Re-classification of Appliances on GP Systems - Causing problems.

The LPC has been made aware of a problem with EMIS which is causing some green prescriptions to be printed now in certain cases where it previously was sent electronically.

This is due to a patch that is being fitted across the Region to the the GP EMIS system and the fact that some medicinal products have been reclassified as an appliance. As a consequence, when the prescription is generated, if there is no dispensing appliance contractor (DAC) nominated for the patient a green prescription is now produced.   

The expected prescription for these patients may therefore be sitting in the GP surgery as printed green forms…the LPC recognises that this is not ideal, but welcomes the fact that EMIS is working to fix this.

Please see the message below which we have received from our GP Colleagues which further details the issue.

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Message to Pharmacies

EMIS has a drug update which is being implemented across practices (This has been an entirely random process so we cannot say who/when)   Items that are appliances in the Drug Tariff (particularly some eye drops and emollients) have a setting for them to go to the nominated Dispensing Appliance Contractor  (DAC) not the nominated pharmacy.

The default is for this box to be ticked.  This was not a problem unless the patient had a DAC nominated.
The update is making all such scripts where there is not a DAC nominated print out and not go EPS.

EMIS are working to fix this but thought it helpful for you to be aware to cascade messages out to pharmacies that if there are items missing that they could be on paper at the surgery.


Practices have been asked to  try to highlight to pharmacies that there  is a paper script to collect too.