§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to connect pharmacies to NHSnet. [8525]
§ Jacqui SmithOur information strategy for the modern national health service 1998–2005—"Information for Health", published September 1998 stated that by the end of 2001 a project will be established to explore ways of using the NHSnet to link all computerised general practitioner practices to local community pharmacies. Both of these groups would link to the Prescription Pricing Authority. "Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan", published in September 2000 pledged that electronic transfer of prescriptions would be introduced in the community by 2004.
The Department is working with the commercial sector to establish pilots to test the feasibility, benefits and costs of e-prescribing across the NHSnet. Good progress has been made since my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Health announced on 29 March 2001 the approval of three pilots to test the benefits, costs and risks of electronic transmission of prescriptions.