Newcastle residents can now see their doctor, fill a script and receive their medication all without leaving home thanks to the roll-out of e-prescriptions in the region.
One of the country's first successful e-prescriptions was recently dispensed in the Hunter, with Newcastle software company Scrypt facilitating delivery of the service.
Scrypt director and Hunter pharmacist Lloyd Smith said it was "an exciting announcement for patient choice".
"The doctor is able to send a prescription via SMS or email to the patient who can then choose how they onsend their script to their pharmacy," he said.
Hunter resident Keith Doolan has already taken advantage of the system, having a GP consultation via telehealth, sending his script to the pharmacy through text message and having the script delivered to his home.
"I feel like it was just so easy," Mr Doolan said. "If I don't want to go out, I don't have to. It was just terrific. I could do it all from home through my phone."
Newcastle City Pharmacy's Jessica Cahill, who filled Mr Doolan's script, said the process made it a lot easier for the patient, doctor and pharmacy.
"It means that you're going to have less lost scripts," she said. "They're a lot more secure than your traditional way of sending a script."
Mayfield Medical Connection practice director Kath Teagle said the initiative would reduce administrative burden on GPs, which frees up time to focus on patients.
"E-prescribing is very patient-centric," she said. "It's saving the patient time. It saves the patient money. It makes them happier with the whole experience."
