Medicine Manager allows patients to request and receive their repeat prescriptions without a visit to the surgery

March 2004: Medicine Manager in practice - extended patient choice and accessibility

In previous editions of EMIS in Practice we have highlighted how the Electronic Prescription Management Service (Medicine Manager) has benefited Practice Managers and GPs. This issue examines how Medicine Manager can help those who are at the very centre of the NHS - the patient.

How Medicine Manager works

Medicine Manager allows patients to request and receive their repeat prescriptions without a visit to the surgery* or a pharmacy. Once a patient registers for Medicine Manager, their current list of repeatable medicines and clinical review date is transferred to Pharmacy2U. The patient can then request from that list either by telephoning the pharmacy, or by utilising a secure website www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/Medicine Manager.

These requests for prescriptions are then routed to the patient's usually seen Doctor (although any other Doctor or a prescription clerk can access them) and sorted into requests with or without query. If the Doctor decides to accept the requested items, the prescription is efficiently generated and the pharmacy is informed. Medicines are delivered to the patient's chosen delivery address by recorded delivery. Patients can also choose to have Pharmacy2U remind them by telephone when their prescription needs renewing.

The benefits to a patient who has opted for Medicine Manager are clear:

• For repeat prescriptions, the patient no longer needs to request or collect a prescription from the surgery and then take it to the pharmacy. One telephone call or a visit to the website is all the patient needs to do to receive their repeat prescription medication
• Patients can be reminded when they need their next repeat prescription
• Medicines are delivered to the patient's chosen delivery address free of any delivery charge

Patients all around the UK are enjoying these benefits:

"The service is great and the delivery very fast....so much quicker than the old system."
Hilary Brooks, Bickley, Kent

"Brilliant idea. Makes life so easy for busy people like me."
Peter Murray, Northampton

"The service that I have received has been excellent and has made my life 10 times easier! I don't know how I would get along without you."
Elizabeth Williamson, Newcastle upon Tyne

Further information

Medicine Manager is provided by EMIS and Pharmacy2U, offering benefits to both patients and practices. If you are interested in offering these benefits to your patients, please e-mail: Medicine Manager@e-mis.com or telephone 0870 787 6210 to request an Medicine Manager information pack.

Please note that practices must be using EMIS LV5.2 to participate.