Acute Medication Services

Service specification (what it is, how it works)

Acute Medication Service (AMS) is a core NHS Scotland pharmacy service designed to handle prescriptions for acute episodes (short-term conditions like infections or pain) using Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (ETP) technology.

What is AMS?

AMS enables the secure electronic transmission of prescription information between GP prescribers and community pharmacies. It was introduced to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and streamline payment processes for acute prescriptions. [cps.scot], [nss.nhs.scot]

How Does It Work?

  1. Prescription Generation
    • When a GP prints a paper prescription (GP10), it includes a barcode.
    • At the same time, an electronic message is created and sent to the NHS ePharmacy message store. This message contains:
      • Patient details (name, CHI number, DOB)
      • Medicine name, dosage instructions
      • GP details and prescription date. [cps.scot]
  2. Pharmacy Dispensing
    • The patient presents the paper prescription at a community pharmacy.
    • The pharmacy scans the barcode, which retrieves the electronic message from the NHS system.
    • This supports accurate dispensing and reduces manual data entry. [nss.nhs.scot]
  3. Electronic Endorsement & Payment
    • The pharmacy adds electronic endorsements (details of what was dispensed).
    • An electronic claim message is then sent to NHS Practitioner Services for payment.
    • Payments are processed automatically using ePay, minimizing human intervention. [cps.scot]

Benefits

  • Accuracy: Reduces transcription errors.
  • Efficiency: Speeds up dispensing and payment.
  • Integration: Links GP systems, pharmacies, and NHS payment services.
  • Supports Care: Pharmacists can provide counselling and advice for acute conditions. [nss.nhs.scot]

 Resources

Here are some official and practical resources for learning more about the Acute Medication Service (AMS) in NHS Scotland:

Core Guidance & Overview

  • Community Pharmacy Scotland – AMS Service Page
    Explains the AMS process, barcode scanning, electronic claims, and payment via ePay.
    Read here [cps.scot]
  • NHS Scotland Circular: Introduction of AMS for Non-Medical Prescribers
    Details implementation, GP IT integration, and prescriber guidance.
    Download PDF [publicatio…cot.nhs.uk]

Training & Technical Resources

General NHS Pharmacy Services Hub

Useful documents (claim forms etc)

Core AMS Guidance

Official Circulars & Implementation Guidance

Technical & Training Resources

Support & Helpdesk