Prescription Ordering Direct Service

Inefficient repeat prescribing processes can play a major role in generating prescribing waste and can be the cause of factors that drive waste include patient over-ordering of prescriptions and ordering of repeat medications via community pharmacy.

A responsive, patient-centred Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) service can reduce prescription costs, reduce prescription waste and improve medicines safety. A POD service can save valuable NHS funds by reducing GP workloads, thus improving access to clinicians and allowing them to devote more time to complex patient needs.

POD services can provide an alternative more efficient route for patients to order their repeat medications through i.e. via phone call or webform, and this is in addition to existing avenues such as by post, the NHS app and in person.

In our current PCN, the POD practices have 5.12% less items prescribed and a 2.77% reduction in costs when compared to non-POD practices.