The NHS Business Services Authority's Prescription Pricing Division (PPD) is updating their computer system with scanning equipment and Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) software to automate the capture of printed information from prescription forms.

They cannot process any prescription forms they receive, which have attachments, through these machines and have to extract them and process them manually.  They are asking that dispensers don't attach invoices to the prescription forms.  The endorsement information they need is: the manufacturer, pack size and net cost price for the pack purchased.  They ask that you please use the space in the dispensing column to tell them this information.  They no longer return any invoices that pharmacists submit.

The PPD are also reminding prescribers not to attach any items to FP10 prescription forms using staples or paper clips, nor to attach post-its and sticky labels. The PPD would like to remind pharmacists and dispensers not to attach any of these before sending them in to the PPD.  You will appreciate that these cause problems with the scanning/numbering machines they use and holds up the remuneration and reimbursement process.

They appreciate your help in supporting the benefits this new process will deliver for the NHS.