Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the first in the country to have 100 per cent of GP practices able to use Electronic Prescription Services (EPS). 
 
This comes after Portsmouth CCG piloted the latest improvement to the EPS, which is known as Phase 4. This update means that prescriptions can be sent digitally for all patients, not just those who have chosen a nominated dispenser.
 
Simon Cooper, director of Medicines Optimisation at NHS Portsmouth CCG, said: “Implementing EPS Phase 4 across the city has been a very straightforward process for us and we are already beginning to see the benefits.
 
“Moving from what was essentially a paper-driven process to an approach which is primarily digitally-focused means much greater efficiency for our GP practices and dispensing pharmacies in terms of time and accuracy, and this can only be positive for patients, too.
 
“It’s also helping to create a much more accurate picture for us in terms of assessing prescribing data, which we can now do more quickly and with a greater degree of confidence in the information we are reviewing,” he added.

Once the NHS Digital system is rolled out across England, it is estimated it will save the NHS £130m a year, according to the NHS.