Advancing Homecare Through the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

What is EPS?

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) enables prescriptions to be created, transmitted and accessed digitally through secure NHS systems via the NHS spine, removing the need for paper prescriptions and supporting a more efficient prescribing pathway. 

As part of an NHS England-commissioned pilot, HealthNet has been working alongside King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and other key stakeholders to explore the application of EPS in a homecare setting.

The pilot has been supported by HealthNet's Superintendent Pharmacist, Sue Lee, alongside Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist Manraj Mander and Lead Pharmacist Lucy Ward, whose extensive experience in medicines management and electronic prescriptions has helped shape the development and evaluation of the service. 

The project has successfully demonstrated that EPS can be integrated into homecare pathways, enabling secure prescription transmission, improved data governance, reduced reliance on paper-based processes and faster progression from prescribing to treatment initiation. 

This work represents an important milestone in the digital transformation of homecare services and provides a strong foundation for future expansion across the sector. 

The impact of EPS is already being felt across our services. Our Lead Pharmacist explains:

“Having worked on the EPS projects, I've seen first-hand the positive impact they have had in reducing the time taken for prescriptions to reach HealthNet from the hospital. So far, we have downloaded and dispensed more than 250 EPS prescriptions, helping to improve efficiency and patient access to medicines.”

Benefits of EPS in Homecare 

The pilot has highlighted several advantages for both healthcare professionals and patients: 

Improved Efficiency 

Electronic prescription transmission can reduce administrative burden, minimises delays associated with paper handling, and supports more streamlined workflows between provider organisations. 

Faster Access to Treatment 

By removing manual processing steps, prescriptions can be received and actioned more quickly, helping patients commence treatment sooner. 

Enhanced Data Security 

EPS supports secure transmission of prescribing information through NHS-approved systems, reducing the risks associated with paper documentation and improving governance. 

Greater Connectivity Across Care Pathways 

The service facilitates closer integration between referring centres, prescribers and homecare providers, supporting more coordinated patient care. 

Environmental Sustainability 

The reduction in paper-based prescribing contributes to NHS sustainability objectives while improving operational efficiency. 

The pilot has also demonstrated the value of collaborative working between NHS organisations and homecare providers in developing digital solutions that improve patient outcomes and service delivery. 

Geoffrey Howell, Clinical Commissioning & Medicines Finance Pharmacist at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the wider lessons from the pilot:

"This pilot proved that electronic prescribing can work safely within NHS homecare. More importantly, it showed that digital transformation is about more than technology. It requires redesigning the wider pathway so that patients and healthcare professionals can realise the full benefits." 

What did the House of Lords Committee Report say? 

The House of Lords Public Services Committee's report ‘Homecare Medicines Services: An Opportunity Lost’ highlighted the need for greater digital integration across healthcare and identified electronic prescribing as a key enabler of safer, more efficient medicines services.  

The committee heard that a lack of interoperability between systems can contribute to delays, inefficiencies, and poor patient experiences, and recommended wider adoption of digital solutions to streamline the prescribing process.  

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) supports this ambition by enabling prescriptions to be transferred directly and securely from hospitals to dispensing providers, reducing manual handling, minimising delays, and improving the flow of information between organisations.  

Read the full report here

What’s To Come 

HealthNet is incredibly proud to have played a key role in this NHS England-commissioned pilot, working alongside King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as the referring centre. 

Following an extensive period of testing, evaluation and collaboration, the pilot successfully demonstrated the opportunity Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) offers clinical homecare. 

The results have shown how electronic prescribing can improve efficiency, strengthen governance, enhance patient data security and support a better experience for both patients and clinicians. While further development of national processes will continue, the pilot has provided a strong foundation and evidence base for the future adoption of EPS across the homecare sector. 

We would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of everyone involved in the project, including Geoffrey Howell, Yomna Kassem, Nishali Patel, Sue Lee, Lucy Ward, Manraj Mander, CLEO Systems, Clanwilliam Health (Rx Web), and the wider NHS and industry teams whose expertise, commitment and collaboration have been instrumental to its success. 

As the programme progresses into its next phase, we're proud of the role we've played in helping to shape the future of digital prescribing in homecare and look forward to continuing to support NHS England in the development of innovative solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen governance and enhance patient care. 

We're confident the benefits demonstrated through this work will continue to grow, helping to drive digital transformation across the sector and deliver lasting value for patients and the NHS. 

HealthNet's Digital Solutions 

Alongside our involvement in EPS, HealthNet continues to invest in digital technologies that support healthcare professionals, improve operational efficiency and enhance patient care. 

E-Sign 

The NCHA e-sign is a secure digital prescription signing system used by the National Clinical Homecare Association. It speeds up medical care, stops lost paper forms, and meets strict UK health rules. 

Use of e-Sign allows the various teams and individuals including homecare and finance teams, as well of course, the prescriber, to all contribute to and create a single prescription without being co-located or the need to send or post paper documents around various hospital departments. 

Find out more about E-Sign. 

Clinician Gateway  

The Clinician Gateway is a secure online portal that enables healthcare professionals to manage homecare patients efficiently, providing real-time access to homecare provider held information and supporting shared data, more streamlined workflows and more informed prescribing. 

Find out more about Clinician Gateway. 

Adhere Predict  

Adhere Predict uses advanced analytics to identify patients who may be at risk of not taking or using their medicines as they have been prescribed, enabling earlier intervention, less wastage and supporting improved treatment outcomes. 

Find out more about Adhere Predict or request a demonstration.

Learn More 

To discover how HealthNet's digital solutions can help your organisation, improve operational efficiency and enhance patient care, please contact our team to arrange a discussion or demonstration. 

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