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OUR VISION:
“Making the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines everywhere in Wales easier, safer, more efficient and effective for patients and professionals through digital.”
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WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL MEDICINES NEWSLETTER
July 2024
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Welcome to the latest Digital Medicines newsletter, another packed edition with exciting updates about our work across Wales. We’re sharing news of some big Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) milestones and announcing a new direction for Digital Medicines. Please read on! | |
Digital Medicines – new direction, same focus on delivery | |
As we continue to build on progress, a new direction has been announced for two of our Digital Medicines projects.
From July 1st, 2024 the Shared Medicines Record Project (SMR) will begin a transition to new working and governance arrangements. The SMR project team will work with the National Data Resource (NDR) programme team to continue development work and transition to a product operating model by October.
The Patient Access Project will continue and complete existing work on medicines features in the NHS Wales App, including testing of the push ready notification with pharmacy system suppliers. Work on the feature to allow patients to nominate a pharmacy of their choice is currently in development and will continue as planned. Further features in the roadmap will be taken forward through the Digital Services for Patients and Public (DSPP) programme, prioritised alongside other features in the wider NHS Wales App roadmap.
Digital Medicines - the Primary Care Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) in Secondary Care – will continue to deliver at pace and in collaboration and engagement with health and care partners and industry suppliers.
New roles
With a new streamlined scope, from July 1st Programme Director Rhian Hamer will leave Digital Medicines to lead DHCW’s new Building Our Future transformation programme. Laurence James will continue as Head of Medicines Programmes, responsible for EPS and ePMA.
Rhian said: “I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved in just over two years, with digital medicines services already making a huge difference to patient and healthcare professionals across Wales.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved. From the amazing commitment and dedication of the Digital Medicines team to the collaboration and support of frontline colleagues and our system suppliers, it has been an honour to be part of a fast-paced, transformative digital initiative that focuses on making healthcare better for everyone in Wales.”
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The Electronic Prescription Service makes great progress in Wales! | |
The move towards a new digital service to transform the way prescriptions are managed in Wales is making fantastic progress, with exciting developments from some of our pharmacy system suppliers.
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) has achieved a number of major milestones in the last month, with Boots’ and Positive Solutions’ technology being approved for use across community pharmacies in Wales and two further IT software suppliers progressing through the assurance process.
Earlier this year, Boots’ Columbus system entered a testing phase at its pharmacy in Llanfairfechan, Conwy, in partnership with the adjacent Plas Menai Surgery. We are delighted to announce that the technology has been assured for use across Wales, meaning that Boots can now use the software in all its Wales pharmacies, subject to connecting GP practices being ready to send prescriptions digitally.
This made Boots the second community pharmacy system supplier to achieve full roll out approval in Wales, following Invatech’s Titan pharmacy system in April.
Positive Solutions’ Analyst software has also now been given the go ahead for use across Wales, following testing of the software at the Well Pharmacy in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, in partnership with the Village Surgery.
In recent weeks health tech provider Clanwilliam has also entered live testing to support delivery of EPS in Wales. On-site testing of Clanwilliam’s RxWeb pharmacy system began in May at Sully Pharmacy and MW Phillips in Cadoxton in partnership with Sully GP Surgery. EMIS’ ProScript Connect has also started the assurance process. If testing is successful, both systems will be rolled out at further pharmacies across Wales from later this year.
EPS enables GPs and other prescribers to send prescriptions digitally, without the need for a green paper form, to a patient’s chosen pharmacy.
Jenny Pugh-Jones, Chair of the Electronic Prescription Service Programme, said: “We are delighted to be working with the latest pharmacy system suppliers to reach these significant milestones.
“E-prescriptions are making a big impact, helping to transform the way GP practices work and offering a more convenient service for patients, and we look forward to many more patients and clinical staff benefiting from the service.”
To read more about our recent progress, go to the news section on the Digital Medicines home page.
Photo: Jenny Rose, Director of Stores for Wales and West at Boots
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'Prescription ready' alerts now available to early
NHS Wales App users in North Wales
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Patients in two areas of north Wales are now getting alerts about their prescriptions in the NHS Wales App, with a ‘prescription ready’ notification being used at two pharmacies.
Patients who use Wellington Road Pharmacy in Rhyl, Denbighshire, and Gwynan Edwards Pharmacy in Penmaenmawr, Conwy, and who are registered with the App can now receive secure messages when their medicines are ready, thanks to the new feature.
The prescription ready notification marks another first for Wellington Road Pharmacy, following the launch of electronic prescriptions there last November. The Titan software used by the community pharmacy has been developed by Invatech Health. The team pioneered the technology used to receive electronic prescriptions at the same site, and they have now made changes in their system to integrate with the App.
Titan is the first community pharmacy system to start rolling out the prescription ready notification in Wales, with further Invatech pharmacies expected to start using the alerts this summer.
Tariq Muhammad, Invatech Chief Executive, said: “We are passionate advocates for the benefits that digital transformation can bring to pharmacies, patients and the wider NHS, so it’s great for Titan to be involved in this new initiative in Wales. “
The community pharmacy system integration with the notification feature was funded by the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund, which was established by Digital Medicines and Life Sciences Hub Wales on behalf of Welsh Government. The aim of the fund is to help suppliers of community pharmacy system develop the technology to support paperless dispensing, as well as ensure systems integrate with the new NHS Wales App.
To find out more about the App and to download it to your phone or on an internet browser, go to https://app.nhs.wales.
Photo: The Invatech team
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Shared Medicines Record testing continues | |
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Technical testing of the NHS Wales Shared Medicines Record is underway. Roll out of the first phase, sharing medicines, allergies and intolerances data between GPs and hospitals, is due to start later this year, beginning with Cardiff and Vale UHB, and will be linked to the implementation of ePMA.
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This month, we welcome to the team our new Senior Communications Officer, Jason, and catch up with Senior Business Change Facilitator Steph about her charity challenge. | |
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Jason Vowles, Senior Communications Officer
Joined Digital Medicines: June 2024
I’m joining the Digital Medicines team from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, where I was a Digital Communications Officer for just over two years. Before this and alongside my work, I have worked as an author and freelance writer since 2020, and have experience working in procurement, energy, and recruitment.
Cardiff and Vale UHB marked the start of my journey into NHS Wales and the public sector. Over the last few years, I have felt inspired by my colleagues and am excited to work on Digital Medicines as I know how important this work is and the difference it will make for patients and NHS staff across Wales.
Originally from Norwich - with a spell in the Midlands and Bristol – I have lived in Cardiff for ten years and love it here. My interests include being an avid Arsenal supporter, a keen runner/weight trainer, and enjoying a good book.
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Steph takes on mighty march for Macmillan | |
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Thirteen looks set to be a lucky number for Senior Business Change Facilitator Stephanie Allen – 13 miles, that is! – when she takes on a half marathon hiking challenge in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
On July 6th, Steph and a group of friends will take on the Gower Peninsula Mighty Hike in memory of John Corbett, their friend Bethan Elis’ dad, who passed away age 70 following oesophageal cancer five years ago. Renowned photographer John was well known in the Swansea area for his work on local newspapers, as well as being a talented drummer with The Trembling Knees, and his daughter Bethan is following in his musical footsteps by singing in her church band and even appearing on Songs of Praise!
Steph, who is undertaking the challenge with friends Hannah, Jenna and Felicity, said: “We want to support the event because I haven’t yet met someone who hasn’t been affected by cancer in some way, whether themselves or someone they know and love.
“John had excellent support from Macmillan when he was in palliative care and he took part in a few of their activities during the 18 months that he was ill. We’d really like to pay some of this support back and this seemed a lovely way of marking the fifth anniversary since he passed away.
“Some of us have been friends since our nursery days, but our group became fully established when we all attended the same comprehensive school, Bishop Vaughan Catholic school in Morriston. We’re planning to walk the half marathon and we’re hoping to achieve the average time of between four and five hours.”
Steph’s co-hiker Hannah also works for NHS Wales and is currently a speciality registrar with Public Health Wales. You can find out more about the friends’ challenge on their Just Giving page.
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Digital Medicines success celebrated at DHCW Staff Recognition Awards | |
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The achievements of the Digital Medicines team were celebrated at the DHCW Staff Recognition Awards in June held at Cardiff’s Mercure Holland House Hotel.
The EPS team was named as a finalist in two categories – Team of the Year and Best Collaboration and Engagement in the workplace and with partners – after making great progress in launching and starting to roll out the electronic prescription service in Wales.
And communications colleagues were part of the Corporate Communications team named as the winner of the Team of the Year Award, after delivering results with professionalism, positivity and motivation during a year of significant change. Colleagues in the ePMA, Patient Access and Shared Medicines Record programmes were also nominated for their hard work.
Digital Medicines Director Rhian Hamer said: “It was wonderful to get together with Digital Medicines colleagues and the wider DHCW team to celebrate the many successes achieved in the last year.
“All of our programmes are working exceptionally hard to deliver changes that will bring very real benefits to patients, the public and health professionals in Wales, and I’m delighted that their efforts are being recognised within the organisation.”
Photo: DHCW Chief Executive Helen Thomas introducing the Staff Recognition Awards
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DIGITAL MEDICINES EVENTS AND ENGAGEMENT | |
Valuable collaboration at HEIW conference | |
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Members of the Digital Medicines team attended the recent Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) Primary and Community Care Education and Training Stakeholder Conference in Cardiff.
Head of Digital Medicines Programmes Laurence James, Pharmacist Clinical Lead Mark Allen, GP Clinical Lead Dr Jon Campbell and DHCW’s Senior Engagement Manager Emma Foley were at the city’s Holland House Hotel to deliver a presentation on EPS and a break-out session.
Laurence said: “We welcomed the opportunity to attend and share with delegates the achievements of the Primary Care Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Programme. It provided a valuable opportunity to collaborate with primary care professionals, including sharing next steps and the benefits EPS will bring to them and patients across Wales, to make the prescribing and dispensing of medicines easier, more efficient, and effective through digital technology.”
Photo: Digital Medicines Programme Lead Laurence James at the Health Education and Improvement Wales conference in May.
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Join Digital Medicines at the Eisteddfod in August | |
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Digital Medicines will be in the spotlight at this year’s National Eisteddfod, which takes place in Rhondda Cynon Taf in August.
Electronic prescribing is among the topics featured in the main programme within the Science and Technology tent, with two members of the team speaking at 10.30am on August 7th.
Pharmacist Jodine Fec will explain how electronic prescriptions work and the benefits they bring to patients and healthcare staff as they become widely available this year at local GP surgeries and pharmacies.
There will also be an insight into the future of digital medicines in hospitals, as medicines charts are replaced by digital systems. Lesley Jones, lead for secondary care electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration, will talk about the digital medicines revolution making its way to the hospital ward.
Photo: Pharmacist Jodine Fec
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Sign up to our next e-Prescribing masterclass | |
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The next e-Prescribing masterclass will cover building warfarin prescribing and management into an ePMA system. The July masterclass, which takes place on Wednesday, 17th July from 1pm-2pm, is in collaboration with the Medication Safety Officer (MSO) Network and will be delivered by Emma Kirk, Medication Safety Officer Network Lead at Specialist Pharmacy Service, and colleagues.
Speakers at the session will include Jennifer De Val of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, who will discuss the pop-up checks and safety nets around prescribing and administering insulin, and Elizabeth Lamerton, Principal Clinical Pharmacist at MSO Salford Royal, Northern Care Alliance, who will discuss the safety dashboard to support safe use of medicines.
Click here to register
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Join the electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA)
Community of Knowledge and Action
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As we prepare for the use of ePMA in Welsh hospitals, we want to keep healthcare colleagues involved and provide the opportunity to share understanding, knowledge and best practice. Our Community of Knowledge and Action (CoKA) meetings are at the heart of this approach.
Please join us at the next two virtual meetings on Microsoft Teams, which take place on July 18th, and August 15th, both from 1pm, and meet with other health and care colleagues to discuss the use of ePMA and its impact.
July’s session includes a talk from DHCW’s Lenisha Wright on Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) and Swansea Bay UHB’s Business Intelligence Dashboard discussion by Rebecca Jelley.
August’s session hosts Patryk Poniatowski from Velindre with a talk on data analytics approaches and Claire Tolliday from Cambridge University, with a dive into Barcode Meds Administration / Closed Loop Meds Administration.
Joshua Anthony, ePMA Project Manager, said, “Our Community of Knowledge of Action has successfully grown since we started the sessions in September 2023 and we have received great feedback about how beneficial the sessions have become.
“It’s useful for enabling knowledge sharing, so it is great to see it successfully generate discussions amongst our health boards and trust colleagues. Anyone involved with ePMA is welcome to join, and we also welcome all our members to provide any topics they feel are worth discussing during their ePMA journey.”
Meetings take place every third Thursday of the month. You can register or find out more by emailing DHCW.ePMA@wales.nhs.uk
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Digital Medicines is making the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines, easier, safer, more efficient and effective for patients and professionals through digital.
It brings together the programmes and projects that will deliver the benefits of a fully digital prescribing approach in all care settings in Wales. Digital Medicines coordinates four areas of work, all of which have connections with each other: Primary Care Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), Secondary Care electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA), Patient Access (through the NHS Wales App) and a Shared Medicines Record.
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