ALL prescriptions will be issued digitally from next year in a move that will save the NHS £300million by 2021.
Health chiefs say it will mean patients no longer need to collect repeat prescriptions from a GP.
1
It will also slash paper use, cut waste and reduce prescribing errors.
Doctors will send scripts electronically to a nominated pharmacy.
Patients can still ask for a paper printout if they want the flexibility of choosing a chemist later.
But these will contain barcodes, which must be scanned by pharmacists and allows them to be tracked and cancelled.
The scheme is already in use over large parts of the country and will be rolled out nationwide by the end of next year.
Primary Care Minister Jo Churchill said: “Digitising the entire prescription service is a key part of keeping up the drive to make the NHS fit for the 21st century.
“This will free up vital time for GPs and allow pharmacists to spend more time with their patients, and save millions of pounds a year.
“It’s another important step towards eventually making all prescriptions paperless.
“We are continuing to improve technology across the NHS which will ultimately improve care for patients.”
