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The transmission of prescriptions by electronic means was first mentioned in the wide-ranging NHS Plan (2000) This placed an electronic prescription service within the context of NHS services on the broadest level. A follow-up document, Pharmacy in the Future: Implementing the NHS plan (2000) set out plans for an electronic prescription service which would reduce illegible and fraudulent prescriptions, as well as being a faster and more efficient system for patients, prescribers, pharmacists and the BSA (formerly the PPA).

This document also made provision for a number of pilot projects designed to test possible approaches to electronic prescribing. Three pilots were designed to test various methods of prescription transmission between GPs, pharmacists and the PPA. All pilot projects were comercially funded and provided the opportunity to test the feasability, benefits and costs of prescription data transfer in a live environment.

The independent evaluation of the pilot projects examined the effectiveness of each pilot solution, the organisational impact of introducing ETP (Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions) into GP practices and pharmacies, and the development of technical standards. It concluded that ETP was technically viable, and would be acceptable to patients, pharmacists and GPs.

Further developments of the service were set out in Developing 21st century IT support for the NHS (2002).  This set out plans to develop a broad range of electronic and IT services for the NHS, known as the National Programme for IT. This programme includes an Electronic Prescription Service and is being developed and implemented by NHS Connecting for Health.

National rollout of EPS began in 2005 and is expected to be complete by late 2007. A more detailed implementation plan has been produced by NHS Connecting for Health, along with a list of frequently asked questions.