New EPS clinical director appointed

Dr Manpreet Pujara, one of Connecting for Health’s national GP clinical leads, has been appointed as clinical director for the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).

Dr Puajara, a GP in Rochester, Kent, took over as GP clinical lead alongside Dr Peter Short in January and will now act as clinical director for the EPS as well as continuing in his role as GP clinical lead.

CfH said Dr Puajara’s role will focus on liaison with a range of external stakeholders including professional bodies.

CfH has yet to implement release two of EPS, the functionality designed to bring significant benefits to patients, pharmacists and GPs, although it was originally planned to go live in October 2007.

Delays are thought to be caused by the time being taken for pharmacy and GP system suppliers to achieve release two compliance for their systems. CfH told EHI Primary Care in January that it hoped to begin implementation in spring or summer 2008 but, as of July 23, there are still no compliant suppliers.

Dr Puajara, former chairman of the EMIS National User Group, said: : "I am really pleased to be appointed Clinical Director as EPS will bring real benefits to prescribers, dispensers and patients both in terms of efficiency and safety."

CfH have also announced that Dr Tony Kaye, a Manchester GP, will be clinical lead for EPS, with responsibility for providing support to EPS internally, specifically in relation to clinical safety, as well as clinical engagement.

Both Dr Pujara and Dr Kaye have already been working with the EPS team for more than three years and will continue with their roles on the EPS user group.

Dr Kaye is also involved with the National Vision User Group and is on the group’s national panel.

He said: "My key challenge is to overcome the fears and anxieties of the GPs and the pharmacists and to encourage everyone to take up this new service as soon as it’s available for them."