17.—(1) Regulation 56 of the GMS Contracts Regulations (orders for drugs, medicines or appliances) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1), for “paragraphs (2) and (3)” substitute “paragraphs (1A), (2) and (3)”.
(3) After paragraph (1), insert the following paragraphs—
“(1A) If, on a particular occasion when a drug, medicine or appliance is needed as mentioned in paragraph (1)—
(a)the prescriber is able, without delay, to order the drug, medicine or appliance by means of an electronic prescription;
(b)the Electronic Prescription Service software that the prescriber would use for that purpose provides for the creation and transmission of electronic prescriptions without the need for a nominated dispenser; and
(c)none of the reasons for issuing a non-electronic prescription form or a non- electronic repeatable prescription given in paragraph (1B) apply,
the prescriber must create and transmit an electronic prescription for that drug, medicine or appliance.
(1B) The reasons given in this paragraph are—
(a)although the prescriber is able to use the Electronic Prescription Service, the prescriber is not satisfied that—
(i)the access that the prescriber has to the Electronic Prescription Service is reliable, or
(ii)the Electronic Prescription Service is functioning reliably;
(b)the patient, or where appropriate the patient’s authorised person, informs the prescriber that the patient wants the option of having the prescription dispensed elsewhere than in England;
(c)the patient, or where appropriate the patient’s authorised person, insists on the patient being issued with a non-electronic prescription form or a non-electronic repeatable prescription for a particular prescription and in the professional judgment of the prescriber the welfare of the patient is likely to be in jeopardy unless a non-electronic prescription form or a non-electronic repeatable prescription is issued;
(d)the prescription is to be issued before the contractor’s EPS phase 4 date or the contractor has no such date.”.