Pharmacies and GP surgeries using Sonar and EMIS Web can now access a digital resource that sends important information about flu vaccinations.

NHS Digital's electronic notification service, which has been expanded in anticipation of continuously high patient demand throughout this winter, is designed to improve the quality of data and reduce duplication of invitations for vaccinations.

It was launched with PharmOutcomes and TPP SystmOne last year and informs GP practices when a patient has had a flu vaccine in a pharmacy.

It uploads information from a pharmacy via the Message Exchange for Social Care and Health file transfer service and sends it on to the GP practice.

“With more providers using the service, a greater number of flu vaccination notifications will be transmitted electronically this flu season. This is especially important this year, as more people are being offered an NHS flu vaccine,” NHS Digital said.

“Because details can be added to a patient’s medical record as soon as a notification is received, information will be more up to date. This will help make sure patients who have already had a flu vaccine at a community pharmacy are not contacted unnecessarily to arrange an appointment.”