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Setting up a patient on eRD
When a prescriber issues an eRD, it will contain:
- the total quantity per issue
- the intended duration of each issue of the prescription
- how many times the eRD prescription can be issued before the patient/medication should be reviewed or re-ordered
Cancellation and prescription synching
eRD allows the cancellation at item or whole prescription level, which will cancel all subsequent issues on the Spine.
If the prescription is already with the dispenser, the prescribing system will receive a message to contact the dispenser. The dispenser must return the issue to the Spine for the cancellation to take place. The amended eRD prescription can then be manually downloaded by the pharmacy.
Individual prescription items can’t be amended. Therefore, if a dose change is required, the item needs to be cancelled and re-prescribed.
There are two options for patients with multiple items on eRD where an item requires cancellation:
- Cancel all outstanding items within the prescription form and replace with a new eRD, including the new item/amended dosage change
- Cancel the individual item(s) – check when the next issue of the existing eRD prescription is due and generate a one-off prescription to cover until the date of the next issue of the original eRD. Create a new eRD prescription to start at the same time as the next issue of the existing eRD prescription with enough issues so that all prescriptions end at the same time. “Synching” prescriptions in this way ensures that all the patient’s prescriptions are received by the dispenser on the same day and support interaction checking.
It is always good practice to communicate with the patient’s nominated pharmacy about any changes made to eRD prescriptions; this can be done with the electronic note to dispenser within the new eRD prescription.
NHS Digital has commissioned an e-learning module for prescribers. This covers system specific training for prescribers on all aspects of eRD.
eRD is an essential service and is part of the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. The service specification requires a contractor to ensure that pharmacists are competent to provide repeat dispensing services. Pharmacists should also undergo appropriate training, for example, The Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE) programme and assessment. The CPPE produces an open learning pack on repeat dispensing.