Thank you for your request for information about the following:

‘1) Please tell me what is the 'product field' on the EPS system?

2) Because there is different process between FP10 prescriptions and an EPS prescription at NHSBSA as seen from your web-link is the criteria the same or different i.e., is the product field on the EPS system able to take in all the information in the same FP10 which i attach.

3) How many characters is the 'product field' on the EPS system able to take and waht format of the information if not free text format does the product field require?

4) You said -

"Issue 26 of Dispensing Contractors Hints and Tips"

Not there though.

Says, "Older editions are available on request."

Please send it by email.

5) Please tell me if the prescription format attached - (from 4 Example Dispensing Token Illustration on P.d.f. web-screen 14 at https://developer.nhs.uk / https://developer-wp-uks.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NPFIT-ETP-EDB-0080.14-EPS-Dispensing-Token-Specification-v5_1.pdf)

• whether this graphical view (this format) of the E.p.s. Dispensing Token Chit given by doctors offices to patients to physically take to pharmacies is exactly same for the E.p.s. Nominated Pharmacy ie. N.h.s. Spine Prescriptions either sent directly to or downloaded by pharmacies

Your request was received on 25 October 2022, and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

Question 1

The product field is on the main body of the prescription, this would include the item that has been prescribed.

Question 2

I can confirm the pricing we have remains the same for both EPS and FP10 prescriptions. Nothing changes due to what type of prescription is issued.

Question 3

This is a technical question. This information is not held by NHSBSA. NHS Digital are owners of the system. Please contact them as follows:

NHS Digital

7 and 8 Wellington Place

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS1 4AP

Tel 0300 3035678

email enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk

Website http://digital.nhs.uk/

Question 4

Under Section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available from the below web link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2017-04/Dispensing_Contractors_-Issue_26%28V1%29_01.2017.pdf

Question 5

We do not understand this question, however it sounds technical in nature. Any technical questions should be requested from NHS Digital, whose contact details are provided above.

Data Queries

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