WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL MEDICINES NEWSLETTER

September 2024

Summer may be ending, but the latest edition of our Digital Medicines newsletter has plenty of warming stories! We’ve recently reached two significant milestones in our Secondary Care electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) programme, with Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards choosing their technology partners to help deliver this game-changing service. The Primary Care Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) programme continues at pace, reaching more patients in north and mid Wales, and we also have a guest blog from our hospital e-prescribing lead, James Goddard, on the benefits the Shared Medicines Record will bring to Wales. Enjoy!  

Digital to revolutionise hospital prescribing in Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards 

The move towards digital transformation on every ward in every hospital in Wales has taken a positive step forward, with Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards choosing their technology partners to introduce new electronic prescribing systems.

Betsi Cadwaladr UHB (BC UHB) has chosen Better UK to supply its new electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) system, which will be rolled out to all its hospitals across north Wales. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB (CTM UHB) has selected NerveCentre to supply its ePMA system, which will be used in all its hospitals in Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.

ePMA replaces paper-driven processes with a digitised system that will streamline prescribing in every ward and improve patient care. It reduces the risk of medication errors by ensuring prescriptions are clear, legible and complete, with built-in safety checks for allergies, drug interactions and dosage accuracy.

It also enables seamless communication between departments and healthcare professionals, ensuring that medication information is accurate and up to date at all times.

Lesley Jones, DHCW Programme Oversight Chair for ePMA, said: “These are exciting times and a milestone for the people and clinical communities in BC and CTM UHBs. As a hospital nurse for many years, I know that ePMA will revolutionise prescribing processes and is a real game-changer.

“In simple terms, ePMA will replace the paper drug charts which are currently kept at patient bedsides, enabling safer prescribing and administration of medicines. It allows doctors, nurses and pharmacists to prescribe using a digital device, which has so many advantages, reducing medication errors and removing the risk of transcribing errors or handwriting that is difficult to decipher.”

BC UHB is the largest health board in Wales, serving more than 700,000 people, while CTM UHB serves a population of 450,000. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board selected its ePMA technology partner, NerveCentre, in March this year.

You can read the full Betsi Cadwaldr announcement and the full Cwm Taf Morgannwg announcement on our news pages.

Photo: Lois Lloyd Betsi Cadwaladr UHB Chief Pharmacist, and the ePMA team

Electronic Prescription Service reaches more patients in north and mid Wales 

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is reaching more patients across Wales, with communities in Conwy and Powys now benefiting from the technology.

EPS is available at three sites in Conwy as the service picks up pace in north Wales, and it was also introduced at the first medical practice in Powys last month. Meddygfa Gwydir in Llanrwst, Lonfa Surgery in Llandudno Junction and Cadwgan Surgery in Colwyn Bay are the latest GP practices in the Betsi Cadwaladr UHB area to use EPS, while in Powys Teaching Health Board it’s now available at Builth and Llanwrtyd Wells Medical Practice.

EPS enables GPs and other prescribers to send prescriptions digitally to a community pharmacy or another dispenser chosen by the patient. Staff no longer have to print and sign a paper prescription form and there’s no need for patients or pharmacy staff to pick up prescriptions from the surgery.

Meddygfa Gwydir and Lonfa Surgery are working in partnership with Boots pharmacies in Llanrwst and Llandudno Junction to deliver the service, while Cadwgan is connected to Old Colwyn Pharmacy and Boots Old Colwyn. Builth and Llanwrtyd Wells Medical Practice is working in partnership with Boots pharmacies in Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells and HOW Pharm Ltd (Llanwrtyd Pharmacy) in Llanwrtyd Wells.

You can read the full story about EPS in Powys on our website.

Photo: Staff at Meddygfa Gwydir Surgery in Llanrwst

System supplier PharmacyX enters Electronic Prescription Service assurance process in Wales

We’re delighted to be working with PharmacyX as it becomes the sixth pharmacy system supplier to test its electronic prescription service (EPS) software for use in Wales.

EPS allows GPs and other prescribers to send prescriptions electronically to a pharmacy or dispenser of the patient’s choice.

The move away from a paper-based prescription process to a digital service is one of the biggest changes to healthcare in decades and relies on GP and community pharmacy IT systems being able to send and receive electronic prescriptions securely.

PharmacyX began the EPS assurance process in Wales this month and is due to complete it by early 2025. Following successful completion of the assurance process, its software could be rolled out to pharmacies in Wales that use the PharmacyX system from early next year.

Jenny Pugh Jones, DHCW’s Programme Oversight Chair for EPS, said: “We are incredibly pleased to work in partnership with PharmacyX. EPS has a huge role to play in modernising healthcare services in primary care and its delivery relies on collaboration with all Welsh pharmacy IT suppliers.”

You can read more about PharmacyX on our website.

Photo: Paul Mayberry, PharmacyX Director

First-ever Shared Medicines Record for Wales draws closer 

Every day, thousands of people in Wales navigate a complex health system, but a Shared Medicines Record (SMR) can revolutionise how we deliver health care in Wales. As the reality of the first-ever SMR in Wales draws nearer, James Goddard, DHCW’s Hospital e-Prescribing Lead, has shared his thoughts about the wide-ranging benefits this will bring to patients and healthcare staff in a new blog.

James said: "Imagine a world where every patient and healthcare professional, regardless of their specialty or location, has instant access to accurate and up-to-date information about the medicines they are taking from across all care settings.

“This is not a far-off dream; it is a reality that draws closer each day. The concept of a Shared Medicines Record is not a novel idea by any means, but one that is still gaining traction – particularly in NHS Wales and in some individual organisations across the UK.”

You can read James’ blog in full here and find out more about the Shared Medicines Record on our website.

Photo: James Goddard, Hospital e-Prescribing Lead at DHCW

Technical testing of Shared Medicines Record underway 

In other Shared Medicines Record (SMR) news, we are pleased to report that technical testing of the SMR’s Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) is underway. Roll out of the first phase – sharing medicines, allergies and intolerances data between GPs and hospitals – is due to start early next year. 

'Prescription ready’ notifications increase 

The number of prescription ready notifications sent to the NHS Wales App has increased to 1,924 since the feature went live in two areas of north Wales on May 29, 2024.

Patients who use Wellington Road Pharmacy in Rhyl, Denbighshire, and Gwynan Edwards Pharmacy in Penmaenmawr, Conwy, and who are registered with the App can receive secure messages when their medicines are ready, thanks to the new feature.



Invatech’s Titan is the first community pharmacy system to start rolling out the prescription ready notification in Wales, with further Invatech Titan pharmacies expected to start using the alerts during the autumn. 

EPS team shortlisted for prestigious UK digital award 

Our work in digital transformation has been recognised by the UK IT industry, with the EPS team and DHCW as a whole both being shortlisted in a prestigious awards event.

EPS colleagues have been named as finalists in the ‘Team of the Year’ category while DHCW is shortlisted as ‘Best Place to Work in IT’ in the Organisational Excellence category.

The EPS team has been recognised for its success to date in delivering the biggest change to primary care prescribing in Wales in decades, with Team of the Year being awarded for the development or implementation of an IT strategy which has helped to meet objectives, achieve greater competitiveness or improve public services.

The Best Place to Work in IT Award – which DHCW won in 2022 – is given to the organisation that provides the best employment and career opportunities for IT professionals, as well as demonstrating a positive commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Jenny Pugh-Jones, Programme Oversight Chair for the Primary Care EPS programme, said: “As a team, we are delighted to be recognised nationally for the significant progress we have made in delivering the Electronic Prescription Service in Wales.

“It has been a real collaboration with partners including health boards, community pharmacies, GP practices, pharmacy system suppliers, Welsh Government, Life Sciences Hub Wales, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and NHS England. It has been fantastic to work with them to bring about this digital transformation that will make a real difference to patients.”

Read the full story about the UK IT Industry Awards on our website. 

Rehana Begum, ePMA Project Officer

Joined Digital Medicines: July 2024

I have joined the Digital Medicines ePMA team after a period of maternity leave. I have been with DHCW for three years and have worked on the Welsh Intensive Care Information System (WICIS) and the Welsh Emergency Department System (WEDS) projects. Prior to this I was in a patient-facing role and have experience using the systems that DHCW create! It has been great being part of the work that goes on behind the scenes.

At nine months pregnant, I purchased my first home with my husband and have since undergone a full house renovation, which I project-managed with my newborn in tow. The experience gained has been invaluable and I look forward to putting my new skills into practice at work.

I really believe that it is possible to have a successful career and be a mother, and this is something I am passionate about. I think it would be great to have a group within DHCW which focuses on supporting working mothers and I would love to establish this. 

Join our ePMA Community of Knowledge and Action!

As we prepare for the use of ePMA in hospitals in Wales, we want to keep healthcare colleagues involved and have the opportunity to share understanding, knowledge and best practice. Our Community of Knowledge and Action (CoKA) meetings are at the heart of this approach.

If you work for a health board or trust, please come along as they offer a supportive forum for engagement and feedback, as well as a hub for sharing knowledge.

The next meeting will take place on September 26. You can register or find out more by emailing DHCW.ePMA@wales.nhs.uk

Sign up to the next ePrescribing masterclass

The next ePrescribing masterclass will take place on Wednesday, 18th September 2024 at 1pm. 

The ePrescribing masterclass series is a monthly webinar where NHS organisations can share their learning and experiences on digital transformation and enable health boards and trusts to follow in their footsteps as quickly and effectively as possible.

The sessions are designed to accelerate digital transformation, reduce unwarranted variation and deliver quality improvements in patient safety, clinical outcomes, and service user experience 

 It will focus on:  

• Critical success factors for implementing EPS in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)- Beenish Ali, Lead Directorate Pharmacist, Essex and Kent, Northeast London NHS Foundation Trust and Pavenjit Deagon, Lead Pharmacist, North East London NHS Foundation Trust 
• Challenges and Strategies: Implementing ePrescribing in Mental Health Settings - Yvette Khozam, ePMA Lead Pharmacist, St. Bernard’s Hospital, West London Mental Health NHS Trust  

Join and register for the next ePrescribing masterclass 

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.  

If you would like to know more about our work or have a suggestion about how we can engage with you, please let us know!   

If you would like to know more about our work or have a suggestion about how we can engage with you, we’d love to hear from you!  



Email: DigitalMedicines.Comms@wales.nhs.uk, visit our web pages or follow Digital Health and Care Wales on our social media channels: