Service was a pre-requisite for the roll-out to be a success for both GP Practices & Pharmacies in Suffolk.
- In addition the procurement of a new IT Service Provider in Suffolka separate RA Services was on-going & the transitional period presented a HIGH risk to the EPS Planned Roll-out.
- Also identified that some Suffolk Pharmacies were not enabled for EPSr2 & a planned ‘Pause’ would allow these sites to ensure that the necessary IT infrastructure/Training & Pharmacy software enablement could take place.
- We recognise that Suffolk Pharmacies are still experiencing problems with the current level of service delivery for BAU reported issues with the current RA Service provider & we are currently investigating options for dealing with these issues & for the provision of a stable efficient RA Service.
- We currently expect a new RA Service provider to be in place by this September& to restart the roll-out of EPS via another controlled Pilot to a couple of GP Practices in West Suffolk (possibly Haverhill) – this approach will enable us to test the new RA Service (EPS Deployment & BAU activity) & ensure that we have a robust stable platform which will provide the necessary efficient support to GP Practices & Suffolk Pharmacies for the continued roll-out of EPS.
- We will continue to work with the LPC in the planning of another EPS Pilot in West Suffolk & the future roll-out of EPS to the rest of Suffolk & keep them informed of developments around changes to the existing RA Service & the provision of any new RA Service in Suffolk.