Will a Release 1 Card work with a
Release 2 system?
Why do I need a smartcard?
You will need an individual smartcard to access
Release 2 of the Electronic Prescription Service to
pull through prescriptions electronically.
We have a premises card – do I still
need my own smartcard?
Yes! Premises cards will only provide Release 1
functionality. Once your Pharmacy has upgraded
to R2, you will not be able to access electronic
prescriptions with the premises card.
sign on role will be displayed briefly.
No. Your EPS01 card will not operate in a
release 2 system and you should ensure that
If you still have R1 roles, you will see:
your smartcard is upgraded as soon as

possible.
If you have R2 roles, you will see:

Will a Release 2 card work with a
Release 1 system?
No. For Release 2, there will be different roles
PS&T: Pharmacist : Pharmacist
Clinical: Clinical Provision: Health
professional Access Role
If you are still unsure, contact your local
Registration authority.
assigned to your smartcard and Release 1 roles
will have been removed. You will only be
We currently share a premises card
– can we share individual cards?
In the bottom right corner of your screen, your
assigned to the pharmacies that you are
I have never had a smartcard
before. How do I get one?
working in so be sure to inform the RA team if
In the first instance, you should contact your
you change pharmacy or you are doing locum
No. Your individual smartcard must not be used
sponsor
work.
by anyone else and you must not tell anyone else
complete an RA01 and RA02 form. You will
My smartcard has been upgraded
to Release 2 but not all the
pharmacies I work in are using
Release 2?
then be contacted by a member of the RA
your
smartcard
password.
Once
you
have
upgraded to Release 2, you should return the
premises
card
to
your
local
Registration
Authority.
to
authorise
the
smartcard
team.
Pharmacy:
If you need to use a smartcard whilst working
in an R1 pharmacy, you should use the
I have a smartcard but it was issued
by another trust. Can I still use it?
premises card which has been assigned to the
Pharmacy.
Yes. A smartcard that has been issued by
another trust is still valid and you can continue to
use this but you must ensure you notify your
local Registration Authority so that they can add
you to your current organisation.
Sponsor:
I already have a smartcard but
don’t know if it has been upgraded
to R2?
You will be able to tell if your smartcard has
been upgraded once you log on and your
password is authenticated.
Contact Number:
I’ve lost my smartcard
You will need to report this to your local
Registration authority as soon as possible.
and
My smartcard doesn’t work or I’ve
forgotten my password?
Your local systems supplier will provide training
Contact your local Registration authority to arrange
Release 2.
a face to face meeting. Unfortunately smartcards
Further details, along with a locally agreed
cannot be reset over the telephone.
nominations process will be sent to your
How do I contact
Registration Authority?
my
local
for this when you are ready to upgrade to
Electronic Prescription
Service
pharmacy soon.
What are dispensing tokens?
You should log a call with the STHK Service desk.
0151 676 5678
Dispensing tokens will replace the paper
prescriptions that you currently use to dispense
Please ensure, if possible, you have your 12 digit
medications and appliances.
UID number from the front of your smartcard and
always leave a contact number so that we can get
back in touch with you.
Knowsley and St Helens should order
What is nomination?
dispending tokens from Central Operations,
With the introduction of Release 2 (EPS), patients
are required to nominate a pharmacy where they
would like to collect their prescription from.
Prescriptions will then be sent electronically to the
Pharmacy they have chosen.
Nominations
can
be
collected
and
recorded
electronically by staff at the GP practice or at the
Pharmacy.
Where do I order dispensing
tokens from? (FP10DT tokens)
Merseyside:
[email protected]
or
fax 0151 296 7189
Halton should order from Stores department
from Cheshire Health.
Tel: 01244 650404
or
Fax :01244 650425
Who is the EPS lead for
Knowsley, Halton & St Helens?
Jacqui Roberts – Project Manager
[email protected]
For further information on EPS or smartcards,
Useful information for
Pharmacies