The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is planning to launch an online service for pharmacies as a digital alternative to the current handwritten process for submitting prescription returns.
Named Manage Your Service, it will make it possible for them to submit applications to NHSBSA through an online channel, rather than sending paper forms through the post. This is aimed at speeding up the processing of payments for prescriptions and providing for real time tracking of applications.
A spokesperson told UKAuthority that, while there is not yet a firm launch date for the service, a small group of pharmacies are beginning to use it on a pilot basis and it is hoped to make it more widely available early in the 2019-2 financial year.
The paper FP34C form that is currently used enables NHSBSA to provide pharmacies with an advanced payment before processing their full account. The spokesperson said the digital system should be more secure but that pharmacies will still have the option to use the paper form.
Another online service for pharmacies to submit flu vaccination forms, which has to be done separately to the prescription service, is scheduled to go live later this month.
Image by tr0tt3r, CC BY 2.0 through flickr
