Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service.It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.

What does this mean for you?

If you collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.

You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.

You may not have to wait as long at the pharmacy as there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.

Is this service right for you?

Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:

• don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription
• collect your medicines from the same place most of the time or use a prescription collection service now.

It may not be if you:

• don’t get prescriptions very often.
• pick up your medicines from different places.

How can you use EPS?

You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to. This is called nomination. You can choose:

• a pharmacy.
• a dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one).
• your dispensing GP practice (if you are eligible).

Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your GP practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.

Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?

Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.

Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?

Yes. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.

Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser. Dispensers will also see all the items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.

If you are unhappy with your experience of nomination

You can complain to the pharmacy, dispensing appliance contractor (DAC) or GP practice. You can also complain to NHS England or their local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) if your complaint cannot be resolvedwww.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/

For more information visit www.hscic.gov.uk/epspatients your pharmacy or GP practice.

Appointments will be offered to all patients with diabetes. Patients are required to attend for a blood test with the nurse, 2 weeks before their appointment. This will ensure results are back in time for your appointment. Clinics run three times a week at various times for your convenience.

Childhood immunisations are given at 2, 3 and 4 months, to protect small babies from whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, HIB meningitis and meningococcal meningitis C. Booster immunisation is also offered to pre-school and 15 year old children. Patients will be notified when immunisations are due and advised to make an appointment with the practice nurse.

Cervical screenings helps to prevent cervical cancer by checking to see if a virus called high-risk HPV is detected and if there are any cervical cell changes.

During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix. The sample is checked for certain types of HPV that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests. If these types of HPV are found, the sample is then checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can then be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.

You’ll get your results by letter, usually in about 2 weeks. It will explain what happens next.

Who is invited for Cervical Screening?

Anyone with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You will receive a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment for this. Once you have received the letter you can book in for your appointment.

When you’ll be invited for screening

Age	When you’re invited
under 25	up to 6 months before you turn 25
25 to 49	every 3 years
50 to 64	every 5 years
65 or older	only if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal

Balance Street Health Centre offers education and check-ups to help control Asthma and COPD.