Dr. Susan O'Dwyer:

While we are in constant dialogue, it is not in a digital format. Regarding GPs, there is a digital transfer of prescriptions via Healthmail but that is an e-mail system. We will inform a GP, for example, if we have given a flu vaccination and that is through another digital system.

There are lots of systems we interact with. We speak with colleagues in hospital, as a prescription may need to be queried. One makes an intervention, and may have to speak with a hospital pharmacist to get clarification on the medication being taken by a patient. However, most of those conversations are still happening over the phone. We spoke earlier about some of the building blocks we need to see in that ITC space, in particular an e-prescribing system to allow the building of electronic health records within national summary care records.