NHS England tightens EPS nomination rules
The NHS has updated its standards for the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) nomination process, placing fresh emphasis on patient choice and freedom from pressure. For pre-reg pharmacists working in or rotating through community pharmacy, understanding nomination rules is not just good practice — it is a professional and regulatory obligation.
What's happened
NHS England has revised its EPS nomination standards, with the updated guidance making clear that patients must be free to select their own nominated pharmacy without pressure or unwanted intervention from pharmacy staff or contractors. The move comes amid what has been described as renewed scrutiny of how nominations are being handled across the sector.
Why it matters for pre-reg pharmacists
EPS nomination sits at the intersection of patient autonomy, professional ethics, and business practice — and that tension is precisely why it keeps attracting regulatory attention. Community pharmacies have a commercial interest in growing their nomination list, but that interest must never override a patient's right to choose freely where their prescriptions are dispensed.
As a pre-reg, you will almost certainly encounter nomination conversations during your placement year. You may be asked by a superintendent or manager to encourage patients to nominate the pharmacy. The updated NHS standards serve as a clear reminder that there is a line between informing a patient that nomination is available and applying pressure to secure it. Crossing that line exposes both the individual pharmacist and the pharmacy contractor to professional and contractual risk.
This is also a patient safety issue in a broader sense. When patients feel coerced into nominations, they may end up collecting prescriptions from a pharmacy that does not hold their full medication history or know their preferences — undermining the continuity of care that the EPS was designed to support.
GPhC exam relevance
The GPhC registration assessment tests your ability to apply professional standards in realistic scenarios, and ethics questions frequently appear in the context of community pharmacy practice. The GPhC's own guidance on patient-centred care and the standards for pharmacy professionals both stress that the patient's best interests and autonomy must be upheld.
For exam purposes, be alert to scenario-based questions that present a conflict between what a manager instructs and what professional standards require. The correct answer will consistently prioritise patient autonomy and your professional duty — not commercial targets. The MEP (Medicines, Ethics and Practice guide) is your go-to reference for understanding the ethical frameworks underpinning dispensing practice, including EPS-related decisions.
Career angle
Foundation and pre-reg trainees often underestimate how much scrutiny community pharmacy contractors are under from NHS England and integrated care boards. Being conversant with updated EPS standards from the outset of your career signals professional maturity and protects you if you are ever asked to do something that conflicts with those standards.
If you encounter pressure around nomination practices during your placement, document what was said and seek advice from your designated supervisor or the GPhC's guidance resources. Raising concerns appropriately is itself a competency assessed during your training year, and knowing when and how to do so is part of becoming a safe and effective pharmacist.
What's next
Keep an eye on NHS England and your local integrated care board for the full text of the updated EPS nomination standards — reading primary sources rather than summaries is a habit worth building now. If you are on placement in a community setting, ask your superintendent how the pharmacy documents its nomination process and how staff are trained on patient choice. Reviewing your pharmacy's standard operating procedure for EPS nominations is a practical, low-effort step that will reinforce both your competence and your confidence.
Source: Chemist+Druggist — https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/clinical/nhs-updates-eps-nomination-standards-amid-renewed-scrutiny-XBJ4ZBZOM5HG7DZK4D2CMWCTUM/