Here is the latest Analyst User Newsletter, featuring the best tips and updates for users of our platform…

 

Did you know that NHSBSA Prescription Services is going digital?

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) handles over 1 billion prescription items annually and as part of their business strategy they have been planning on how they can improve prescription pricing efficiency against the backdrop of increasing electronic prescription volumes.

Digitisation of the Prescription Submission (FP34C) Form and Referred Back Items:
Since the beginning of 2017 the NHSBSA has been working on digitising the prescription submission form and prescription returns referred back items, -a process which currently is very paper heavy. As a community pharmacy contractor, you will know that bundling your prescriptions at the end of the month, along with processing referred back prescriptions forms for resubmission, can take up a significant amount of pharmacy staff time. The NHSBSA has been aiming to reduce some of the workload pressures on pharmacies when it comes to sending through their ‘end of month’ claim, so in order to do so, they have been developing an online platform to replace the current FP34C submission form.

 

What are the NHSBSA’s aims?

  • To provide a secure online alternative to the current paper-based submission of the FP34C;
  • To reduce the number of disallowed items and unpaid items; and
  • Save time for pharmacies and reduce operating costs at the NHSBSA

What has the NHSBSA produced to date?
The NHSBSA has developed an application called ‘Manage Your Submissions’, an online platform which has been designed using pharmacy user feedback. The platform has so far been built and tested, and moved to a secure environment. It is now undergoing private beta testing with 31 community pharmacies across the sector.

How will ‘Manage Your Submissions’ affect your pharmacy?
Once deployed, pharmacies will be able to complete their end of month prescription submission completely online. i.e through an online equivalent to the FP34C. Of course, paper prescriptions will still need to be sent to the NHSBSA as normal. However, the new platform aims to:

  • Dramatically reduce anomalies which might occur with the paper FP34C;
  • Simplify management of your re-submission and therefore earlier payment of these items where applicable;
  • Allow you to view historical submissions in one place; and
  • Enable easier post-payment verification of your prescription bundle when your bundle has been processed and you receive your Schedule of Payment.

 

Hints & Tips

Patient filtering: You can filter the Script Queue by patient to display all dispensed scripts and any pending electronic scripts they may have. Click on MISC and select ‘View Patient Scripts’. Enter either the patient’s name or click on \ for the highlighted patient.

EPS script dates: Use the Script button on the ‘Dispensed’ tab of a patient’s details to identify the date of the EPS prescription. This is helpful where download and dispense dates differ, and the correct day needs to be recalled for amendment.

Add the correct dosage: Don’t forget the red buttons at the bottom of the dose instruction box for other options.

 

Service Desk statistics

At PSL we pride ourselves on our customer service and being there when you need us. Our Service Desk aim is to answer 85% of calls within 10 seconds and respond to 97% of all calls within 3 minutes.

Overall, our average response time for October was 71 seconds.