Community Pharmacy Wales
IM&T WALES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTION
Infastructure Project Fact Sheet
Connectivity Services for Community Pharmacy
NHS email Pilot for Community Pharmacy
ETP Service for Community Pharmacy
ETP service for Community Pharmacy April 09
IM&T Pharmacy Updates
IM&T Pharmacy Additional Information
In Wales, the delivery of the IM & T component of the Pharmacy contract will be a pragmatic, phased approach ensuring alignment to the overall strategic direction for Wales as described below:
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Phase 1 - `IT Infrastructure', (hardware, software and secure network connectivity)
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Phase 2 -
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Release 1 - 2D Barcoded Prescription forms
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Release 2 - Transmission of Pharmacy claims
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Community pharmacy connectivity to the NHS Wales network including access to web-based applications such as web eMail and HOWIS (Health of Wales Information Services) has started being rolled out in Wales.
Part VIA of the December Drug Tariff contains detailed information about the funding arrangements.
All existing pharmacy contractors were paid two allowances of £1,300 (ie a total of £2,600, with one payment of £1,300 in December 2005 and one in February 2006). These allowances were linked to Phase 1 of the pharmacy IM&T programme. If a pharmacy has failed to place an order for an `approved' connectivity package by 31st March 2007, the LHB will seek to reclaim these allowances.
When a LHB is in receipt of confirmation that an `approved' connection has been installed, live and active, the contractor will begin to receive a £200/month ongoing allowance. The payment will be from the date the pharmacy has got connected. Pharmacy contractors should complete Form ETP1 to claim payment.
A further one-off allowance of £1,000, linked to the implementation of Phase 2, Releases 1 and 2 will be paid to Community Pharmacy Contractors during 2007/08.
Frequently Asked Questions
Connectivity and the Ongoing Allowance
How do I go about arranging my connectivity?
Contact your Pharmacy System Supplier to make an order request for an ‘approved’ connectivity package and they will make arrangements on your behalf.
What will our ‘approved’ connectivity provide us with?
In the first instance, it will provide you with a secure and managed broadband network, which will principally meet your commercial requirements, in the same way as English Pharmacies. Following this initial connection, all Welsh Pharmacies will gain (at a date to be confirmed), secure access to dawn2 and its associated online resources, such as HOWIS (Health of Wales Information Service) and NHS Wales eMail service etc.
What questions should I ask my system supplier about the connectivity options?
Questions that you may want to ask your system supplier include:
- What are the service levels and performance being offered by the supplier?
- What happens if something goes wrong? Can compensation be claimed if connectivity fails and this impacts on the operation of the pharmacy?
- What are the arrangements for installing connectivity and when can this be arranged?
- Will the supplier offer any added benefits with the connectivity solution?
- How long will the contract for connectivity be for? Different suppliers are offering contracts which last for different lengths of time, for example, from one to four years?
- How flexible is the contract? for example can I change my speed of connection without charge at a later date?
How do I claim my £200 per month allowance towards the connectivity, support and maintenance costs?
To claim payment, contractors must complete Form ETP1 .
Will the £200 payment be dependent on ‘approved’ connectivity and linkage to the NHS Wales network?
No, we only require that you have an initial ‘approved’ connection installed, configured and live.
What should I do if my business transfers ownership or I cease trading and connectivity is no longer required?
If a Contractor transfers or closes their Pharmacy business, they should immediately notify their LHB to stop the recurring payment.
How do I ensure that my IT hardware and software meets NHS Wales network (dawn2) requirements?
In Wales, there is no requirement to use the EPS system being rolled out in England. However, each Welsh outlet will need to ensure that its IT hardware is “fit for purpose” and capable of running the most recent Patient Medication Records (PMR) system, as well as supporting secure/managed connectivity to dawn2 etc. Contractors are therefore advised that any investment in IT facilities must be provided or approved by their Pharmacy System Supplier who will ensure that the IT facilities and services are appropriately configured to support the latest version of their respective PMRs, together with the security requirements for secure access to dawn2. This will ensure a standard configuration and equitable provision of IT facilities and services for all pharmacy outlets in Wales.
Future Developments
What will we need to buy for the 2D Barcoded Prescriptions solution you are developing for Wales?
At the moment, we don’t need you to purchase anything, as the solution is still under development. We shall issue further guidance once we are happy to implement the solution nationally.
Do I need to hold back some of the funding I’ve already received, for the 2D Barcoded Prescriptions solution?
No, an additional £1,000 of funding will be made available towards the costs of the Phase 2 developments, including a 2D Barcoded Prescriptions solution and Electronic Transmission of Claims.
Pharmacy IT in Wales
Why isn’t Wales using the English ETP service?
Due to the different IM & T strategic directions between both countries, the Community Pharmacy IM & T Programme Board has determined an alternative but comparable ETP solution for Wales. A 2D Barcoded Prescription solution is currently under development and further information will be advised in due course.
More Information
Drug Tariff (Part VIA contains Welsh IT Funding Information)
ETP1 Claim Form (PDF File)
WAG Letter to Pharmacies: IM&T Allowances Pharmacy IM&T Programme: Stakeholder Update (May 2006)
