Electronic Repeat Dispensing

What is Electronic Repeat Dispensing?

Electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) allows your GP practice to issue prescriptions as a batch. This batch is sent to the pharmacy and dispensed at regular intervals without the need to reorder medicines. The batch can last for up to one year before patients need to be reviewed or have blood tests.

Watch this video to find out more:

What are the benefits?

eRD makes access to medicines easier. Patients won’t need to contact their GP practice to re-order medicines, patients can manage their treatment with their local pharmacy, and pick up their prescription at set intervals.

The pharmacy receives prescriptions in advance, so they have time to order stock and prepare the prescription before the patient arrives to collect.

How does it work?

• A patient is reviewed and identified as suitable to have their regular prescription sent as a batch.
• The batch is authorised by a doctor once.
• The pharmacy receives the batch and dispenses it at set intervals, for example every 28 days or every 3 months.
• All the patient has to do is go to their pharmacy to collect their prescription each time – they don’t need to contact their GP practice to order their regular medicines.
• The pharmacy checks the medicines are still safe and appropriate. When the last prescription is issued, they inform the patient so they can contact their GP practice for a review.

Why are we doing this?

The NHS has advised that all suitable patients should be moved onto the electronic repeat dispensing system as soon as feasibly possible. This will help to better manage workload in GP practices and pharmacies, which is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group are working in collaboration with local community pharmacies to increase the number of patients on eRD.