THE Scottish Government has failed to sort out the country’s “archaic” prescription system despite promising to do so for more than a decade, according to a Tweeddale councillor.

In a Peeblesshire News story about pharmacist shortages it was claimed that some GP practices use Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP).

MSP Christine Grahame stated: “ETP happens already in Scotland, although it’s not available in all settings as it depends on the GP practice and local pharmacies wishing to do so.”

But GP and Tweeddale West councillor, Dr Drummond Begg, told the Peeblesshire News that this “is simply not the case”.

Dr Begg said: “Paperless prescription is a myth in Scotland.

“All prescriptions in Scotland have to be on paper as they still require a ‘wet signature’.

“The Scottish Government has not sorted out a system for electronic signatures, despite saying they will for more than a decade. This means that a prescriber has to hand sign the prescription.

“It does not ‘depend on GP practice and local pharmacies wishing to do so’. The prescription has to be printed and signed, there isn’t a choice.

“In 2019/20 106 million prescriptions were issued. I am not aware of any journalist picking up on the fact that we have such an archaic system in Scotland.”

Dr Begg – of the Liberal Democrats – said at his practice, patients with repeat prescriptions can use an email system which removes the need to hand the repeat form in at a chemist, but it is not ETP.

In a further comment Ms Grahame, of the SNP, added that NHS Scotland utilises an electronic prescription message between GP practices and community pharmacies which runs in parallel with paper prescriptions.

Ms Grahame said: “However, the use of paper prescriptions is still a necessity at this stage as a legal requirement.

“The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to take forward a number of digital priorities in response to COVID.

“This national programme includes investing in development of a new ePrescribing and eDispensing pathway by enabling the use of advanced electronic signatures in primary care.

“And addressing the need for an end-to-end digital solution that will support replacement of the paper prescription from all community settings with a digital solution.

“The programme recognises that electronic prescribing will help some vulnerable sections of society, but we must also ensure others are not disadvantaged and the solution adopted should address patient needs including digital exclusion.

“It is difficult to be precise on timescales at present, but significant progress on the technical and process models continues at pace and the Scottish government is committed to deliver a solution through this programme.”

“In addition, patients who have a long-term condition can access the ‘Medicines: Care and Review Service’ at their local community pharmacy.

“It promotes a partnership approach between the pharmacist, the patient and their GP practice. “Patients with stable long-term conditions can receive serial prescriptions for a duration of 24, 48 or 56 weeks which are dispensed in regular intervals by the pharmacy and remove the need to request regular repeat prescriptions.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson added: “Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions (ETP) has been operating in Scotland since 2006 alongside paper prescriptions which are a legal requirement until advanced electronic signatures are established.

“We are currently working with National Services Scotland and the National Digital Service to fully digitalise the prescribing and dispensing routes for medicines.

“This will support a paperless system across primary care, including between GP practises and pharmacies.

“The work to digitalise the prescribing and dispensing route will free up capacity for healthcare professionals so that they can see more patients, allow patients to access their medicines quickly and safely, enable a more efficient dispensing process and reduce the use of paper and have a positive impact on the environment.”