EMIS enables digital TV repeat prescriptions

Patients at around 1,400 surgeries using EMIS Access software across England will soon be able to request repeat prescriptions using digital TV, following an extension of the firm’s partnership with DigiTV.

The primary care IT supplier has extended its digital TV service so that as well as being able to book GP surgery appointments via digital television, or by using their mobile phone, they will also be able to request repeat prescriptions.

GP surgeries wishing to adopt the new service will need to activate a free software module, made available from EMIS. The digital TV service is called Living Local.

A patient can then tune onto the Looking Local service, and after entering unique codes given to them by their GP, are able to order a repeat prescription.

Looking Local is accessible without cost on Sky, Virgin and Freeview boxes with a modem or broadband connections. The portal is also available on internet enabled mobile phones.

EMIS’s managing director, Sean Riddell, told E-Health Insider Primary Care: “By extending the ability to request repeat prescriptions over digital TV, we are helping to offer greater access to technology for patients to control their healthcare needs. We have seen a good usage level online, and for appointment bookings over digital TV, and believe this will increase as part of the big switchover.”

Since the launch of EMIS Access in 2004, the service has grown in popularity and an estimated 135,000 are now registered users.

Riddell said: “Patients like being able to control their needs from the comfort of their sofa or PC. There is no need for phone calls, and scribbling on Post-It notes this way. It reduces the overhead costs of GP practices, and enables less time to be spent on administrative duties.”

Patients can also use Looking Local to track the prescription(s) application and status of their request from the order date, in addition to any non-repeat prescriptions on order. With each prescription request, patients can use a message facility to contact the doctor with any queries.

Steve Langrick, business strategy and access manager for Looking Local said: “Offering repeat prescriptions to complement GP appointments was a natural step towards extending our health related services…”

Langrick added “Efficient access to health related services is important to so many people and any time that can be freed-up through developments such as repeat prescriptions allows for that time to be re-invested for the benefit of patients.”

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